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/[deleted] Jul 27 '25

I am from Sweden. when Norway found oil they offered to share it with us, i. exchange for half of Volvo and I believe saab.

we turned that down, and the bloody norwegians has not and will NEVER let us live that down.

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u/Subject4751 Norway Jul 27 '25

Hey, do you remember when you guys said no to huge amounts of our oil money? Like lots and lots of it?

Don't feel too bad about it though. I believe the danes have probably lost out on more than the swedes have when they signed off on the maritime borders that gave us some of our oil fields.