You are right of course. Germany eventually rebuilt trust within Europe, but now have a highly decoupled economy from their neighbors. As you correctly point out.

1.) after ww 2 European economies were very decoupled 2.) One guy mentions Netherlands but if we can think about Poland, Israel, Ukraine. Israel and Ukraine because Germany supported these countries militarily, in Poland financially but still ww2 is not forgotten.

Btw. You can ask Canadian people what they thought about their annexation threats.

No but it has been 80 years doh.

When I was young there was still a lot of ill will and distrust against the Germans and that was 40+ years after the war.

We were still joking about wanting our bikes back (the nazis stole everything metal at the end of the war to make weapons). And didn't like them at beach resorts etc. People would much rather buy American than German products.

That's over now but it took a very long time. Which was exactly my point. Time and consistently good politics will heal this but time it will take.

Of course the sooner you turn things around the better but the disconnection has already been set in motion and big ships turn slowly.