Welcome

Welcome to the companion website for the fourth edition of European Dictatorships 1918–1945 by Stephen J. Lee. This clear, comprehensive and accessible analysis of early twentieth-century Europe has been revised throughout with key new material, including the most recent research on individual dictatorships, a new chapter on the experiences of Europe’s democracies at the hands of Germany, Italy and Russia, an expanded chapter on Spain and a new section on dictatorships beyond Europe.

This companion website provides useful material to support the book’s detailed coverage of the extraordinary circumstances that caused and were shaped by the transformation of over half of Europe’s states to dictatorships between the first and second world wars.

What you will find on this website:

Helpful overviews of each chapter summarised in the form of flow diagrams.
An interactive timeline of the key events that took place across Europe from 1918 to 1945.
Downloadable versions of the maps from the book.
A link to the Routledge History Arena, Routledge’s main website for this subject area, where you can find more information about our books, journals and electronic publishing.

Book Information Complimentary Exam Copy

Book Cover

Endorsements

This is an excellent, balanced and well-written account of Europe´s notorious dictators. In particular, the section on Spain presents a subtle yet diverse portrait of the country´s tormented experience under General Franco.
Antonio Cazorla Sánchez Trent University, Canada

Lee’s book provides a comprehensive and chronologically-driven narrative of events while also engaging in the comparative study of fascism and comparative dictatorships. It is not all about theory and the conceptual status of ‘fascism’ and ‘communism’, and thus is a better introduction for students who may be new to the area of study.
Julie V. Gottlieb University of Sheffield, UK

The book's strength is its truly comprehensive overview of the history of dictatorships in twentieth-century Europe, while also providing a theoretical framework for understanding that history. Its rigorous comparative approach helps to make sense of the larger phenomenon.
David G. Tompkins Carleton College, USA

My students have found Lee’s book to be a superb entrée to scholarly understanding of the dictatorships. The book is very accessibly written but does not shy away from complex issues: the historiographic and theoretical discussions shine. I have particularly liked the breadth of Lee’s survey and the new edition carries this further, with its separate chapters on Spain and the effect of the dictatorships on the smaller democratic countries around them.
Christopher Burton University of Lethbridge, Canada

Praise for the previous edition: A godsend to many history instructors.
H-Net Reviews

Praise for the previous edition: A very clear and concise analytical treatment of the rise of dictatorship.
The Slavonic Review

Praise for the previous edition: Comprehensive and gripping… well researched and extremely informative.
New Humanity