Germany, it may be recalled, has some experience of militaristic kleptocracies with a penchant for invading their peaceable neighbours, especially when the pretext is to ‘liberate’ foreign citizens who satisfy particular ethno-linguistic criteria. Nor is Germany unacquainted with autocrats, whether styled as Kaiser or Führer, who have a propensity for sacking their most experienced generals and personally assuming micro-management of offensive operations.