Thousands of people have joined rallies across Germany and other European countries to show their support for the idea of a united Europe. <br/><br/>The weekly demonstrations organized by a grassroots group calling itself Pulse of Europe began at the end of 2016 to counter growing nationalist sentiment on the continent and attendant opposition to the European Union.'<br/><br/>Participants in Berlin said they turned out for a wide variety of reasons, but primarily to support the values, culture and openness that have developed in the seven decades since Europe was ripped apart by World War II.'<br/>