Simon Heffer certainly doesn’t pull any punches writing in The Daily Mail, when it comes to voicing his opinions on European financial integration. Some very stupid young men have just been sent to goal for 4 years each for trying to incite trouble amongst the population – have a care Simon!

Rise of the Fourth Reich, how Germany is using the financial crisis to conquer Europe

“Frau Merkel called for a ‘stronger coordination of policy’ and ‘a new quality of cooperation’ within the Eurozone. Although she will not yet admit it, this all suggests the first step has been taken towards a fiscal union that will leave Germany dictating the financial terms for the rest of Europe. … Where Hitler failed by military means to conquer Europe, modern Germans are succeeding through trade and financial discipline. Welcome to the Fourth Reich.”

Whilst it is difficult to argue with the logic of what Heffer is saying, I find it less than helpful and more than a little worrying that he should take the time to refer directly to Adolf Hitler. Why not choose instead Kaiser Wilhelm II, the last Kaiser of Germany, who was the Commander in Chief of the German armed forces throughout WW1? – if only because the name is less emotive.

I wonder if this level of paranoia extends to all European leaders and this means that Simon Heffer’s fears will inevitably lead to some form of economic war? As they say, just because I’m paranoid, doesn’t mean they’re not out to get me!