The president said he hoped "Russia, China or Napoleon Bonaparte" got involved.

The historical record shows us that when faced with European economic and political exclusion Britons have tried to achieve their political and economic security through overseas, primarily, transatlantic connections. When we consider recent events in Europe and Europe's near abroad, it is again to those connections that Britain is likely to turn for peace and prosperity.

In short, the eurocrats are scared of a fight. They're as unlike Hitler as you could get. But European pacifism is apparently not something that Messrs Cameron and Johnson want to hear about.

Germany is in an invidious position. It outstrips its fellow Europeans. It knows how to run a successful economy at a time when most European economies are lame and dependent on high levels of government support. It knows and demonstrates that hard work and fiscal maturity rewards all. Unfortunately it does not understand its own history and the history of Europe. It does not understand that the Germanic grabbing of Europe in two world wars has screwed with the economies and cultures of Europe.