Max Hastings, Columnist

How Delusions About World War II Fed Brexit Mania

Even Churchill recognized that Britain was a small power made large through connections to Europe. 

Goodbye.

Photographer: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

Three days ago, Britain completed the process of quitting the European Union, a major act of foreign policy that most of the world finds bewildering, and considers ill-advised.

It brought to mind comments at an Anglo-German conference some 15 years ago made by the then-chairman of Mercedes-Benz: “I want to tell our British friends how much we hope they will remain partners in the EU. Should they decide to leave, however, I hope you will not consider it impolite if I suggest that, in an age of giant trading blocs, you may find it cold out there.”