Book description
On the night of 7 November 1918 French troops at La Capelle, on the
Western Front, noticed a soft halo develop in the fog over no man's
land. They heard the rumble of cars, then perceived the vague form of a
huge white flag: the Germans were crossing the line to seek peace. But
who were these Germans and what exactly did they represent? By the time
they had signed an armistice, four days later, not even they knew. The
Kaiser's Reich had collapsed and Germany faced chaos, while the war in
Eastern Europe continued. This book traces the transition from war to
peace across Europe. It follows the movement of armies over the northern
plains, their collapse, their demoblization, and the effect this had on
the material life of people. In Russia there had already been a
revolution. In Germany, there were attempts to overthrow the provisional
republican government. In Poland new wars broke out. At the same time,
there was celebration in the West at the announcement of the Armistice.
And the United States entered European politics with a new part to play.
Dallas follows these dramatic events from the perspective of five
capitals: Berlin, Paris, London, Moscow and Washington. In Berlin the
cabarets and beer halls are open, while there is shooting in the
streets. In the walled city of Paris, the peacemakers assemble to
respond to the call for a League of Nations. Pantomime season opens in
London, where Lloyd George holds elections and reorganizes his War
Cabinet; John Maynard Keynes of the Treasury worries about debts.
Contemporaries describe Moscow as a scene of desolation; but Lenin
insists on setting up the Third International. Washington is divided
between those who want to open America to the world, and those who would
prefer the world to go away. The start of peace is more complex and
fascinating than the start of war; it sets the habits and builds the
patterns of life for generations to come. This book weaves politics,
ideas, social life, fears, aspirations and harsh realities into a
seamless reconstruction of life experienced at a great turning-point of
history. Gregor Dallas was born in London, went to university in
America (Berkeley and Rutgers), and now lives in France. He enjoys
writing about both the famous and the unknown, and likes to put
historical events in their physical place.
