Germany has had a reputation for being insular since Roman times. In the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 AD, an alliance of German tribes ambushed and destroyed three Roman legions. Thus Germania remained free of the benefits and disadvantages of Roman rule. According to reliable accounts, Emperor Augustus was so distraught following this catastrophic defeat, said to be Rome’s greatest military disaster, that the Caesar constantly banged his head against the wall, shouting: “Giv…
