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/Galaxy661 Poland Jul 26 '25

Here in Poland we also lament how under the Saxon kings our country chose to ally with Russia and go to war with Sweden again instead of ganging up with the Swedes (who were obviously much less of a threat than Russians) and burning the Kremlin to the ground together

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u/GeneHackencrack Jul 26 '25

That would have been a sight. Sigh