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  • Textbook
  • © 2001

From Versailles to Pearl Harbor

The Origins of the Second World War in Europe and Asia

  • Deals in depth with the role of East Asia in making the European war of 1939 into a global war in 1941
    Four maps and a fully annotated bibliography support the text

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Table of contents (10 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xv
  2. The First World War

    • Margaret Lamb, Nicholas Tarling
    Pages 1-20
  3. The Peace Settlements

    • Margaret Lamb, Nicholas Tarling
    Pages 21-44
  4. The Implementation of the Peace Settlements

    • Margaret Lamb, Nicholas Tarling
    Pages 45-70
  5. The Depression

    • Margaret Lamb, Nicholas Tarling
    Pages 71-91
  6. The End of Collective Security

    • Margaret Lamb, Nicholas Tarling
    Pages 92-111
  7. Appeasement

    • Margaret Lamb, Nicholas Tarling
    Pages 112-137
  8. The War of 1939

    • Margaret Lamb, Nicholas Tarling
    Pages 138-159
  9. The War of 1941

    • Margaret Lamb, Nicholas Tarling
    Pages 160-181
  10. Conclusions

    • Margaret Lamb, Nicholas Tarling
    Pages 182-193
  11. Epilogue

    • Margaret Lamb, Nicholas Tarling
    Pages 194-200
  12. Back Matter

    Pages 201-238

About this book

In 1941, the European war became a world war. This book tackles that process in its economic, political and ideological dimensions. Margaret Lamb and Nicholas Tarling explore the significance of the Asian factor and the importance of East Asia in the making of the war in Europe and the transformation of the European war of 1939 into the world war of 1941. This Asian factor has often been neglected, but the policies of all the major powers were affected by their world-wide interests. France had its possessions in North Africa and Asia; Nazi Germany chose to become involved in China and to make an agreement with Japan; Britain's action in Europe and the Mediterranean were conditioned by its commitments elsewhere in the world, and the United States and the Soviet Union were both involved in Europe and Asia. In particular the threat that Japan presented to the status quo in East Asia made it difficult for the war in Europe in turn affected the position in East Asia. The US built a two-ocean navy and encouraged the British to continue their struggle by keeping the resources of South East Asia available, and these steps led to a clash with the Japanese.

Lamb and Tarling's global approach throws valuable new light on the origins of the Second World War.

About the authors

MARGARET LAMB was, before her retirement, Senior Lecturer of History at the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

NICHOLAS TARLING is Emeritus Professor of History at the New Zealand Asia Institute at the University of Auckland.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: From Versailles to Pearl Harbor

  • Book Subtitle: The Origins of the Second World War in Europe and Asia

  • Authors: Margaret Lamb, Nicholas Tarling

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4039-3772-8

  • Publisher: Red Globe Press London

  • eBook Packages: Palgrave History Collection, History (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2001

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: 256

  • Additional Information: Previously published under the imprint Palgrave

  • Topics: World History, Global and Transnational History