Worst European moments

Throughout history, remarkable events and experiences have transformed the lives of Europeans, influenced their views of Europe,
and inspired them to fight for a cause. Europe’s Stories asked you to identify your formative, best and worst #EuropeanMoments.

The moments at the top are those most frequently mentioned by our interviewees

People in crowd holding EU flags and large red banners that read "make it another meaningful vote, history will still remember you"

Thomas Kowalski, CC BY-SA 4.0

Large pile of children's shoes

Mstyslav Chernov, CC BY-SA 4.0

Refugee/migrant crisis (2015)

Children in striped prison uniforms behind fence at Auschwitz liberation

Alexander Voroncov, USHMM/Russian Federation State Archives

World War II (1939-1945)

Protest in Dublin city center, people with large banners that read "workers united will never be defeated"

William Murphy, CC BY-SA 2.0

Financial and Eurozone Crisis (2008)

Instructional guide on washing hands used during COVID-19 pandemic

Guido4, CC BY-SA 4.0

COVID-19 Pandemic (2020)

White UN tank in wooded area

British Army photographer, Imperial War Museums, Public Domain

Bosnian and Yugoslav Wars (1992-1999)

Rally of people with Wirmer flag of Germany and Pegida flag

Metropolico.org, CC BY-SA 2.0

Rise of populism and far-right movements (2010)

Crowd of people at a march, one man holds a sign that reads "Je suis Charlie"

Pierre-Selim, CC BY-SA 2.0

Terrorist Attacks (2015)

Three men in military uniforms pointing guns at a border checkpoint

Sasha Maksymenko, CC BY 2.0

Ukraine Crisis and Crimean Annexation (2014)