A People's History of the Second World War: Resistance Versus Empire -Donny Gluckstein

New Book: A Peoples History of the Second World War

New from Pluto Press:

A People's History of the Second World War: Resistance Versus Empire -Donny Gluckstein

 'A People's History of the Second World War' unearths the fascinating history of the war as fought 'from below'. Until now, the vast majority of historical accounts have focussed on the conflict between the Allied and Axis powers for imperialist mastery. Donny Gluckstein shows that in fact between 1939 and 1945 two distinct wars were fought - one 'from above' and one 'from below'. Using examples from countries under the Nazi heel, in the colonies and within the Axis and Allied camps, Gluckstein brings to life the very different struggle of the people's and resistance movements which proliferated during the war. He shows how they fought not just fascism, but colonialism and empire, and were betrayed by the Allies at the war's end. This book will fundamentally challenge our understanding of the Second World War - both about the people who fought it and the reasons for which it was fought.

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DONNY GLUCKSTEIN is a lecturer in history at Stevenson College, Edinburgh. He is the author of several books on Marxist history.

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  'The Second World War is so thoroughly surrounded by myth that it is hard to grasp its real character. Gluckstein offers a new interpretation, portraying 1939-45 as two parallel wars: one waged by the Great Powers among themselves, the other by the peoples against fascism. Refreshingly avoiding a conventional narrative approach, he offers new insights that provide a powerful antidote to historical mythology.'

- Alex Callinicos, Professor of European Studies, King's College London and author of 'Imperialism and Global Political Economy' (2009)

 'Rigorously structuring his analysis around the two central themes of popular resistance and inter-imperialist rivalry, Gluckstein makes an indispensable contribution to understanding the reality of the conflict in all its complexity.' 

- Neil Davidson, Senior Research Fellow, University of Strathclyde and author of 'Discovering the Scottish Revolution' (2003)

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

 Preface

 1. Introduction

2. Spanish Prelude

PART 1: YUGOSLAVIA, GREECE, POLAND and LATVIA - BETWEEN THE BLOCS

3. Yugoslavia: Balancing Powers

 4. Greece: Allies at War with the Resistance

 5. Poland's Warsaw Uprising

 6. Latvia: Standing History on its Head

 PART 2: FRANCE, BRITAIN AND THE USA - DIVISIONS WITHIN THE ALLIES

7. France: Imperial Glory Versus Resistance Ideology

 8. Britain: The Myth of Unity

 9. USA: Racism in the Arsenal of Democracy

 PART 3: GERMANY, AUSTRIA AND ITALY - UNDER THE AXIS

10. Germany: Conservatives and Antifa

11. Austria: Resistance and Ruling Class Capitulation

12. Italy: The Working Class and the Two Wars

 PART 4: INDIA, INDONESIA AND VIETNAM - DIFFERENT ENEMIES

 13. India: From Famine to Independence

14. Indonesia: Axis and Allies United Against the People

15. Vietnam: Anti-Imperialist Breakthrough

 16. Conclusion

 17. Chronology

Notes

 Index

http://histomatist.blogspot.com/2012/06/new-book-peoples-history-of-second.html