What period does the Second Thirty Years War cover?
The Second Thirty Years War covers the period from 1914 to 1945. Charles de Gaulle first publicly named this concept on the 28th of July 1946 in Bar-le-Duc.
Questions about Second Thirty Years' War
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who coined the term Second Thirty Years War for European conflicts?
Charles de Gaulle coined the term Second Thirty Years War when he spoke before a crowd in Bar-le-Duc on the 28th of July 1946. Winston Churchill later gave the idea significant momentum in 1948 through his book The Gathering Storm.
Which specific wars are included in the Second Thirty Years War thesis?
Major European conflicts within the Second Thirty Years War include the Balkan Wars from 1912 to 1913, World War I from 1914 to 1918, and World War II starting after 1939. Other engagements such as the Russian Civil War until 1923 and the Spanish Civil War concluding in 1939 also fall under this framework.
Why do some historians reject the Second Thirty Years War theory?
Critics argue that the Second Thirty Years War thesis oversimplifies complex events and excuses Nazi rhetoric by framing their rise as inevitable. They maintain that historical outcomes depend on specific choices made by leaders rather than following a predetermined path from 1914 to 1945.