1 post tagged “ajp taylor”

My first blog that is not on Myspace.  I do not like the system on myspace or just the set up.  I actually don't know and I was referred to this website; so in case any of the Party running Vox happens to read this empty string of metaphors and poorly constructed similes: they were very positive recommendations.

Recently, instead of studying for the LSAT; one of my strange goals is to try to get into Law School even though I don't know what type of law I would study, where I would go to school (so far I've narrowed the list down to the following: Havard, Yale, Stanford (even though I am so fucking tired of everyone glowing about the Lopez twins--I guess 7 foot stiffs are still worthy of people fawning over...I've seen two games and to be honest, the only reason they would make it to the next level is that they are 7' and can make one or two post moves.  I certainly hope the Bulls don't waste a lottery pick on Brock Lopez.  I really hope they don't.), UC-Berkeley, UCLA, UW-Madison, UT-Austin, Duke and then Florida and FSU only because I'm a Florida resident.) and forth; but as mentioned before, instead of studying for the LSAT, I cracked open two books that I purchased on Amazon.com.  Yes, I am addicted to Amazon.com, only because books are cheaper there and there's a greater selection online than what exists on base and is cheaper than anything out in town.

The two books are AJP Taylors Origins of the Second World War and Antony Beevor's Fall of Berlin 1945.  Until I finished Taylor's book, I have not read anything by this esteemed and controversial British historian; but I have read Antony Beevor's Stalingrad and his newest work on the Spanish Civil War, needless to say, Antony Beevor is an excellent historian.  Excellent in that he is able to convey through his prose the various storylines of historical events that are accessible to the casual reader.  While I can trudge my way through Roman history (except for the phrases in German and Latin...seeing that I took Latin only during summer sessions when I was in elementary school and only took one summer of German...and promptly forgot everything.), I am sure the average person would struggle with this book I only managed to trudge through the first 200 pages dealing with the Roman revolution; e.g. the era in Rome of the late Republic and the constant state of Civil War that plagued Rome with the rise of Sulla to the murder to Ceasar in the Senate to the final showdown between the old Ceasarian party members of Mark Antonius and Octavian. 

I'm not writing about Roman history; the subjects of Taylor's and Beevor's works are much more contemporary in comparison.  Oddly, the two books were a perfect compliment to each other; one giving a glimpse into the pre-war European scene and the events that lead to war culminating with the British and French declaring war on Germany on 3 September 1939; the other giving the account of the catastrophe (for the Germans) of the fall of Berlin to the Red Army in 1945. 

One of the most interesting points in Taylor's 'revisionist' history is that appeasement towards the German nation did not start in 1937 in regards to Czechoslovakia, but dating to after the signing of the Versailles Treaty in 1919; all fueled by the British acknowledging certain German complaints and eventually the French as well for issues pertaining to German greivances in Eastern Europe and also fueled by the military dogma of the French in the post World War I world of only defending the territorial integrity of the French nation, not that of others. 

The other is Taylor characterizing Adolph Hitler as an opportunist and gambler; either at times reckless when he felt that his demands would be met or was patient waiting for the alliance of the British and French to collapse and cede to his demands; this occured in Austria during the Anchlus and in 1937 Czechoslovakia.  Yet at the same time, he did not demonize or slander Chamberlain and Daledier either; but he does take time to emphasize the flip flopping position of appeasment and hardline stance towards Germany of Halifax.  Another tid bit that I didn't know and would like to look into was the actions of the Poles during the Czech crisis of 1937; in the face of the German demands of Sudeten Czechoslovakia, the Poles and Hungarians (the Hungarians to claim Slovakia which was old Mgymar territory of the now defunct Austria-Hungarian Empire) were also looking to carve up the newly created nation.  It is ironic though in a sense when considering that Poland claimed thier legitimacy as a nation (that had not existed since the 18th century)on the Versailles treaty and the new world order in Europe that it created that they stooped to old Polish imperial claims in Eastern Europe; and yet when victimized by the same imperialist attitude by the German and Soviet powers, they would scream 'uncle'!  The actions of the Poles into Czechoslovakia in 1937 did appear to influence the British to have a less than positive view of Polish claims in the face of German claims pertaining to Danzig. 

All very interesting. 

Beevor's book covers the epic final battle, the coup de grace of the Third Reich in Berlin.  What is strange is that there is not more literature dealing with the Russo-German war of 1941-1945.  Very little.  Norman Davies tires to remedy that with an overall overview of the European conflict of 1939-1945, covering the colossal clashes between the German Wehrmacht Heer and the Soviet Red Army.  Norman Davies actually starts off with a couple of questions for the reader to point out that the possible biases of the war:

Which were the five biggest battles of the War in Europe?

And keeping that in mind, which were the ten biggest battles in Europe? (Hint, Normandy is not even on this list)

Which were the main contending political ideologies contending for supremacy in the war?

There are others, but I dont have the book in front of me, so I cannot plagarize more from his fine prose. 

Needless to say, if you have never read anything about the Second World War in Europe, then it should be mandatory that one reads No Simple Victory: World War II in Europe, 1939-1945 by Norman Davies.  It's only 20 bucks on Amazon.com  Go buy it.

Well, I forgot what I was going to write next, so I'll end this first one.