This disappointment with Germany, and particularly the perception that Mrs. Merkel’s government is vocal in defending national interests, could cost dearly in the long term. “Germany is pursuing a short-sighted strategy that is not sustainable,” said Paulo Gorjão, director of the Portuguese Institute of International Relations and Security in Lisbon. “It needs allies for its foreign policy agenda, for example if it wants a permanent seat on the U.N Security Council or seeks higher representation in other multilateral organizations.”

Germany will be able to rein in the European Union’s spending only if it gets allies in coming negotiations for the 2014-21 budget.

“Germany has lost a lot of political capital in some of the member states, not just because of the way Mrs. Merkel has tied strict conditions to the rescue packages,” said Jens Bastian, a German economist who is now at the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy, a research institute in Athens.

“Germans have changed in their attitude toward Europe,” he added. “They think they are being cheated by other countries or taken for a ride in terms of how their money is spent. They want this to stop.” Germany spends more for the budget of the 27-nation European Union than it receives.

Nikos Frangakis, president of the Greek Center of European Studies and Research in Athens, said Mrs. Merkel’s oratory had hit a raw nerve among many Greeks, who then dredged up World War II in order to try and counter German criticism and to portray themselves as victims. “Mrs. Merkel, in insisting that Greece introduces reforms, could have been much softer and more persuasive in her tone.” he said.

“Older Greeks have vivid memories of the occupation when the Nazis occupied Greece, especially the fact that there are legal cases over reparations for the atrocities committed by the Nazis,” Mr. Frangakis said. “The attitude by Germany over the financial crisis has reopened old wounds. Germany should be careful.”

For decades, Germany was seen and even admired by other European countries as the driving force for the E.U.’s long term goals, from monetary union and enlargement to a more coherent foreign and defense policy.