1,200 Years of History Can’t Make Germans Trust Hollande

In the ancient German city that first symbolized European unity, the French government has an image problem.

Aachen, the capital of Charlemagne’s Holy Roman Empire from the year 800, is steeped in the history of a unified European identity. French pleas for understanding as they seek to fix their economy and narrow the deficit are testing the patience of Aachen’s people, echoing the concerns of many Germans over what they see as their neighbor’s foot-dragging.