To Hell and Back: Europe 1914-1949 (The Penguin History of Europe)

I grew up in Italy and so I knew nothing of the history of eastern Europe. I learned a grat deal from this book. I recommend it.

Just what we were looking for, book came fast and is in great condition, no marks or bends.

This is an extraordinary history of the boiling struggles in Europe during the first half of the twentieth century, a period marked by two brutal wars, each driven by the ambitions and goals of the major European nation states. These wars brought death and destruction to wide swaths of Europe, leaving millions – many millions – dead or incapacitated. Ian Kershaw tackles this vast subject with his customary great eye for detail and his even greater capacity to make plain sense out of a series of tortuously twisted facts.How could Russia have wound up on the Allied side of the second World War? How could the great culture of Germany have given life and support to a madman? How could the post-war world fall into such a tortuous face-off between the two great Allies, Russia and the United States? What can these two terrible conflicts say about the road ahead?I came away from this history of Europe in the early to mid-20th century fascinated with the interplay of force. These ranged from Germany, somewhat unfortunately located in the dead center of the European continent, relentlessly developing its military, commercial and cultural powers, a Russian state coming apart during the first world war and then using its immense resources to maul the German army in the second war and, more sadly, France, a major factor in the first world war but an exhausted and even somewhat pathetic relic in the second world war.The story of these two wars has been told many times. Kershaw’s history is very short on the details of the wars -- in fact, Eisenhower is not even mentioned in this 500 page book, the invasion of Africa and then Europe in the second war is nowhere to be found, the gradual involvement of the United States, of pivotal importance in both wars, is left virtually untouched. Quite clearly, this is not a military history. It is far more a discussion of national ambitions, political maneuvering, and – in the end – a scathing commentary on the vicious brutality of the Nazi regime in its efforts to reshape the population of Europe through the near-successful extermination of the Jews, one of the saddest chapters in the history of the world.The scarcity of a military view of these two wars is not a weakness. Kershaw knows all the details in both wars. He has written definitive accounts of Hitler’s rise and of the fateful decisions during the second great war. He is a careful and thoughtful historian of European affairs, with all of its complexities, in the second half of the twentieth century. In this absorbing book, he concentrates on the causes of the conflicts; he examines the people of Europe who made the major decisions that led to the wars and then led to the consequences of the wars. He deals with the histories of the major countries in Europe with an eye trained on what each country wanted from its involvement. Poland wanted security from the Russian bear to its east; France wanted safety from Germany; Russia wanted to expand its presence in the Balkans and ultimately into the heart of Europe; Britain wanted to keep European powers balanced, with none able to exert its unrestrained will; Germany wanted a larger slice of European land. Each had its own agenda.This marvelous history, as much a history of ideas as it is of the two wars fought on European soil during the twentieth century, ends with a look at Europe emerging from this chaos in far stronger shape than it had ever had been in the first half of the century, regaining its balance and now capable of a greater impact on the way the world works than ever before.

The thoughtful reader will approach Mr. Kershaw’s book with the respect due an historian of his caliber and with a sincere appreciation of the enormity of his task. The book’s shortcomings are a natural consequence of its ambitious scope and the necessary limitations of such a project.In a way Mr. Kershaw writes his own review in the Preface. To his credit he acknowledges the “multiplicity of extremely complex problems” that characterizes this period. He admits that he will “rely heavily on the pioneering research of others,” to provide a “bird’s-eye” view. Thus there is nothing new in this volume and there is certainly nothing of the revisionist about him. The “personalized” approach to which he confesses may amount to little more than a few chummy anecdotes and a point of view that is distinctly Anglocentric and vaguely Marxist.The prose is thoughtful, clean and strong if not compelling. The content is as comprehensive as circumstances will allow, the material well organized, the bibliography extensive. The best pages of the book deal with a side-by-side comparison, in plain language, of the totalitarian states of Germany, Italy and the Soviet Union. His account of the immediate post-war (II) chaos- the meting out of “justice” in its various forms by individuals, groups and governments, in a variety of ways and in differing areas; relocation, resettlement, repatriation, and of course revenge, etc.- is a sobering reminder that wars rarely “end” as simply as they often seem to begin.If Mr. Kershaw’s book provokes controversy it will less from what he asserts than from what he has felt compelled to omit- victims perhaps of the “personalized approach” or the “bird’s-eye” view. And I fear that in the attempt to create an accounting that will satisfy everyone, he will satisfy no one. Each reader may find his/her own special area of interest overlooked, dismissed or otherwise neglected. (A few examples of my own: The French role in the failure of Creditanstaldt (1931) and the subsequent bank failures warrants a few more sentences; while crediting (deservedly) the heroism of the Red Army to “Patriotism and Marxist-Leninist ideology” (p 379), no mention is made of general Order No. 270 (1941), 227 (1942), nor of NKVD “blocking units;” the British blockade of 1914-19 and the entry of the United States on the Allied side gets a kind, generous treatment (pretty much the Oxford-schoolboy party line); and the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 gets exactly two sentences, identical in content, separated by 300 pages.)The objectivity and detachment that we seem to require from professional historians can often leave us with a portrait done in drab, timid pastels, lacking in emotional profile. The “bird’s-eye” perspective he provides is from such heights that detail, immediacy and relevance are often sacrificed.This book might serve well as a basic text for a college-level course of the same name, as long as there’s plenty of supplemental reading and ample time for thoughtful discussion.

