German growth will slow from 2.7% this year to 1.3% in 2012, according to the IMF.

ECONOMIST: Faltering growth will exacerbate the crisis

Still, German law has been slow to reflect the trend.

WSJ: In Germany, Some Want to Boogie Every Day of the Year

The biggest barrier is of course language, and Mr. Andor says that countries like Spain and Italy were too slow to teach young people languages like German that could help them find jobs.

WSJ: Europeans Stay Rooted, Despite Economy

However, due to its weight and slow speed the bombers suffered very high losses from German night fighters.

FORBES: Making Room for the Unseen in Tackling Complex Problems

The German government has been criticised for its slow response but it is a country that remains staunchly committed to respecting the democratic process.

BBC: Greece referendum: Democracy versus the eurozone

According to Illy, Italian businesses have been slow to adapt to the demands of a globalized economy -- unlike many German businesses, for example, which had aggressively pursued a path of international expansion through creating foreign partnerships.

CNN: Italy must adapt to survive, Illy boss warns

Slow or near-zero growth in domestic demand has made the inflexibility of the German labour market ever more costly for businesses.

ECONOMIST: From bad to worse | The

In the German-supervised south, and in the western zone where the Italians were slow to move in, it has proved impossible to stop Serb civilians fleeing in large numbers.

ECONOMIST: Who controls Kosovo?