It is commonly said that the First World War was caused by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. However, this act falls rather under the category of a historical accident – something which might or might not have occurred. Alan Woods asks: if the assassin had missed his mark and Franz Ferdinand had survived, would the War have not occurred?
6th June marks the 70th anniversary of the Normandy D-Day landings in 1944. Leaders from across the world have gathered to commemorate the heroic soldiers who lost their lives. We are republishing here an article by Alan Woods, written on the 60th anniversary in 2004, which explains the truth about D-Day: that it was the rapid advance of the Red Army that finally pushed the allies into taking action in France.
As the New Year dawns, memories are reawakening of another New Year, exactly a century ago, the dawn of 1914 when millions of people were drifting towards the abyss as if in a dream. Alan Woods looks back at the beginnings of the First World War and examines the possibilities of world war today.
Tory Education Secretary Michael Gove, on account of the approaching 100th anniversary of the First World War, has taken the opportunity to denounce what he has claimed are attempts to write out the glory and heroism of WW1 in the education system. Ajmal Waqif provides a Marxist analysis of the real history behind the First World War.
Saturday 2nd February marked the 70th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Stalingrad, with the surrender of German troops, a key turning point in the Second World War and a shattering blow to Hitler. Alan Woods analyses this historic event and the way in which it shows the superiority of the planned economy.
Seventy years ago this week, the mass bombing of London and other keys cities by the Nazi Luftwaffe begun. The Blitz, as it was to become known as, cost the lives of thousands of workers as the nightly bombing raids from Germany laid waste to both houses and industry.
Seventy years on, World War II is remembered. What is forgotten was the largest mutiny amongst the British armed forces that heralded its end.
Seventy years on, World War II is remembered. What is forgotten was the largest mutiny amongst the British armed forces that heralded its end.
September 3rd: 70 years ago today the United Kingdom declared war on fascist Germany, so marking the start of World War Two. In an article written at the time, Ted Grant summarised what was now in store for the masses of Europe and beyond: ‘Millions, tens of millions, will be killed in the insane
slaughter, whole cities and countries will be devastated,…
Famine and disease will sweep over all Europe. The flower of European
manhood will be exterminating one another. And for what?’ To mark this anniversary we are reproducing Ted’s article from 1939 in full.
Seventy years ago this month, the world was shocked by the
Stalin-Hitler pact. Ben Peck looks back at what happened and explains
why such an incredible event could take place – and the price that was
paid.
When Germany
invaded Holland and Belgium on 10th May 1939 and put an end to the
‘Phoney War’ the French and British had more men on the ground and more (and
better quality) tanks. But this did not deter the Germans: they were more
militarily competent, efficient, and co-ordinated in their execution of modern
warfare and they proceeded to wipe the floor with the Allies.
In 1922 Churchill
lost his seat in Dundee, probably because of his attitude to Russia. Then in
1924, with the Liberal Party sinking, he jumped ship once more and rejoined the
Conservatives: self interest and high office always took precedence over
political principles. Baldwin made him chancellor, a position he held until the
1929 General Election.