The Origins of the Second World War Reconsidered: A.J.P. Taylor and the Historians, Second Edition

Rating:
Summary: Antidote to Taylor
Review: Origins of the Second World War is a collection of twelve essays, each by a distinguished scholar who focus on a particular aspect of the inter-war period. In all, each is respectful of Taylor's contentions, but all find that Taylor was incomplete or wrong in his analysis. Robert Young shows that the French people,politicians, & military were not resigned to pacifism and defeat. They were opponents of Britain's appeasement of Germany, but, realized that France needed Britain to offset Germany's superior numbers. Norman Rich argues that Hitler did have a plan of conquest for exploiting/exterminating non-Ayrans in his quest for lebensraum in the east. Paul Kennedy acknowledges that many of Taylor's judgements have stood the test of time but criticizes Taylor's omission of the military,financial,industrial, and strategic weaknesses of Britain and its Empire. Piotr Wandycz criticizes Taylor's superficial presentation of Poland, and, his lack of understanding of Poland's relations with Britian,France,and Germany. The other eight chapters are also critical of Taylor. In all , an antidote to Taylor's less than convincing contentions on the Origins of WWII.