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Now if I remember my 'Understanding Europe' module at College, well enough, some of the 'leading lights' of the EU started by proposing a customs union of the Benelux countries. This, formed the basis for the European Iron & Steel Community, which became one of the founding pillars of the Common Market.

With all the destruction that occured in WW1, could such a proposal have happened after WW1 rather than wait till after WW2? If that did occur, it is more likely that the trading co-operation would developed into a closer relationship - after all I believe the ethnic percentage ratio in the Benelux is similar to that of Switzerland.
Therefore if you have a region, that over a decade (from early 1920s) is co-operating together, and growing ever closer politically as a result. Union, becomes plausible; therefore how does the Benelux react to impending war, is it more able to defend itself, or is it more vulnerable because of trying to defend the 'country' too close to the old Dutch/German border!? But at least the Ardenne should be better defended!

Who knows more about Dutch/Belgium relations of the twenties & thirties?
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