The Brits took on the continent twice before and won 2 wars. Now they are begging to leave some German run organization they got suckered into.
I expected more from an ex colonial power the once ruled the world. What the hell happened here?
1. The Brits didn’t “take on the continent” - they fought:
a. World war 1 against the Germans, Austrians and Turks and supported by the French, Italians, Russians, Americans etc.
b. World war 2 against the Germans, Italians and supported by the French, Poles, Soviets, Americans etc.
2. As to German-run, the EU was created as a way to curtail German power. The idea was to integrate the big German state into EU to contain its power. Yes, it will have a lot of say in EU, but it can’t play Bismarckian realpolitik in Europe. Notice that every EU member state has a veto power. This is a big constraint on German power. Notice the Brexit agreement allows the small Ireland to punch its weight way beyond its size and May had to swallow the backstop.
By being a member of EU, Germany gives a great deal of power (especially in foreign policy) to EU where decisions have to be made on consensus.
It has been shown often enough that if enough of the smaller countries work together, they can outvote Germany, even if Germany has the biggest economy and the biggest population (seats in the EU parliament are counted based on the population, but in the other chamber, the council of Ministers, each country has one seat, the same applies to the Commisioners).
3. The “ex colonial power that once ruled 20% of the world” is no more. One should then expect more from Iran - which in 500 BC ruled over 45% to 50% of all of humanity. Or Assyria or Rome or Mongolia etc. powers come and go, nations come and go.