
Postwar Europe
A Very Short Introduction
Richard Bessel(Author)
Oxford University Press
Published on 28. August 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
224 pages
978-0-19-885166-0 (ISBN)
Description
Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring
The Second World War was the most destructive conflict in history. It left Europe in ruins, its economies severely damaged and millions of its people facing malnutrition, its political systems shaken if not destroyed. Yet three decades later its economies had recovered; it largely appeared politically stable; its inhabitants generally were well housed and well fed. Then at the end of the 1980s, the postwar settlement disintegrated, and a new chapter in Europe's postwar history had begun.
In this Very Short introduction, Richard Bessel presents a clear, concise, informative account of Europe's history between the end of the Second World War and roughly the end of the twentieth century. He explores the conditions in Europe at the end of the war, how political life took shape and societies were rebuilt, the impressive economic recovery, the Cold War division, the end of empire, and European cultural life. Bessel discusses how we might understand the beginnings and endings of the postwar era, and emphasises the importance of the experiences and actions of specific generations of Europeans.
ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
The Second World War was the most destructive conflict in history. It left Europe in ruins, its economies severely damaged and millions of its people facing malnutrition, its political systems shaken if not destroyed. Yet three decades later its economies had recovered; it largely appeared politically stable; its inhabitants generally were well housed and well fed. Then at the end of the 1980s, the postwar settlement disintegrated, and a new chapter in Europe's postwar history had begun.
In this Very Short introduction, Richard Bessel presents a clear, concise, informative account of Europe's history between the end of the Second World War and roughly the end of the twentieth century. He explores the conditions in Europe at the end of the war, how political life took shape and societies were rebuilt, the impressive economic recovery, the Cold War division, the end of empire, and European cultural life. Bessel discusses how we might understand the beginnings and endings of the postwar era, and emphasises the importance of the experiences and actions of specific generations of Europeans.
ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 170 mm
Width: 106 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
186 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-885166-0 (9780198851660)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Richard Bessel is Emeritus Professor of History at York. He is the author of numerous books including Life in the Third Reich (2001) and Germany after the First World War (1993). Alongside Claudia B. Haake, Bessel co-edited Removing Peoples: Forced Removal in the Modern World (2011).
Author
Professor of Twentieth Century History emeritusProfessor of Twentieth Century History emeritus, University of York
Content
The End of the Second World War in Europe
Life after Death: Societies of Survivors
New Politics - East and West
Building New Societies
From Scarcity to Plenty
The Cold War, Nationalism and the Transformation of European Politics
Postwar Europe and the 'Third World'
Postwar Cultures
When Did the Postwar Era End?
Life after Death: Societies of Survivors
New Politics - East and West
Building New Societies
From Scarcity to Plenty
The Cold War, Nationalism and the Transformation of European Politics
Postwar Europe and the 'Third World'
Postwar Cultures
When Did the Postwar Era End?