Between Two Fires: Europe's Path in the 1930s [Paperback]

David Clay Large (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 17, 1991

"An evocative re-creation of the European political climate of the 1930s . . . Large does a fine job of connecting these events." —Kirkus Reviews

A collection of essays on various incidents of European history that occurred in the 1930s which build up an image of Europe on the brink. Episodes are linked to illustrate this, such as the Stavinsky affair in France, the murder of Ernst Roehm, and the civil war in the red quarters of Vienna.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The collapse of Serge Stavisky's financial empire in France leads off this volume, which includes analyses of Austria's suppressed socialist uprising and Britain's little-known Jarrow Crusade in 1935. "Large . . . illuminates the final years of the interwar period through eight dramatic episodes, each of key significance to the history of 20th-century Europe," said PW. Photos.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

David Clay Large is professor of history at Montana State University and the author of Berlin (2000) and Where Ghosts Walked: Munich’s Road to the Third Reich (1997).

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (May 17, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393307573
• ISBN-13: 978-0393307573
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #580,465 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful read for any history buff, March 4, 2004

By 

christianwriter "christianwriter" (So*Cal) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Between Two Fires: Europe's Path in the 1930s (Paperback)

As a history major, I've read and seen my fair share of books used as texts. This one is a really good one required for my "Age of Dictators" course. It's easy to read and it's really, really interesting. Professor Large appears to be an excellent writer and historian. I am looking forward to reading more of his works.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A little gem of history!, January 21, 2005

By 

J. Prescott "History Teacher" (DE United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Between Two Fires: Europe's Path in the 1930s (Paperback)

A fantastic and well-written book about the events leading up to WWII. Excellent information for a mere 425 pages!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Complex Subject Made Simpler but not Simplistic, November 28, 2006

By 

The Lifelong Learner (Santa Monica) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Between Two Fires: Europe's Path in the 1930s (Paperback)

One of the best books on this murky period. The author's format is to put a microscope on a pivotal event in each country that was an important player in the development of European politics and policies which paved the way to WW2. These re-shaped Europe's will and ability to resist Hitler in the 5 short years from 1933-38. I like that he uses these to develop the shades of complexity of the situation, not to package everything up in a neat, simple explanation.

Examples:

FRANCE. 1933. In the Stavisky Affair and the "twilight of the third republic" yet another emanation of anti-semitism leads to several changes of government and a precarious balance between strong leftists and rightists who bring their grievances into bloody or threatened conflicts in the streets.

AUSTRIA. 1934. Socialists and fascists struggled for control of the ruins of the Hapsburg empire center. Fascists conduct a terror campaign eerily similar to Hamas or Hezbollah, and a bloody civil war followed.

ENGLAND. 1936. The Jarrow crusade shows how the country's democratic institutions and ideas of how to address grievances operate in stark contrast to the rise of strong men and civil war on the continent.

SOVIET UNION. 1933-38. "The revolution eats its children" as endless purges emasculated the army and made the country vulnerable to invasion. Duplicitous Stalin publicly demonized Hitler while cunningly working behind the shadows to be his ally.

And on it goes with Spain, Italy and Czechoslovakia. By the 1938 Munich conference we've seen a continent exhausted and still suffering the economic and psychological effects of the horribly mismanaged WW1. Governments have changed hands and most stand on shaky footing. Alliances are shifting. Everyone is tired of war except Hitler who is chomping at the bit. Historians dispute the interpretation of the Munich appeasement. It's clear that, while it bought everyone more "breathing space" to repair military deficiences, that Germany "breathed deeper."

The speed of re-positioning alliances should be instructive for us all. Highly recommended reading.