Excellent work. I find the role of Czechs, as one myself, in all this regrettable. To this day, Masaryk and Beneš are considered heroes in the mainstream. Just one small correction at the end, there was actually a vote about dissolution of Czechoslovakia. People voted against it and then it happened regardless as it usually goes in democracies.
Have you heard of this book - The Czech Conspiracy ? It was written in the 1930s by a British officer who actually took the trouble to go to Czechoslovakia to find out for himself what was going on. I found it an interesting point of view as it was against the warmongers.
I haven't heard of that before. Nice that it's online to read for free, which I shall do. The author was interned in the war, I see. Wikipedia says that he was very rich, so had a lot to lose by taking his stance.
Thanks for the link - I'll put it on my watch list. Wintersonnenwende has a library of books about WW1. WW2 and the period between the wars. All of them are free to read online.
Another interesting tome to do with the UK is A Case for Germany by Arthur Pillans Laurie. He was a Scotsman who went to that country to see what was going on under national socialism and he came away impressed.
Thanks. I'll read the Laurie book. I was aware of that one. I have also started reading Hitler's Revolution by Richard Tedor which is immediately interesting. About the Czech Conspiracy book, I cited his mention of 'refugee' appeals at Mansion House in 1938 in my latest article.
" . . .Stalin was free to sign a non-aggression pact with Hitler in August 1939 which freed Germany to invade France, though presumably Stalin would have preferred a costly, lengthy struggle there. Once France was defeated . . ."
I think you meant to say Poland rather than France.
I did mean France. The pact included an understanding about the division of Poland. I think Stalin also hoped Germany would strike westward though. Whatever consumed the resources of or destabilised the 'capitalist powers' was welcome for the Soviets. The Lukes book I've referenced contains many mentions of that.
Excellent work. I find the role of Czechs, as one myself, in all this regrettable. To this day, Masaryk and Beneš are considered heroes in the mainstream. Just one small correction at the end, there was actually a vote about dissolution of Czechoslovakia. People voted against it and then it happened regardless as it usually goes in democracies.
Thankyou. I've rephrased that bit. More accurate now? I shouldn't opine too strongly on what's best for (forgive me) "people of whom we know nothing".
Yes, this is good, thanks.
Fantastic
Have you heard of this book - The Czech Conspiracy ? It was written in the 1930s by a British officer who actually took the trouble to go to Czechoslovakia to find out for himself what was going on. I found it an interesting point of view as it was against the warmongers.
www.wintersonnenwende.com/scriptorium/english/archives/czechconspiracy/cc00.html
I haven't heard of that before. Nice that it's online to read for free, which I shall do. The author was interned in the war, I see. Wikipedia says that he was very rich, so had a lot to lose by taking his stance.
In return I link you to this, which I came across today - a BBC documentary about Czechoslovakia as the war ended: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieS2bOQFBCA
Thanks for the link - I'll put it on my watch list. Wintersonnenwende has a library of books about WW1. WW2 and the period between the wars. All of them are free to read online.
www.wintersonnenwende.com/scriptorium/english/archivesindex.html
Another interesting tome to do with the UK is A Case for Germany by Arthur Pillans Laurie. He was a Scotsman who went to that country to see what was going on under national socialism and he came away impressed.
www.wintersonnenwende.com/scriptorium/english/archives/caseforgermany/cfg00.html
Thanks. I'll read the Laurie book. I was aware of that one. I have also started reading Hitler's Revolution by Richard Tedor which is immediately interesting. About the Czech Conspiracy book, I cited his mention of 'refugee' appeals at Mansion House in 1938 in my latest article.
" . . .Stalin was free to sign a non-aggression pact with Hitler in August 1939 which freed Germany to invade France, though presumably Stalin would have preferred a costly, lengthy struggle there. Once France was defeated . . ."
I think you meant to say Poland rather than France.
I did mean France. The pact included an understanding about the division of Poland. I think Stalin also hoped Germany would strike westward though. Whatever consumed the resources of or destabilised the 'capitalist powers' was welcome for the Soviets. The Lukes book I've referenced contains many mentions of that.
The pact covered Germany’s east, so they were free to go west