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If you look at the period from 1945 to, say, 1975, though, which is the speaker's perspective, American political and economic influence were both extremely strong compared to today, in addition to the obvious military influence.

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The thing is, from the 60's through the fall of the wall, you can say what you want, but I distinctly remember everyone MUCH preferring German Marks to any other European currency. (Probably the Swiss Franc was on par with it, you get the idea. No one wanted Lira, and, at times, even Pounds and French Francs were out of favor.) Germany, or Germany and France, were usually the driving force behind most European initiatives during that time.

Not only then, but still today. (If not even more today.) I remember the late unpleasantness with the PIIGs, and believe it or not, there was a little while there where people would try to determine where a Euro note came from...

and they wouldn't take it unless it was from Germany.

The Germans may not be vocal about dominating Europe, but they definitely dominate Europe. And they have in many ways for a long time. At least since the 60's.

correct. it's important to understand that 50% of the world GDP was inside the continental US at the end of the war. they were extremely correct in their predictions.

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