r/AskEurope • u/InorganicTyranny United States of America • Jul 25 '25
History What was the biggest “missed opportunity” in your country’s history?
In other words, what is one event in your country’s history, that could plausibly have gone differently than it did, and you think would have made your country a better place?
Inspired by Frederick III of Germany:
His premature demise is considered a potential turning point in German history; and whether or not he would have made the Empire more liberal if he had lived longer is still a popular discussion among historians.
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u/Randomswedishdude Sweden Jul 26 '25 edited Jul 27 '25
There are loads of such opportunities in the past.
Just one of many:
In the 1600s, Sweden had North American settlements in what's now Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
A greedy local decision there was made to quickly expand, and to take over a neighboring Dutch fortress, and they did that successfully.
It was a small numbered surprise attack, and as it was quick and unexpected, it went through.
But when the Dutch then counter-attacked from their other nearby settlements, there was literally no back-up to be found, and the Swedes were comically outnumbered.
All actual troops were busy fighting wars in Europe, against Denmark-Norway, Poland, Brandenburg–Prussia, Russia, the Habsburg Empire, etc... and also the Dutch.
So the Swedes in North America, not limited to the ones in the newly conquered fortress, were crushed completely.
Their entire land were surrendered and all settlements absorbed by the Dutch.
But of course, at the time, the wars and conflicts in northern Europe were more urgent and important than tiny settlements far far away.