Origins of World War II
14.99 €
In stock
Origins of World War II
14.99 €
When the book The Origins of the Second World War by one of the most celebrated British historians, Alan J. P. Taylor, was published in 1961, it caused not only a sensation but also a scandal. Taylor, with diplomatic documents in hand, challenged the version convenient to everyone that Hitler alone and exclusively was to blame for the recent pan-European conflict, implementing his carefully constructed plan to foment a major war. Instead, Taylor comes to the conclusion that Hitler was, above all, an aggressive opportunist with fantasies of grandeur and that a huge number of factors, from the objective balance of potentials of European states to internal contradictions in Western societies, also led to Britain and France declaring war on Germany in September 1939. Historians often do not like what happened; they would like things to be different. But there is nothing they can do about it. The historian’s duty is to tell the truth as it appears to him; he should not worry whether it refutes or confirms established prejudices.
Over the past 60-odd years, Taylor's book has undoubtedly become a monument to historical thought - too many facts have been made public, established and clarified during this time - but it continues to be reprinted and influence the course of discussion about these still defining historical events.
Over the past 60-odd years, Taylor's book has undoubtedly become a monument to historical thought - too many facts have been made public, established and clarified during this time - but it continues to be reprinted and influence the course of discussion about these still defining historical events.
See also:
- All books by the publisher
- All books by the author