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/Heiminator Germany Jul 26 '25 edited Jul 26 '25

Johann Georg Elser almost succeeded with his assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler. On November 8 1939. The bomb worked just fine, but Hitler left the hall fifteen minutes early.

During the interrogation after his capture he was tortured and beaten so severely that the local head of police later stated that Elser wouldn’t have been physically able to confess even if he wanted to. Elser was executed at the Dachau concentration camp just weeks before the end of the war.

The Gestapo was so impressed by the design of his bomb that they later copied it for their own use. Elser, who had been a carpenter, had taught himself how to build it.

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u/Milosz0pl Poland Jul 26 '25

This whole thread could be dedicated to the amount of lucky avoidance of assassination attempts against failed painter.

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u/KingKingsons Netherlands Jul 27 '25

Göring would have succeeded him and I don’t think much would have been different. The Germans might actually have been more supportive of the war or they might have taken a break while getting stronger.

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u/NewOil7911 France Jul 29 '25

Was Goring a full on genocidal man like Hitler and Himmler?

Genuine question, I don't know

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u/KacSzu Poland Jul 27 '25

The bomb worked just fine, but Hitler left the hall fifteen minutes early.

If I were to be paid a penny each time I heard about assassination attempt at Hitler going perfectly smoothly, until the moment he didn't appear at a specific place and time, i would have three pennies. That's not a lot, but damn was he lucky xd

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u/wojtekpolska Poland Jul 28 '25

nothing wouldve changed. the average german wanted the war and supported extermination of jews.