But Germany will always suffer, I fear, from the intensely dramatic character of the crimes of the Third Reich.

Men like Hitler and Stalin and their immediate lieutenants cannot plead in defence of their actions that these were justified by the accepted values of that time.

People know they are lacking something, they are constantly wanting some kind of spiritual guidance.

The tragedy of 9/11 galvanised the American superpower into action, leaving us in Europe divided in its wake.

But Germany will always suffer, I fear, from the intensely dramatic character of the crimes of the Third Reich.

History provides no precise guidelines.

We should be wary of politicians who profess to follow history while only noticing those signposts of history that point in the direction which they themselves already favour.