Poland, 1918-1945

Based on extensive range of Polish, British, German, Jewish and Ukranian primary and secondary sources, this work provides an objective appraisal of the inter-war period. Peter Stachura demonstrates how the Republic overcame giant obstacles at home and abroad to achieve consolidation as an independent state in the early 1920s, made relative economic progress, created a coherent social order, produced an outstanding cultural scene, advanced educational opportunity, and adopted constructive and even-handed policies towards its ethnic minorities. Without denying the defeats suffered by the Republic, Peter Stachura demonstrates that the fate of Poland after 1945, with the imposition of an unwanted, Soviet-dominated Communist system, was thoroughly undeserved.

Peter D. Stachura is Professor of Modern European History and Director of The Centre for Research in Polish History at the University of Stirling. His research interests are in twentieth-century German history, with particular reference to the Weimar Republic, and Polish history, in particular the Second Republic. He has published extensively in both these areas. His books include Themes of Modern Polish History, Poland Between the Wars and Poland in the Twentieth Century.

Abbreviations and glossary, Acknowledgements, Introduction, 1. Independence regained, 2. Consolidation, 3. Society and the economy, 4. Politics, 5. The ethnic minorities, 6. Culture and education, 7. Foreign policy, 8. Occupation and resistance, 9. The Jewish Holocaust and the Poles, 10. Defeat in victory, Conclusion, Bibliography, Appendix I: Chronology: the Second Republic, 1918-45, Appendix II: Some statistical data on Poland, 1918-45, Index