1939: Countdown to War - Hardcover

Overy, Richard

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0670022098 ISBN 13: 9780670022090

Publisher: Viking, 2010

Synopsis

A leading historian re-creates the final hours of peace in Europe.

On August 24, 1939, the world held its collective breath as Hitler and Stalin signed the now infamous nonaggression pact, signaling an imminent invasion of Poland and daring Western Europe to respond.

In this dramatic account of the final days before the outbreak of World War II, award-winning historian Richard Overy vividly chronicles the unraveling of peace, hour by grim hour, as politicians and ordinary citizens brace themselves for a war that could spell the end of European civilization. Nothing was entirely predictable or inevitable. The West hoped that Hitler would see sense if they stood firm. Hitler was convinced the West would back down. Moments of uncertainty alternated with those of confrontation; secret intelligence was used by both sides to support their hopes. The one constant feature was the determination of Poland, a country created only in 1919, to protect its newfound independence against a vastly superior enemy. 1939 documents a defining moment in the violent history of the twentieth century.

About this title

About the Author

Richard Overy is Professor of Modern History at King's College, London. He has written extensively on modern German and European history, and is the author of Russia's War and The Penguin Atlas of the Third Reich.

Reviews

In this short book, stating that "nothing in history is inevitable," University of Essex professor Overy (Why the Allies Won) strives to explain what led to the outbreak of WWII after years of tension and appeasement. He focuses on the diplomatic maneuvering during "the extraordinary ten days of drama," August 24 to September 3, 1939, demonstrating that diplomats in London, Paris, and Berlin wanted to avoid a world war. But Overy traces the events and decisions that moved the two allies, sworn to defend Polish independence, from efforts at deterrence to a willingness to fight after Hitler invaded Poland. Overy is best in portraying the diplomatic wrangling, taking readers inside an explosive meeting between Neville Henderson, Britain's ambassador to Berlin, and German foreign minister Joachim von Ribbentrop. He also uncovers some surprising facts, such as France's last-minute wavering in confronting Hitler and that the Nazi leader, in exchange for Britain acquiescing in his Polish takeover, promised to guarantee the British empire. The last-minute diplomacy Overy describes is fascinating, but there is too little political, military, and sociocultural background to provide context for readers unfamiliar with the period.
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Given the personality and ambitions of Hitler and the ideological nature of the Nazi regime, the outbreak of WWII in Europe is often seen as inevitable after the betrayal of the Czechs at Munich. Professor Overy doesn’t dispute the idea that, in the long term, military opposition to Hitler had to happen. However, the invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939; the subsequent declaration of war by Britain and France; and the short-term military aspects of the conflict were the consequences of a series of decisions made by a small number of men during the months preceding the outbreak of war. Of course, we know how the story ends, but Overy effectively utilizes primary sources to build up dramatic tension as the clock ticks down. Some of his assertions and conclusions go against the grain and should generate controversy. Chamberlain, while not a a tower of strength, had no illusions concerning Hitler’s ultimate aims. The Poles may have hastened the outbreak of war by refusing to compromise over the city of Danzig. Hitler correctly anticipated a short war against Poland but neither sought nor expected a wider war. This is an interesting and often provocative description of Europe descending into an abyss. --Jay Freeman

Edition details

• Publisher: Viking
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0670022098
• ISBN 13: 9780670022090
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 176