The Vanquished

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"This war is not the end but the beginning of violence. It is the forge in which the world will be hammered into new borders and new communities." For the Western allies, 11 November 1918 marks the end of a devastating conflict and the collapse of their principal enemies. However, for much of Europe, this date held little significance as a series of nightmarish conflicts continued to engulf nations. In this gripping exploration, Robert Gerwarth challenges us to reconsider the true legacy of the First World War. The aftermath, rather than the fighting on the Western front, proved catastrophic for Europe’s future. Countries on both sides faced revolutions, pogroms, mass expulsions, and further military clashes. While the war had primarily involved state-backed soldiers, the ensuing conflicts largely involved civilians and paramilitaries, resulting in millions of deaths across central, eastern, and southeastern Europe. Amidst this chaos, vengeful individuals, driven by a sense of injustice, sought retribution against perceived enemies. A decade later, the rise of the Third Reich and other totalitarian regimes offered these individuals the opportunities they had long desired, further shaping the continent's tumultuous future.