Given the calamitous consequences of Germany’s militaristic past it is hardly surprising that in the decades since the Second World War a pacifist tendency has taken a grip among its people and governments.

The upshot over the years has been one of the lowest levels of per capita spending on defence in Europe. It was reported in 2018 that the shortcomings were so dire that some German soldiers were forced to use a broomstick as a gun and all six submarines were out of service for repairs. Much of the run-down happened on the watch of the then defence minister Ursula von der Leyen, now the president of the EU commission. The ramifications of this neglect are now apparent.

With Ukraine desperate for more western weaponry to stave off Russia’s new offensive in the Donbas, Germany has declined to supply it. The government of Olaf Scholz blocked an offer by Rheinmetall, a defence manufacturer, to provide Ukraine with 50 refurbished Leopard I tanks.

The Chancellor said Berlin would offer financial help but was not prepared to send any more armaments. Germany would not “go it alone” on weapons, and that any decisions would be made in close cooperation with “friends and allies”, Mr Scholz said. The German position on the Ukraine crisis has veered wildly since the invasion was launched. To begin with it appeared to presage a complete about-turn in the policy of never sending weapons to conflict zones. This was in addition to a pledge to spend far more on the nation’s defence.

Six weeks ago Chancellor Scholz promised to send Ukraine 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles “as soon as possible”. It is not clear how many have actually been delivered but Ukraine’s disappointment with both Berlin’s military and energy policies was apparent when Germany’s president Frank-Walter Steinmeier was told he was not welcome in Kyiv.

While this was taken as a national affront in Germany it is emblematic of the country’s disastrous geopolitical policy-making during the chancellorships of Gerhard Schroeder and Angela Merkel.

Decisions to end nuclear power production and become excessively dependent on Russian gas and oil, together with cuts in the defence budget, have left the EU’s biggest and wealthiest country the weak link in the Western response to Putin’s aggression.