Maggie's Farm

The EU was a mistake. It could have worked and everyone in it would be better off if it did work but human nature is what it is. This collapse isn't Germany's fault, Germany is doing everything right (almost) and succeeding. For those countries who came into the EU with economic problems or excessive social benefits they found it difficult to catch up. Germany belatedly attempted to prop up those failing EU members and that effort failed or is failing. Half of Europe before the EU leaned so far left it made the leaning tower of Pisa look straight. They taxed anyone and everyone with money to give "free stuff" to leftist voters. A number of European countries are openly communist/socialist. They cannot compete in a system based on Democracy and capitalism. They have succeeded in dragging down the rest of the EU.
Greece has elected the classic solution to their social welfare excess and borrowing. They will simply refuse to pay it back. Unlike Iceland, which did the same thing, Greece doubled down on it's communist/socialist preference and that alone will doom their recovery for years maybe decades.

Germany and the other productive members in the EU should reconsider who can be part of the EU. Weed out the hangers on and move on.