> "that damned the country into a grinding halt for decades" I do not share that impression; I would say that between 1945 and roughly the year 2000, Germany d

> "that damned the country into a grinding halt for decades" I do not share that impression; I would say that between 1945 and roughly the year 2000, Germany demonstrated remarkable resilience, followed by exceptional capability in the scientific and technological fields. However, I am not certain that the country has possessed such capabilities since the year 2000. Maybe reunification, the green vote and mutter Merkel have to do with this new situation.