Since 2014, German as a foreign language is taught from the 5th grade in the Danish Folkeskole (primary and secondary level). However, in two municipalities in the Danish-German border region, the German instruction already begins respectively at preschool level and in the 3rd grade. This contribution presents the results of a teacher study that was conducted in the framework of a Danish teacher in-service training for teachers of German as a foreign language in the Danish-German border region. Twenty-two teachers have participated in a questionnaire survey of the early teaching of German in the border region, and their answers provide a better understanding of the challenges the teachers experience in this context. They also elaborate as to which linguistic, professional and didactic competencies they deem necessary for teachers to have in order to be able to carry out the early teaching of German as a foreign language, and which training needs they identify.