entredeuxguerres

Entre-deux-guerres, literally “between two wars,” denotes the period in world history roughly from the end of World War I in 1918 to the outbreak of World War II in 1939. Historians situate the start with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 and the dissolution of empires, redrawing borders in Europe and the Middle East, and the establishment of new nation-states. The era was marked by attempts to rebuild economies, redefine politics, and address social upheaval after a war that caused immense casualties and trauma.

Politically, democracies and liberal constitutions coexisted with rising authoritarian movements. In several countries, including Germany, Italy, and Spain, totalitarian regimes gained power, while parliamentary systems faced crises and political violence in others. Economically, the period experienced volatility: postwar debt, reparations, and inflation followed by the Great Depression of the 1930s, which deepened unemployment and social discontent.

Internationally, efforts at cooperation included the League of Nations and disarmament talks, but security was often pursued through competing blocs and ideologies. Culturally, the interwar years saw significant advances in art, literature, cinema, and science, alongside a sense of disillusionment and experimentation.

The era ended with the expansionist aggression of the late 1930s, the disintegration of peace arrangements, and the invasion of Poland in 1939, leading to World War II. The interwar period profoundly shaped political theory, international relations, and social life for decades afterward.