About

This material looks at Britain in the 1930s, tracing the effect of the international situation as it deteriorated towards war in 1939. Events and associated movements are seen in three overlapping phases. The first focusses on a range of attempts early in the decade to create a lasting peace or at least a set of treaties that would avoid a second war that was increasingly feared as the decade proceeded. These failed attempts included and culminated in appeasement of Hitler. The second part examines the British version of fascism, chiefly the British Union of Fascists launched by Oswald Mosely in 1932. This could also be viewed as another failure, by the time fascist leaders were interned in 1940. The final section looks at British reactions to and involvement in the Spanish Civil War. Once the tide had turned against the Republican government in 1938 the belief that a second continent-wide war was then inevitable had become widespread.

November 20th 2018