The post-war idea of European unification At the end of the second world war, there was a crisis in Europe of unprecedented proportions. Europe's industry had practically come to a halt due to destroyed infrastructures (bridges, ports, transport and communication systems); entire cities had been flattened by bombs; agricultural production in every war zone had fallen to half, leaving millions of people without enough to eat; and more than 50 million refugees and displaced persons were without homes. Moreover, the 60 million people who had been killed and the realization that its people were capable of barbaric cruelty left the Europeans deeply shaken. Since the policies after World War One had led to political instability, depression, and the rise of dictatorships, Europe was eager for economic recovery and policies that would foster unity and international cooperation. To achieve greater unity after World War II, nationalism, economic competition, and the cycle of blame had to be overcome. Many people had been drawn to nationalistic leaders in the interwar period out of economic frustration. Veterans had returned from World War I without finding a better life to repay their sacrifices and yet trained in violent means that they could resort to again. Recognizing this, many countries began wide-ranging social services after World War II to aid and protect their people. The concept of a welfare state had been in William Beveridge's 1942 Report for Britain's economic recovery. It included plans for national health care, put into place after the Labour party came into power and Clement Atlee became prime minister. Other western European countries did the same, providing health care, education, pensions and security for those unemployed in social programs paid for by taxation. Atlee also recognized that Britain's economic recovery depended on its resources being concentrated on social reform rather than the maintenance of an empire, which eventually led to decolonization that in turn would bring Britain to a desire to cooperate economically with its European neighbors.
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