1939 Countdown to War

A leading historian re-creates the final hours of peace in Europe. On August 24, 1939, the world held its collective breath as Hitler and Stalin signed the now infamous nonaggression pact, signaling an imminent invasion of Poland and daring Western Europe to respond.

In this dramatic account of the final days before the outbreak of World War II, award-winning historian Richard Overy vividly chronicles the unraveling of peace, hour by grim hour, as politicians and ordinary citizens brace themselves for a war that could spell the end of European civilization. Nothing was entirely predictable or inevitable. The West hoped that Hitler would see sense if they stood firm.

Hitler was convinced the West would back down. Moments of uncertainty alternated with those of confrontation; secret intelligence was used by both sides to support their hopes. The one constant feature was the determination of Poland, a country created only in 1919, to protect its newfound independence against a vastly superior enemy. 1939 documents a defining moment in the violent history of the twentieth century.

Author : Richard Overy
ISBN-13 : 9780670022090
Publisher : Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
Publication date : 23/09/2010

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly - Publishers Weekly

In this short book, stating that "nothing in history is inevitable," University of Essex professor Overy (Why the Allies Won) strives to explain what led to the outbreak of WWII after years of tension and appeasement. He focuses on the diplomatic maneuvering during "the extraordinary ten days of drama," August 24 to September 3, 1939, demonstrating that diplomats in London, Paris, and Berlin wanted to avoid a world war. But Overy traces the events and decisions that moved the two allies, sworn to defend Polish independence, from efforts at deterrence to a willingness to fight after Hitler invaded Poland. Overy is best in portraying the diplomatic wrangling, taking readers inside an explosive meeting between Neville Henderson, Britain's ambassador to Berlin, and German foreign minister Joachim von Ribbentrop. He also uncovers some surprising facts, such as France's last-minute wavering in confronting Hitler and that the Nazi leader, in exchange for Britain acquiescing in his Polish takeover, promised to guarantee the British empire. The last-minute diplomacy Overy describes is fascinating, but there is too little political, military, and sociocultural background to provide context for readers unfamiliar with the period. (Sept.)

Library Journal - Library Journal

The origins of World War II have probably not received the level of attention devoted to the century's earlier major conflict. In this slim volume, Overy (history, Univ. of Exeter; The Twilight Years: The Paradox of Britain Between the Wars) provides a straightforward examination of those last days in late August and early September 1939 when the peaceful European countryside was about to be shattered by a new world war. Hitler had originally wanted to attack Poland on August 26 but changed his mind. The following days were filled with hectic communications (and miscommunications) among Berlin, Paris, and London. The nerves of all the participants were shot by late August.

Meanwhile, Hitler made up his mind again to start war mobilization with the attack on Poland scheduled for early morning on September 1. Overy believes that Hitler misjudged his Western counterparts because the German dictator was convinced that neither France nor Britain would do anything once the attack had begun. For that error in judgment, Europe and much of the rest of the world was convulsed in another terrible war for nearly six years. VERDICT Overy's well-crafted and easy-to-read book should be a useful source for both general and academic readers.—Ed Goedeken, Iowa State Univ. Lib., Ames

Meet the Author

Richard Overy is Professor of Modern History at King's College, London. He has written extensively on modern German and European history, and is the author of Russia's War and The Penguin Atlas of the Third Reich.