World War 2 = European Civil War?

[Undave]

A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state

Europe has never been a unified state under one government. It still isn't and most certainly wasn't in 1939. Therefore you can't have a European Civil War. Simples.

[Invisible officer]

The concept of the European Civil War was formed by Ernst Nolte, a well known German historian. I remember his lectures at FU to be a little . But a must for the student in the 80's.

He used the term Europäischer Bürgerkrieg in an article in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in 1986, based on his earlier writings from 1980. And he wrote a book with the title Der Europäische Bürgerkrieg 1917-1945, Nationalsozialismus und Bolschewismus.

The thesis is that all the conflicts between 1917 (Russian revolution) and 1945 in Europe are part of a civil war of a developing unified Europe. And that left and right parties are just two sides of the same medal.

That started the Historikerstreit, sometimes it got very heated, some radicals even set Nolte's car on fire.

In the 90's the idea was taken over by London School of Economics and Political Science peoples. That led to the idea behind the museum concept.

[Cubster]

That started the Historikerstreit, sometimes it got very heated, some radicals even set Nolte's car on fire.

"Ah, I see you have made a robust reposte to my argument. I find myself defenceless against your rapier-like wit and incisive debating skills."

[Undave]

The concept of the European Civil War was formed by Ernst Nolte, a well known German historian. I remember his lectures at FU to be a little . But a must for the student in the 80's.

He used the term Europäischer Bürgerkrieg in an article in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in 1986, based on his earlier writings from 1980. And he wrote a book with the title Der Europäische Bürgerkrieg 1917-1945, Nationalsozialismus und Bolschewismus.

The thesis is that all the conflicts between 1917 (Russian revolution) and 1945 in Europe are part of a civil war of a developing unified Europe. And that left and right parties are just two sides of the same medal.

That started the Historikerstreit, sometimes it got very heated, some radicals even set Nolte's car on fire.

In the 90's the idea was taken over by London School of Economics and Political Science peoples. That led to the idea behind the museum concept.

By that token you could call every war that there has ever been on this planet part of a civil war of a developing unified Earth government. A bit sci-fi maybe but it's got about as much chance of happening as a unified Europe.

Silly man, I hope he had a policy covering third party fire and theft

[Comte Michel]

Ah the Daily Mail. Good for lighting fires, or tearing up and hanging on a nail in the smallest room if you don't mind a slightly black a**e. There is, and I do not exaggerate in any way, more valid news in this

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/

[westwaller]

@Cubster, Is that Cardiff on a normal Friday night? ECW pic was very funny too!!

Was not WW2 a series of smaller wars, including the continuation of a European struggle for Imperial expansion that was one of the contributing factors of WW1? Oh and that some bloke called Gavrilo Princip cocked up the first car-jacking in history... The Treaty of Versailles and the 'squeezing them (Germany) until the pips squeak' mentality did not help either.

[clivethecelt]

So this is really just a game of Diplomacy that's been allowed to go on and on and on and on and ... ?

[Cubster]

We always think history has somehow been pinned down or at least slowed during our lifetimes and we're shocked if something big happens. The older we get, the clearer it becomes that the merry-go-round never stops, never slows, and we're all just careering round madly, holding on for dear life and trying to work out why the view isn't changing an awful lot.

PS. I hate pencil-pushing, bean counting policy makers with conveniently short memories and no regard for the effects of their moronic decisions on future generations.

[grant]

I hear and agree with that.

[Invisible officer]

That started the Historikerstreit, sometimes it got very heated, some radicals even set Nolte's car on fire.

"Ah, I see you have made a robust reposte to my argument. I find myself defenceless against your rapier-like wit and incisive debating skills."

But that tiny car ? The well paid professor had a big "brand" new Mercedes Benz.

And full insurance.

I guess most of the students went to his lectures because there was that controverse. I did, he was so boring.