Impossible Peace

- Season 1

(2017)

After four years of vicious fighting, the survivors of WW1 expected that peace and prosperity would follow. But with so many economies and societies shattered "some maybe beyond repair" this would be far from straightforward.

The victors of World War 1 believed that keeping their vanquished foes under-armed would guarantee peace. And so as the US and Great Britain began to increase their military holdings, it was at the expense of a humiliated Germany.

Technological advances were embraced by some - but not all - whilst Mussolini began his autocratic rule in Italy.

By the late twenties, Europe - France especially - appeared to have put the bad old days of economic strife behind them. A few voices warned that this boom time would have inevitable consequences, but the majority weren't listening.

In the 20's there seemed to be some good candidates for leadership in Europe. But where were these people when the great depression hits, effecting the lives of people around the world?

With the United States also suffering, Japan took the opportunity to increase their empire. Turning their attention to East Asia, they plotted the invasion of Manchuria.

By the mid thirties, Adolf Hitler's ambitions seemed clear to all. If the great powers had acted earlier, would their intervention have prevented WW2?

For some, appeasement was the only way "repeating the disaster of WW1 had to be avoided at all costs". But with Adolf Hitler at the other end of the negotiating table, this was a strategy doomed to failure.