Europe Between the Wars

This is a splendid up-to-date overview of the political, international and economic history of Europe between the wars. It will be of invaluable use to both students and scholars alike. Its strengths lie in the breadth of coverage, the clarity of the narrative and the ease with which the authors interlards his story with analysis… This remains an admirable study which students will positively welcome for its clarity, breadth of content and overall good sense.

Professor Nicholas Atkin, University of Reading

 

Praise for the first edition:

This is an excellent, well-balanced exposition, giving a useful perspective on the between-war years.

Academic Library book review.

Kitchen’s book is not only enjoyable reading but can be read for professional benefit. I have no hesitation in recommending it.

History reviews of new books. Eric A Arnold, Jr. University of Denver.

 

The First World War left Europe traumatised and perplexed. It spawned Soviet Communism, Fascism and Nazism, strained democracies to the limit and contributed to the collapse of the world economy. The unthinkable became inevitable and a mere twenty-one years after “the war to end all wars”, Europewas once again in flames.

 

How did this happen? Martin Kitchen’s compelling account of Europe between the wars sets the twenty-year crisis within the context of the profound sense of cultural malaise shared by many philosophers and artists, the economic crises that plagued a Europe ruined by war and the social upheavals caused by widespread unemployment and grinding poverty amid a noticeable improvement of living standards.

 

This thoroughly revised edition, with completely new sections on intellectual, cultural and social history is richly illustrated with contemporary photographs. It is an up-to-date and lively account of a critical period of European history when the old world collapsed, the dictators offered seemingly exciting alternatives, and democracies were put to the supreme test.

 

Martin Kitchen is Professor Emeritus of history at Simon Fraser University, Canada. He is author of numerous books on European history, including The German Offensives of 1918 (2001), The Cambridge Illustrated History of Germany (2000) and Nazi Germany: A Critical Introduction (2004).

Martin Kitchen's compelling account of Europe between the wars sets the twenty-year crisis within the context of the profound sense of cultural malaise shared by many philosophers and artists, the economic crises that plagued a Europe ruined by war and the social upheavals caused by widespread unemployment and grinding poverty amid a noticeable improvement of living standards.

This thoroughly revised edition, with completely new sections on intellectual, cultural and social history is richly illustrated with contemporary photographs. It is an up-to-date and lively account of a critical period of European history when the old world collapsed, the dictators offered seemingly exciting alternatives, and democracies were put to the supreme test.

Written for undergraduate students studying 20th century European history, this new edition of a classic will challenge and provoke a deeper understanding of the interwar years.

The essential introduction to the age of dictators (1919-1939) entirely rewritten, restructured and updated.

• The last edition sold over 2900 copies

• The author is a popular authority on this period – he has written over 17 books

• Covers the often ignored countries of Eastern Europe, Italy, WeimarGermany, Britain, France, Spainand Nazi Germany.

• Completely new sections to enhance the understanding of today’s readers

'Professor Kitchen is altogether a shrewd, clear, balanced and often witty guide.'

The Times Educational Supplement

Martin Kitchen’s compelling account of Europe between the wars sets the twenty-year crisis within the context of the profound sense of cultural malaise shared by many philosophers and artists, the economic crises that plagued a Europe ruined by war and the social upheavals caused by widespread unemployment and grinding poverty amid a noticeable improvement of living standards.

Martin Kitchen is Professor emeritus of history at Simon Fraser University, Canada. The author of 17 books on European history, the most recent of which are ‘The German Offensives of 1918’ (2201) and ‘Nazi Germany : A Critical Introduction’(2004).

1.The Temper of the Times

2. The Peace Treaties

3. Inflation and Depression

4. European Society Between the Wars

5. Collective Security

6. The Soviet Union

7. Eastern Europe

8. Italian Fascism

9. The Weimar Republic

10. Britain

11. France

12. The Spanish Civil War

13. Nazi Germany

14. The Origins of the Second World War

Bibliography.