German Nature Is Simple: "As a Tribe They're Either at Your Feet or at Your Throat"

“This week I remembered a story about Margaret Thatcher in 1989, when the Berlin Wall came down. German reunification was suddenly a possibility. She would play a role. Being Thatcher, she convened experts. Tell me about the essential German nature, she said. Well, said an expert, as a tribe they're either at your feet or at your throat.” [1]

 

Reports suggest that following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the prospect of German reunification, Margaret Thatcher held a seminar at Chequers (the Prime Minister's country residence) with historians and political advisors to discuss the implications of this event

.

According to some accounts, during this discussion, a participant, potentially referring to the "essential German nature," offered the observation that "as a tribe they're either at your feet or at your throat". It is crucial to note that this is a specific recollection of a private discussion and may reflect a particular perspective, not necessarily a universally held view among those present.

Thatcher herself was known to be hesitant and concerned about German reunification, holding the belief that it could disrupt the European balance of power and potentially lead to instability. According to the University of Sheffield and The Irish Times she even expressed to Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet leader, that Britain and Western Europe did not desire a united Germany. This stance was reportedly rooted in both her generation's experience of the world wars and her apprehension that a larger, more powerful Germany might challenge British influence and lead to policies detrimental to her vision for Europe.

However, it's also important to note that historians and officials held differing views on the implications of German reunification and Thatcher's approach to the matter. Some, like historian Norman Stone, reportedly viewed reunification as a positive development and believed that West Germany had matured politically, while others acknowledged the concerns but also recognized the inevitability of the process and the need for Britain to adapt. While Thatcher initially sought to delay or prevent reunification, the pace of events, the support of the United States, and the pragmatic approach of France ultimately led to German reunification.

 

1. Declarations: MAGA's Epstein Fault Line. Noonan, Peggy.  Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 19 July 2025: A13.