Europe feels humiliated by United States President Donald Trump. As U.S. officials sat down with their Russian counterparts to negotiate an end to the Russo-Ukrainian War and redraw borders in Eastern Europe, European leaders weren’t even at the table.

French President Emmanuel Macron wants to build Europe into a superstate that can defend itself “even against the United States.” He didn’t take the humiliation lying down. He quickly organized his own summit of European Union leaders. He and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged thousands of troops to patrol a border zone between Ukrainian and Russian forces. It was a bold vision, an alternative peace plan, showing Europe could stand up and act without the U.S.

Until Germany scuppered the whole thing.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called talk of peacekeeping troops “premature.” Abandoning diplomatic niceties, he complained: “I am even a little irritated by these debates, I want to say that quite frankly.”

He opposed any peace talks until U.S. negotiations were finished: “This is highly inappropriate, to put it bluntly, and honestly: We don’t even know what the outcome will be.”

With Germany opposed to the deal, it quickly collapsed. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she “voiced Italy’s doubts” on the idea. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk ruled out sending forces ahead of the meeting. The fact that a weak German chancellor, likely to be voted out of power in just days, could kill the whole idea so quickly shows how decisive Germany’s control of Europe is.

Why would Germany kill the deal? It is every bit as keen for a Europe that can defend itself “even against the United States” as France is. Here was a golden opportunity to break with the U.S. and demonstrate that Europe could stand as a military power in its own right.

The key is Ukraine. This isn’t the first time Germany has scuppered Ukraine’s plans. Mr. Macron has indirectly criticized Germany for its reluctance to send actual weapons to Ukraine, instead of sleeping bags and helmets. This time last year, Macron discussed sending ground troops, and Scholz also shut him down immediately: “There will be no ground troops, no soldiers sent by European countries or nato states.” Germany knows that what it says goes—for all Europe.

“Why is Germany continually saying what Russia wants to hear?” wrote Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry at the time. “Why is it withholding critical weaponry? Why is it putting brakes on other countries’ efforts to help Ukraine?” Many commentators were mystified at the way Germany was thwarting European bargaining efforts by taking key threats off the table.

“What Macron and these commentators do not understand is Germany’s long history of cooperation with Russia,” he wrote. “This has resumed in recent years.”

In the November-December 2008 Trumpet, Mr. Flurry wrote: “I believe that Germany’s leaders may have already agreed to a deal with Russia, a modern Hitler-Stalin pact where Germany and Russia divide countries and assets between themselves. This agreement would allow each to turn its sights on other targets. Any such deal that may have been struck between Germany and Russia is a precursor to war!”

In trying to build a strong, European military force, Macron is empowering Germany. Yet he is completely ignorant of Germany’s dealings with Russia. “This is the most dangerous mistake France has made in all its history!” wrote Mr. Flurry.

Macron’s efforts to help Germany build a united European military power will accelerate under Trump’s second term. But his ignorance shows he doesn’t know what Germany will do with this power once it is built.

France is descended from Reuben, one of the tribes of Israel. Britain and America are descended from Joseph. Anciently Reuben went along with his brothers in betraying Joseph. He intended to free his half-brother when nobody was looking but was too weak to stand up himself. Instead, Joseph was sold into slavery while Reuben was away.

Mr. Flurry’s article “France’s Deadly Ignorance About Germany” shows why this history is prophetic.

“Germany today is working together with Russia against America and Britain,” he explained. “But France fails to see how devious these plans are! It is blind to where its relationship with Germany is leading! … There will come a point when Germany goes into full attack mode against America and Britain. Many prophecies reveal this. At that point, France will think, What have we gotten ourselves into? But then it will be too late!”

France doesn’t understand what Germany is doing, but you can. “France’s Deadly Ignorance About Germany” reveals Germany’s hidden strategy, and how France and Germany will be caught up in it.