Belgium's dilemma : the formation of the Belgian defense policy, 1932-1940 / by Jonathan A. Epstein.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Epstein, Jonathan A., author.

Series:

History of warfare ; Volume 96.

History of Warfare, 1385-7827 ; Volume 96

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Neutrality, Armed--Belgium--History--20th century.

Neutrality, Armed.

Belgium--Military policy--History--20th century.

Belgium.

Belgium--Defenses--History--20th century.

Belgium. Armée--History--20th century.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (300 p.)

Place of Publication:

Leiden, The Netherlands : Brill, 2014.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In Belgium’s Dilemma: The Formation of Belgian Defense Policy, 1932-1940 , Jonathan Andrew Epstein presents, for the first time in English, a detailed examination of the formation of Belgian defense policy in the eight years leading up to the crucial World War II Blitzkrieg campaign in Western Europe. Belgium’s decision to renounce military ties with France in 1936 has been widely criticized as a fatal mistake but it was in fact a reasonable response to Belgium’s situation and was not a significant factor in the Allied defeat. Drawing on Belgian documents, Jonathan Andrew Epstein looks at the leaders and issues that shaped the Belgian army of 1940 and demonstrates that while mistakes were made, most of the decisions were sound.

Contents:

Preliminary Material

Introduction

1. Belgium and World War I

2. Belgium Looks for Allies

3. Belgian Defense Policy to the Great Depression

4. The Devèze Years

5. The 1936 Mixed Commission

6. ‘Independence’ and its Origins

7. The Belgian Army to May 10, 1940

8. Belgium to May 10, 1940

9. The ‘Eighteen-Days’ Campaign’

Conclusion

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

90-04-26973-8

OCLC:

880827247

Publisher Number:

10.1163/9789004269736 DOI