Second World War

Geoffrey Roberts explains the fateful sequence of events from the Nazi-Soviet Pact to Hitler's invasion of the USSR. 

Richard Overy argues that the lesson Hitler Drew from 1914-18 was not that a major war should be avoided, but that Germany should prepare more systematically so that, next time, she would win.

Richard Wilkinson considers the character and standing of the much-despised Nazi Foreign Minister.

John D. Pelzer shows the connections between jazz, youth and the German Occupation.

Martin Evans discusses how the historian Robert Paxton shifted the terms of debate over the collective memory of Vichy France.

John Erickson reviews the recent controversies surrounding Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union.

Timothy Benson assesses Hitler's irritated reaction to being lampooned by David Low of the Evening Standard.

Charles Maechling argues that the Japanese attack, which took place on December 7th 1941, was partly a response to the country's limited energy resources.

Patrick Wilson assesses the importance of Operation Dynamo.

What did Hitler mean by Lebensraum? Did he attempt to translate theory into reality? Martyn Housden 'unpacks' the term and puts it into historical context.