A Companion to Europe 1900-1945

This Companion to Europe 1900-1945 brings together a distinguished group of international scholars to discuss the major debates in the study of early twentieth-century Europe. The volume outlines the great political and social upheavals of the period and the great changes in culture and the economy. Topics include imperial rivalries, the devastation of the First World War, the challenges of recovery, the rise of fascism and communism, and the horrors of World War II and the Holocaust. It offers helpful introductions to these tumultuous developments, provides an overview of current scholarly thinking, and illuminates perennial themes as well as new areas of inquiry.

The companion opens with a section on “continuity and change” addressing overarching themes and movements. The remaining five parts are organised chronologically, each one focusing on a particular period in time. In each of these chronological sections, scholars consider a range of social, economic, cultural, and political issues, paying particular attention to those questions which have attracted most debate. The approach throughout is pan-European, highlighting similarities and differences across nations and regions.