Reply #27: Brittain's issues was a continental competition

[AllentownJake]

Italy and Germany were easily controlled city states till the 19th century. When they merged into two real states, they ended up competing with the British and French on all fronts, rather quickly.

All of the resources they acquired over 150 years of dominating Europe were eaten up in two wars. At the end of the day, they had a stalemate with Germany twice before their trans-continental cousins came and rescued them-for a price.