THE POST-1945 order is crumbling. Donald Trump, who holds a warped, America-First view of history, trashes the transatlantic alliance formed to keep peace after the second world war. In June he belittled the role of America’s allies in defeating Nazi Germany. Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, exploits the Soviet Union’s wartime past to fuel nationalist support for his invasion of Ukraine. On September 3rd he will join Xi Jinping in Beijing for China’s Victory Day parade. Don’t expect a sombre commemoration. China’s leader wants a sabre-rattling pageant of military might.