This is how history should be written and reviewed. For me I loathe the kings and queens type of history which is in the majority of cases dull and basically pro orthodoxy propaganda. History should be about what happens to populations, ideas, countries and politics and not be used as a means of bolstering the reputation of kings and queens or presidents either.The author writes in a very clear style and the book is well organised. As we go through the book, questions are answered well by the author of how and why things happened. He also deals with the ideas that brought us to this mess.As I was reading it, I couldn't help thinking how poorly understood these events are. All we seem to have left now are street parties and some very poor use of the events as propaganda. Reading this should show people for a start why politics matters. All of the tragedies in this book were created by politicians and people who made terrible choices often because they had hit rock bottom. Countries on the continent suffered horrendously. As bad as things got in the UK, the country got off relatively lightly compared to those.The author knocks down a few myths in the book too, some of which will probably not be welcome by jingoists.Thoroughly recommended.

To someone wishing to have an introduction to twentieth century European history, 550 pages may seem off-putting. However, my advice would be to persevere. Although the subject matter is hard, Ian Kershaw`s language is extremely accessible and he draws you into what is, essentially, the ultimate thriller.In these 550 pages you basically have everything you need to know about the first half of Europe`s twentieth century i.e. both world wars, the lead up to both world wars, and the turbulent years in between. If you want to know how Mussolini came to power, it is here. If you want to know how Hitler came to power, it is here. If, like me, you are interested in what was happening in countries like Slovakia and Hungary in 1918 - 1920, again, it is here.I had expected this book to be mainly a political and military history, but social and cultural history is also covered, and very well. For example, the great novels of the period are discussed e.g. Ernst Juenger`s Storm of Steel, Aldous Huxley`s Brave New World and George Orwell`s The Road to Wigan Pier amongst others. Indeed, George Orwell allows the author to show his sense of humour, when Ian Kershaw gently chastises George Orwell for not attending the Wigan 10 - 17 Liverpool Stanley Rugby League game in February 1936 while he was preparing to write The Road to Wigan Pier. Yes, amazingly, Ian Kershaw does manage some lighter moments into this seminal history.If you are an A level student of European history or a European languages student or a European area studies student, you have to read this book.

A magnificent overview of the period between 1933 and 1949. Although it paints with a broad brush stroke, this account is not superficial It is accessible to the lay person but not over-simplified. Kershaw has a great gift for 'joining up the dots' , for presenting the wide, complex sweep of events in this period in a sure and comprehensible way. AS another reviewer comments, I was also impressed with his inclusion of cultural and spiritual details, which added a fascinating dimension to the political narrative. The inclusion of quotes from novels of the time brings it to life. He also presents some thought-provoking comments on the role of Catholic and Protestant churches during this period - and none of them come out looking very 'righteous', apart from a few brave dissidents.Unlike certain other historians, Kershaw is not partisan in his analysis of WW2 and its causes. He steers a steady course between the extremes of right and left and leaves readers to make up their own minds. Of course all history is subject to bias but I think he did a pretty good job letting the narrative speak for itself.I cannot recommend this account highly enough and I look forward to reading the next in the series.

You might think, in view of the period covered, that this book would be full of military campaigns and generals. In fact, the generals get hardly a mention and the military aspects only enough coverage to allow for understanding who were winners and losers. the book concentrates on the socio-political history and attempts to show political cause and consequence. Thus Kershaw explains not only the horror of Stalin's persecutions and deportations, but also his (twisted) logic. Same with Hitler: not just what he did but why. In no way does he defend their actions, but he shows what was going on in their paranoid minds. He shows how the political failures and naivety of the western powers allowed Hitler to get ahead of the game and also how his backers in Germany only realised afterwards what a monster they had allowed to be born. The suffering and hunger of millions is of course a major theme, as is the to and fro between conservatism and socialism. The link between weak democracy and vulnerability to demagogues is likewise demonstrated. Overall, a very worthwhile if somewhat laborious read.

A very timely reminder of what can happen, and did happen, when Europe gives up trying to cooperate and descends into chaos. We are very lucky to be alive today and not in the first half of the 20th century like our grand and great-grand parents. Ian Kershaw's great skill is in describing a Europe which is not so different from the one we know today despite the technological developments of the past 70 years. The two World Wars are not so long ago, and far too recent to be forgotten now.