The Origins of the Second World War in Europe (Origins of Modern War Series) [Paperback]

P.M.H. Bell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1986 | ISBN-10: 0582491126 | ISBN-13: 978-0582491120

In this famous book Philip Bell examines the European origins of the Second World War from three different angles: first, he sets out the various explanations which have been offered for the war, and discusses the historiographical debates to which they have given rise; he then analyses the major underlying forces - ideological, economic and strategic - that were at work in Europe during the 1930s; and in his final section he traces the course of events from 1932, when Europe was visibly at peace, via the initial oubreak of hostilities in 1939, right through to June 1941, when the German attack on the Soviet Union marked the climax of the acceleration into general conflict.

P.M.H.BELL is Senior Research Fellow at the University of Liverpool. Longman recently published his two-volume study of Franco-British relations in the twentieth century, as France and Britain 1900-1940: Entente and Estrangement and France and Britain 1940-1994: The Long Separation.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'...the accuracy, precision, and balance are outstanding... a remarkable synthesis.' "American Historical Review" 'Bell's new book transcends [A.J.P.] Taylor and can replace him.' "Albion" --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Back Cover

"At last we have a good survey of Europe's route to World War II.  P.M.H. Bell's study in Longman's Origins of Modern Wars series is a worthy sequel to its distinguished predecessor, James Joll's The Origins of the First World War.  It deals almost entirely with Europe, leaving Japan to Akira Iriye's companion volume, The Origins of the Second World War in Asia and the Pacific...On the whole the accuracy, precision, and balance are outstanding.  Bell's words are carefully chosen, and he has produced a remarkable synthesis, complete with concrete detail and intelligent but not excessive use of statistics.  The resulting work is reliable and judicious, very erudite but never ponderous."Sally Marks, AMERICAN HISTORICAL REVIEW (of the First Edition) In this famous book Philip Bell examines the European Origins of the Second World War from three different angles: first, he sets out the various explanations which have been offered for the war, and discusses the historiographical debates to which they have given rise; he then analyses the major underlying forces - ideological, economic and strategic - that were at work in Europe during the 1930s; and in his final section he traces the course of events from 1932, when Europe was visibly at peace, via the inital outbreak of histoilities in 1939, right through to June 1941, when the German attack on the Soviet Union marked the climax f the acceleration into general conflict. The First Editioon appeared in 1986 to general acclaim.  Since then it has been through twelve printings and sold 30,000 copies.  Now, in this welcome Second Edition, Philip Bell has fully revised his text to take account of a decade of fresh scholarshio, of newly available sources, and of the opportunities for reconsideration that longer perspectives allow.  his main changes are concentrated on the discussions of Hitler and German policy, on the role of France, and on Britain and 'appeasement'.  The opportunity has also been take to erset the entire text in a less dense and more user-friendly format. "Bell's new book transcends (A.J.P.) Taylor and can replace him.  Bell has delved more thoroughly into the intricate problems they both treat.  He scintillates less, but handles the evidence more fairly, and is less sure that he knows all the answers."M.R.D. Foot, ALBION "This is a vast topic, and all one can do, by way of brief review, is to commend the masterly equity, lucidity and inclusiveness of Philip Bell's survey of its bewildering complexities."Martin Fagg, TIMES EDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENT "lucid, balanced and sane"Eric Summers, HISTORY TEACHING REVIEW P.M.H. Bell is Senior Research Fellow at the University of Liverpool.  Longman recently published his two-volume study of Franco-British relations in the twentieth century, as France and Britain 1900-1940: Entente and Estrangement and France and Britain 1940-1994: The Long Separation.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Longman Pub Group (August 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0582491126
• ISBN-13: 978-0582491120
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,446,764 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lucid Analysis, April 8, 2005

By 

R. Albin (Ann Arbor, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Origins of the Second World War in Europe, The (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

