Decision by Default
Peacetime Conscription and British Defence 1919-39
1st Edition
Published on 30. March 2021
258 pages
978-1-000-33887-4 (ISBN)
Description
Britain's vast losses of men in the first world war produced a revulsion against conscription. Originally published in 1972, Peter Dennis here describes how conscription was introduced once more in 1939, when pressure from within Britain and from France forced the British Government to reverse its position.
With the use of original sources, Peter Dennis explores the development of British military policy between the wars, from the period of readjustment and realignment immediately after the first world war, up to the breakdown of the Chamberlain government's pledge not to introduce conscription in peacetime. He points out that the politicians and the public were not afraid of conscription itself, but of conscription in peacetime as the forerunner of continental military adventures in alliance with France. He shows how the battles over conscription had a marked effect on the indecision of military thinking, and how, in 1939, conscription finally became the crucial issue in Britain's preparation for war.
With the use of original sources, Peter Dennis explores the development of British military policy between the wars, from the period of readjustment and realignment immediately after the first world war, up to the breakdown of the Chamberlain government's pledge not to introduce conscription in peacetime. He points out that the politicians and the public were not afraid of conscription itself, but of conscription in peacetime as the forerunner of continental military adventures in alliance with France. He shows how the battles over conscription had a marked effect on the indecision of military thinking, and how, in 1939, conscription finally became the crucial issue in Britain's preparation for war.
More details
Series
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
ISBN-13
978-1-000-33887-4 (9781000338874)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
03/2023
1st Edition
Routledge
€52.80
Shipment within 15-20 days
Book
03/2021
1st Edition
Routledge
€165.00
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Peter Dennis
Content
Acknowledgements. Abbreviations. Introduction. 1. Readjustment and Realignment 1919-28 2. The Breakdown of Locarno 1929-35 3. The Debate on Defence 1935-6 4. 'Will Britain Fight to the Last French Soldier?' 5. Limited Liability 1937 6. 'An Unforgettable Past, an Unpredictable Future' December 1937-March 1938 7. 'An Obligation of Honour, a Counsel of Expediency' March-September 1938 8. 'Peace with Honour' October-December 1938 9. The Call for Volunteers January-March 1939 10. Does Britain Mean Business? March 1939 11. The Introduction of Conscription April 1939. Select Bibliography. Index.
