But that would provoke Russia and would lead to WW3. (Tongue in Cheek).

My reading is that German elites are deeply compromised and probably on take from Russians. Either through money or through blackmail or through sheer fear.

When taking a stand against Russia vs caving into Russian demands, I think Germany will fold and cave in to Russian demands.

Merkel was famously soft on Putin. She was definitely an apologist and perhaps a pocket ally. [1] While she was in power the AfD (the Russians' populist proxy party) was curiously held at bay at the polls. She's tied for second longest-serving chancellor after Bismarck.

The new chancellor Scholz is much less Russian-friendly. Perhaps unsurprisingly, his favorability numbers are in the gutter and the AfD is surging.

[1] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/05/germany-angela...

Not anymore, it seems.

Germany should fight to the last Ukrainian, apparently.