Diplomacy between the Wars

[steviejay]

Ok it's that time again where I get an urge to read more historical books.

After working my way through some Low pictures I've realised that my knwoledge isn't as good as it was when I was at school so i'd like to remedy it.

Can anyone suggest any good books describing Europe between the wars? In one Low cartoon it talks of how 'Naval Peace' has been destroyed by 'Frances Submarine Policy', what Submarine Policy? how did it come out? how did it change? Or about the Washington naval Treaty, I know very little about that and it's impact. Or how about the Russian/Polish war of the early 1920's? There's so much I'd like to know.

Could anyone help me out with some good books to read?

 

[AxiomUk]

Right, well, the best place to start is to take an overview into account with regards to Europe in the inter-war period. It's unfortunate that this time period also happens to be the rise of Fascism in Europe so many writers focus on either that or Marxism, both being significant.

Most people wouldn't go far wrong to use Stephen J. Lee's book 'The European Dictatorships' to get a feel for the interwar period. There is a book which I don't recall seeing by M. Kitchen called 'Europe Between the Wars' which might be useful for you to begin with.

On the subject of politically orientated cartoons, the best bet to figure out what they are on about is to place the cartoon specifically within the timeframe of it's publication and look up events of that time.

Some of the major highlights in Europe in the inter-war period are generally assumed to be: France and the Third Republic (along with the slightly significant Fascist movements), Bolshevik Russia and the end of the Tsars, the collapse of Weimar Germany and the Rise of Nazi Germany, Mussolini's rise to power and consolidation.

Other countries of course experienced events, but the major powers saw some serious reshuffling. Britain escaped relatively unharmed in comparison to the rest but still went through a small shakeup.

Web-wise, Wikipedia can give you some basic information, but don't take it all at factual level, consider it the factual equivalent of someone down the pub talking at you after a few pints. Reason for this is - if you want a serious debate, Wikipedia's material is laughable with regards to academics. It's just good to get a taster of what events there are and then you look them up.

 

[REDY]

http://www.weeklyuniverse.com/2003/poland.htm

 

[steviejay]

Ok thank you very much, I'll take that under consideration next time I'm in the book store