A Perfidious Distortion of History
the Versailles Peace Treaty and the success of the Nazis
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Scribe Publications
Published:9th Mar '17
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This hardback is available in another edition too:
- Paperback£9.99(9781911617280)
An Irish Independent book of the year.
A controversial and important work of revisionist history that rebuts the accepted version of the role of the Versailles Peace Treaty in the rise of Nazism and the unleashing of World War II.
The Versailles Peace Treaty, the pact that ended World War I between the German empire and the Allies, has not enjoyed a positive reputation since its signing in June 1919. Conventional wisdom has it that the treaty's requirements for massive reparation payments crippled the economy of the Weimar Republic and destabilised its political life. Ultimately, it is argued, the treaty prevented the seeds of democracy sown in the aftermath of the Great War from flourishing, and drove the German people into the arms of Adolf Hitler.
In this authoritative book, Jurgen Tampke disputes this commonplace view. He argues that Germany got away with its responsibility for World War I and its behaviour during it; that the treaty was nowhere near as punitive as has been long felt; that the German hyper-inflation of the 1920s was at least partly a deliberate policy to minimise the cost of paying reparations; and that World War II was a continuation of Germany's longstanding war aims.
‘In this highly readable account Jürgen Tampke tackles the much-debated and perennially fascinating question of whether the Treaty of Versailles caused the Second World War. He comes down firmly on the No side and produces a wealth of evidence and careful analysis to back his arguments. Anyone who is interested in what remains one of modern history’s most important debates will want to read this.’
-- Margaret MacMillan‘An intriguing and persuasive account by an experienced historian of the much-maligned Treaty of Versailles. This new book provides a fresh and often provocative account of a tangled story. It should help put to rest the persisting myth about the 1919 peace with Germany.’ -- Emeritus Professor David Walker
‘Gamely confronts the now-prevailing orthodoxy … deserves to be read.’
-- Roger Moorhouse * The Times *‘This is a fascinating and provocative re-assessment of one of the great conventional wisdoms of recent history, made all the more compelling by the Australian-based author's forceful and often witty delivery.’
-- Eamon Delaney * Irish Independent *‘An interesting perspective on the rise of the Nazis and World War II … A fascinating read.’
* Irish Examiner *‘This is an excellent book, which argues it case well. It should be widely read in the lead up to the centenary of the Armistice and peace settlement.’
* NZ International Revi- Long-listed for Australian Book Design Awards, Best Designed General Non-Fiction Book 2018 (Australia)
ISBN: 9781925228953
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
328 pages