The Impact of Hitler
British Politics and British Policy 1933-1940

Describes the relationship between British party politics and the conduct of British foreign policy between 1933 and 1940.

Maurice Cowling (Author)

9780521019293, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 8 September 2005

576 pages
21.6 x 14 x 3.3 cm, 0.758 kg

In his book, Mr Cowling describes the relationship between British party politics and the conduct of British foreign policy between Hitler's arrival in office in 1933 and Chamberlain's resignation in May 1940. He sets British policy in the context of European, Imperial, League, national and isolational sentiments and takes account of the strategic and financial limitations within which decisions were made. He shows how far prime ministers, foreign secretaries and the cabinet responded to parliamentary criticism, and argues that, from mid–1936 onwards, foreign policy and the prospects of the party system were so intimately connected that neither can be understood in isolation from the other.

Preface
Introduction
Prologue: the unfolding of the problem
1. The recovery of the Labour party
2. The rejection of Lloyd George
3. The function of the League of Nations
Part I. The New Departure: 4. The failure of the League of Nations
5. Chamberlain and Eden
6. Chamberlain and Hitler
Part II. The Opposition: 7. The Labour party
8. Eden, Churchill and their allies
Part III. The Effect: 9. Halifax
10. Chamberlain, Churchill and Hitler
11. The declaration of war
Part IV. The Politics of Easy Victory: 12. Chamberlain and the war
13. The fall of Chamberlain
Conclusion
Appendix
Bibliography
Notes
Index.

Subject Areas: 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000 [HBLW], European history [HBJD]