This concise and very well written book is thoughtful distillation of the enormous literature related to the onset of WWII in Europe. The simple question, who started WWII, has a simple answer. It was Adolf Hitler. The simple answer obscures a whole series of considerably more difficult questions. How did a marginal figure and 4th-rate ideologue like Hitler come to rule the most powerful state in Europe? Why wasn't there more initial resistance to Hitler? What was the role of the Great Depression? To what extent did the post-WWI settlement lead to WWII? What was the role of the Soviet Union and Stalin? Many other questions arise. Bell deals with many of these issues in a series of well crafted chapters. The book opens by framing the issues, including a short but worthwhile discussion of historiographic issues, follows by discussing underlying factors such as ideology, economics, the role of the depression, the roles of the military postures adopted by the major actors, and then concludes with a nice narrative of the outbreak of war. Bell very intelligently extends his narrative beyond 1939 to the 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union, pointing out that it is these later events that allow assessment of the role of key ideological factors in the coming of WWII. This book is worth reading just for the chapters dealing with the consequences of the Great Depression. A theme throughout the book is the limited options possessed by the leaders of France and Britain. Given their internal political situations, some form of appeasement was inevitable, though consistently unpalatable. I have a couple of minor complaints. I don't think Bell deals with the uncertain nature of politics in the Weimar Republic. Hitler's accession to power was not inevitable. While some form of reactionary German government bent on reversing the settlement of WWI was probably inevitable, it could have been one dominated by more traditional conservatives. This type of leadership would have been amenable to the type of accomodation and diplomacy attempted by Chamberlain and the French leadership. It is clear also, in retrospect, that few in Europe really understood the depth of the Nazi racial preoccupations and their bizarre model of history, a tragic though understandable mistake.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent study on the subject, a wealth of info - a must read for those interested in the origins of the war, June 8, 2011

By 

Carl (U.K.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Origins of the Second World War in Europe (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

In this first-class analysis, Bell explores the origins of the Second World War. Rather than working through one crisis at a time in chronological order, from the beginning of the book, to provide an answer to the question of why the war began; Bell initially investigates, using the first two thirds of the book, the competing theories and other factors to provide excellent background information on the subject: Bell discusses the thirty year war thesis then the evidence and information brought forth that possibly refutes said thesis, the various economic debates, the range of opinions that surrounds AJP Taylor's work, how ideology played a role in influenced events, and how the various armed forces and politics played their part in shaping the inter-war years and the road to war.

Following this Bell spends the final section of the book discussing the various crises, treaties and other major events that made up the 1930s, the early war year and finally the German assault on the USSR; as Bell notes to explain why the war started, one has to proceed past the German invasion of Poland - the invasion of the Soviet Union presenting a possible answer to why war was started but at the same time raising completely new questions to why that attack was launched. Bell tackles the claims made by Viktor Suvorov that the USSR was going to attack Germany and repeatedly notes throughout the book how Stalin went out of his way to help Hitler, improve relations and was on the whole more concerned with the Japanese - they did not want war. In addition Bell continues to note in all sections of the book the social attitude and reaction to various issues discussed and the outbreak of war.

Overall, while providing a much more complete overview of the various problems and crisis that arose throughout the interwar years, this work is the polar opposite of such works as AJP Taylor. Taylor argues that the war came about almost by accident and that Hitler took advantage of situations that arose, that he did not really want a war. Bell argues that while Hitler did exploit situations these fitted into a long term plan and was far from being "beer house talk"; these long term goals were discussed repeatedly by Hitler and other key members of the Nazi regime at meetings/conferences/rally's etc throughout the 1930s and that men under these key people acted on this long term plan for example starting the "Ural Bomber" project in the early 30s, and the massive military build-up that occurred during the mid to late 30s. As Bell cynically notes if Hitler meant only half of what he said, war was inevitable; although he argues at length about the myriad of choices made by men at all levels throughout the major countries and how these pushed towards or away from war, at the end of the day the initiative laid with one nation and one man - war would only truly be avoided if Hitler backed down and acted reasonably.

A truly excellent work that is well sourced, presents all sides of the arguments, and still leaves room for Bell's own opinion on the subject. A wealth of information is available and the book will be an excellent resource for those studying the subject.

7 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, October 21, 2000

By 

J.R.G. (Big Stone Gap, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Origins of the Second World War in Europe, The (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

Bell does a fine job of looking at just what brought about the Second World War. He explains its connections to the Great War, by first discussing the idea of a Thirty Years War, and by then examining how the first war and its results brought about the second. Bell also provides readers with the roles and views of the various ideologies and the many desires for and against war, and also the many strategies involved with each of the main players. An excellent book for anyone wishing to better understand the differing forces and actions which brought about this war.