Wind of Change

The song “Wind of Change” by the German rock band the Scorpions was perfectly timed when it was released in 1990: the communist system was crumbling, and people in Europe felt that there was at last a chance for lasting peace and cooperation after the Cold War had ended. Klaus Meine, the famous voice of the Scorpions, was inspired by the band’s visit to Russia in the previous year to write what has since become one of the most successful songs in the history of popular music, with over 14 million copies sold.

Oil Price Cap: The British Are Prepared to Fight to the Last Prussian (Again)

Tomorrow, the “free world’s” price cap on Russian oil is set to begin. This reminds me of another historical event. On 9 October, 1806, Prussia declared hostilities against France, and so began the War of the Fourth Coalition. Absolutely confident in their martial abilities, Prussian officers gloatingly sharpened their swords on the steps of the French embassy in Berlin. Napoleon crushed the Prussian army in less than a week. On 27 October, he captured Berlin, and then paraded surviving Prussian officers past the embassy they had mocked. There’s an obvious moral lesson here about not being overconfident, but today I want to talk about WHY the Prussians up as cannon fodder against Napoleon.