Nazi Occupation
The wartime resistance to Nazi occupation
ultimately set the stage for a more
unified Europe after World War II. The
war itself was responsible for changing
the opinions of many about the idea
of a unified Europe. For centuries, a great
deal of nationalism caused many
European nations to dispel any notions of a
European union. It was
thought that a unified body could not exist with such
differing countries.
However, during the war, these countries put their
differences aside to
achieve a common goal. This wartime unification continued
after the war into
the reconstruction period. Again, it was thought that the
European
community could ban together and repair their war-torn motherland. The
winds
of change swept through Europe carrying a new spirit. A
European
Federation seemed to be on the horizon. The idea of a federated
Europe was also
appealing to non-European countries. Delusions of grandeur
danced in the heads
of United States leaders regarding the possibility of a
European counterpart.
Even the Soviet Union was not opposed to European
unification. It appeared as if
things were too good to be true. And,
unfortunately, they were. At nearly the
same rate that the idea of a
federated Europe grew, it began to diminish.
Individual agendas to
reconstruct Europe surfaced. Political parties had changed
and more important
issues arose. The first order of business was the European
economy. Because
of the war, Europe had fallen behind economically and badly
needed to reclaim
its position as an economic leader. This coupled with the
regional threat of
communism and other war related domestic problems caused a
bump in the road
for integration. Once again, it was the same old story for
European
nations, before you clean up the neighborhood, take care of your own
back
yard. Although not immediately successful, the wheels were still in
motion
for a European Union. Many Resistance activists were not about to give
up just
yet. Europe had grown a little closer through the events during and
after World
War II. It simply needed a little more time to warm up to the
idea of
federation. Eventually, a European Union would result.