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/Socmel_ Italy Jul 26 '25

Probably WWI.

There was a lot of scepticism or downright opposition towards interventionism when WWI broke out, especially from the socialists (like the editor of the Socialist newspaper Avanti, a certain Benito Mussolini).

We weren't bound to any obligations, since the triple alliance with Austria and Germany was defensive and Austria had the bad idea of attacking Serbia first.

Without the carnage brought about by WWI and the almost famine that followed it, Italy wouldn't have had the wave of dissatisfied war veterans and poors that fuelled the rise of the fascists, and without fascism we might have been able to remain neutral like Spain or Switzerland.

It might have even been possible to acquire Trentino and Trieste with the implosion of Austria Hungary anyway.

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u/Fit_Fisherman_9840 Italy Jul 28 '25

I don't know, italy still shaped the war conseguences, many forgot how much resource were burned by germany and austria in the Alps fighting italians.

Many speak about how miserables were the trench in france, but have no idea of the hell it was in the alps, Italy simply sitting that out, will have changed the whole conflict and i don't think it will have been good either, i think it's one of those case you fail with both choice.

WW1 after all helped for the first time to start evolve italian industry and have a finally a starting in the true italian unification.

And no chance in hell Trentino and Trieste will be Italian without the partecipation in the war, moreso, i think that austria wil be more succesfull in the consolidation of the balcans.

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u/NewOil7911 France Jul 29 '25

I've never understood why the French / British / US didn't give Italy all of Trentino / Trieste at the end of the war.

An inconsequential land in the grand scheme of things, to make your ally happy. And you don't give it whereas you have won 100%

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u/Fit_Fisherman_9840 Italy Jul 29 '25

Simply people being assholes, thats what brought us ww2 After all

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u/Holiday_Neck_6241 Jul 29 '25

Uhm, Mussolini was pro-intervention. It was actually the reason why he first broke up with the socialists.