To Hell and Back: Europe 1914-1949 [The Penguin History of Europe #8]

'Chilling... To Hell and Back should be required reading in every chancellery, every editorial cockpit and every place where peevish Euroskeptics do their thinking…. Kershaw documents each and every ‘ism'of his analysis with extraordinary detail and passionate humanism.'—The New York Times Book ReviewThe Penguin History of Europe series reaches the twentieth century with acclaimed scholar Ian Kershaw's long-anticipated analysis of the pivotal years of World War I and World War II. The European catastrophe, the long continuous period from 1914 to 1949, was unprecedented in human history—an extraordinarily dramatic, often traumatic, and endlessly fascinating period of upheaval and transformation. This new volume in the Penguin History of Europe series offers comprehensive coverage of this tumultuous era. Beginning with the outbreak of World War I through the rise of Hitler and the aftermath of the Second World War, award-winning British historian Ian Kershaw combines his characteristic original scholarship and gripping prose as he profiles the key decision makers and the violent shocks of war as they affected the entire European continent and radically altered the course of European history. Kershaw identifies four major causes for this catastrophe: an explosion of ethnic-racist nationalism, bitter and irreconcilable demands for territorial revisionism, acute class conflict given concrete focus through the Bolshevik Revolution, and a protracted crisis of capitalism. Incisive, brilliantly written, and filled with penetrating insights, To Hell and Back offers an indispensable study of a period in European history whose effects are still being felt today. The Penguin History Of Europe Series Reaches The Twentieth Century With ... Ian Kershaw's Long-anticipated Analysis Of The Pivotal Years Of World War I And World War Ii. The European Catastrophe, The Long Continuous Period From 1914 To 1949, Was Unprecedented In Human History-- An Extraordinarily Dramatic, Often Traumatic, And Endlessly Fascinating Period Of Upheaval And Transformation. This New Volume In The ... Series Offers Comprehensive Coverage Of This Tumultuous Era. Beginning With The Outbreak Of World War I Through The Rise Of Hitler And The Aftermath Of The Second World War, [the Author] Profiles The Key Decision Makers And The Violent Shocks Of War As They Affected The Entire European Continent And Radically Altered The Course Of European History. Kershaw Identifies Four Major Causes For This Catastrophe: An Explosion Of Ethnic-racist Nationalism, Bitter And Irreconcilable Demands For Territorial Revisionism, Acute Class Conflict Given Concrete Focus Through The Bolshevik Revolution, And A Protracted Crisis Of Capitalism. [this Book] Offers [a] Study Of A Period In European History Whose Effects Are Still Being Felt Today--amazon.com. Introduction: Europe's Era Of Self-destruction -- On The Brink -- The Great Disaster -- Turbulent Peace -- Dancing On The Volcano -- Gathering Shadows -- Danger Zone -- Towards The Abyss -- Hell On Earth -- Quiet Transitions In The Dark Decades -- Out Of The Ashes. Ian Kershaw. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. In the summer of 1914 most of Europe plunged into a war so catastrophic that it unhinged the continent's politics and beliefs in a way that took generations to recover from. The disaster terrified its survivors, shocked that a civilization that had blandly assumed itself to be a model for the rest of the world had collapsed into a chaotic savagery beyond any comparison. In 1939 Europeans would initiate a second conflict that managed to be even worse - a war in which the killing of civilians was central and which culminated in the Holocaust. Ian Kershaw gives a compelling narrative of events, but he also wrestles with the most difficult issues that the events raise - with what it meant for the Europeans who initiated and lived through such fearful times - and what this means for us Title Page Copyright List of Illustrations List of Maps Acknowledgements Preface Introduction: Europe’s Era of Self-Destruction 1 On the Brink 2 The Great Disaster 3 Turbulent Peace 4 Dancing on the Volcano 5 Gathering Shadows 6 Danger Zone 7 Towards the Abyss 8 Hell on Earth 9 Quiet Transitions in the Dark Decades 10 Out of the Ashes Photographs Select Bibliography Index