http://www.businessinsider.com/germany-benefits-from-the-eurozone-2011-4
Germany has profited immensely with Europe and the Euro, for a variety of reasons including those in that article, plus other things like easy access to cheap labor. Their banks would also stand to be the biggest losers if any any country in the Eurozone would default, that's why they are joining the bailout.
That article is about the most funny thing i read all week, thanks for that.
The main difference between Germany and the larger portion oif the european union is that it's export focus is not within the union but with asia and this trend is increasing. (rise in exports/imports from 09 to 10 within union 10,94%/10,25%, Asia 36,35%/31,95%, Rest of the world 17,69%/12,83%)
Adding to this that the average cost per hour of labor is the second highest in the union (35,60 , Union Average 28,90 and Greece only 13,80) but the cost of production has only rise by 7% (lowest in union, average 20% !!!) you get the picture that they have done everything to get more competitive.
Now the real problem is that those nations that are not as competitive always had the chance to just drop the value of thheir own currecy to be more competitive on the global market. The euro has taken away this option and the other countrys have to compete on even terms with germany.
To quote french Christine Lagarde:
Clearly Germany has done an awfully good job in the last 10 years or so, improving competitiveness, putting very high pressure on its labour costs. When you look at unit labour costs to Germany, they have done a tremendous job in that respect. Im not sure it is sustainable model for the long term and for the whole of the group.
Clearly we need better convergence. (Interview in Financial Times 14.03.2010)
To sum this up let's quote Futurama:
Hermes: We can't compete with Mom! Her company is big and evil! Ours is small and neutral!
That Guy: Switzerland is small and neutral! We're more like Germany, ambitious and misunderstood!
Amy: Look, everyone wants to be like Germany, but do we really have the pure strength of will?
Data Source (in german)
http://www.bonner-unternehmertage.de/downloads/3-29-116/8%20Aktuelles%20zur%20Finanz-%20und%20Wirtschaftslage.pdf