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1939: The World We Left Behind
History is based on choices, not truth. The way we see things now is not always how they looked at the time. The task Robert Kee set himself in his chronicle of 1939 was to cut across the demarcation lines of history, to capture the way people perceived the events of the time as they unfolded. Turning to the newspapers of the day, Kee revives for us a world in which the Second World War is not yet a certainty — a world which still has countless other concerns which have not yet been dwarfed into insignificance by the European emergency — a world in which Chamberlain is still to many a credible leader, and Churchill and Roosevelt, though giants in waiting, are less than monumental. In this thrilling account Kee explores life in the calm before the storm of 1939. Did the people of Britain see war coming? Or did the world change overnight, from stability to deadly conflict? Praise for 1939: The World We Left ‘Authentic, absorbing … and worth any number of conventional histories’ - The Times Robert Kee, born in 1919, sat for his Oxford History degree in the summer of 1940, when France was falling. He joined the RAF the day after taking his last paper, became a bomber pilot, and was shot down and taken prisoner in 1942. After the war he began his journalistic career on Picture Post. He has worked for more than thirty years in radio and television, for both the BBC and ITV. He won the BAFTA Richard Dimbleby Award in 1976.
470 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2019
711 people are currently reading
238 people want to read
About the author
Robert Kee
58 books12 followersRobert Kee, CBE was a broadcaster, journalist and writer, known for his historical works on World War II and Ireland.
He was educated at Stowe School, Buckingham, and read history at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he was a pupil, then a friend, of the historian A.J.P. Taylor.
During World War II he served in the Royal Air Force as a bomber pilot. His Hampden was shot down by flak one night while on a mine-laying operation off the coast of German-occupied Holland. He was imprisoned and spent three years in a German POW camp. This gave him material for his first book A Crowd Is Not Company. It was first published as a novel in 1947 but was later revealed to be an autobiography. It recounts his experiences as a prisoner of war and his various escapes from the Nazi camp. The Times describes it as "arguably the best POW book ever written."
His career in journalism began immediately after the Second World War. He worked for the Picture Post, then later became a special correspondent for The Sunday Times and The Observer. He was also literary editor of The Spectator.
In 1958 he moved to television. He appeared for many years on both the BBC and ITV as reporter, interviewer and presenter. He presented many current affairs programmes including Panorama, ITN's First Report and Channel 4's Seven Days. He was awarded the BAFTA Richard Dimbleby Award in 1976.
Kee wrote and presented the documentary series Ireland – A Television History in 1980. The work was widely shown in the United Kingdom and the United States and received great critical acclaim, winning the Christopher Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize. Following its transmission on RTÉ, the Irish national broadcaster, Kee won a Jacob's Award for his script and presentation.
He was educated at Stowe School, Buckingham, and read history at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he was a pupil, then a friend, of the historian A.J.P. Taylor.
During World War II he served in the Royal Air Force as a bomber pilot. His Hampden was shot down by flak one night while on a mine-laying operation off the coast of German-occupied Holland. He was imprisoned and spent three years in a German POW camp. This gave him material for his first book A Crowd Is Not Company. It was first published as a novel in 1947 but was later revealed to be an autobiography. It recounts his experiences as a prisoner of war and his various escapes from the Nazi camp. The Times describes it as "arguably the best POW book ever written."
His career in journalism began immediately after the Second World War. He worked for the Picture Post, then later became a special correspondent for The Sunday Times and The Observer. He was also literary editor of The Spectator.
In 1958 he moved to television. He appeared for many years on both the BBC and ITV as reporter, interviewer and presenter. He presented many current affairs programmes including Panorama, ITN's First Report and Channel 4's Seven Days. He was awarded the BAFTA Richard Dimbleby Award in 1976.
Kee wrote and presented the documentary series Ireland – A Television History in 1980. The work was widely shown in the United Kingdom and the United States and received great critical acclaim, winning the Christopher Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize. Following its transmission on RTÉ, the Irish national broadcaster, Kee won a Jacob's Award for his script and presentation.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 26, 2019
This book should be subtitled "Don't Believe Everything You Read In Newspapers". Time and again, British newspaper editorials and stories from "expert" political reporters are proved wrong. Indeed, stories from the American Press seem more accurate in the year that the World went to war for the second time. Certainly, the USA President Roosevelt's speeches about the threats posed by Hitler's Germany are more prescient than those made by British and French Prime Ministers, Neville Chamberlain and Édouard Daladier.
That said, although hindsight is a wonderful thing, the author Robert Kee, does his best to show how the events of 1939 were perceived by people at that time.
All the major players of World War II are here as Chamberlain tries desperately to appease Adolf Hitler and to a far lesser extent, Benito Mussolini, while another Fascist dictatorship is set up in Franco's Spain, thanks to a deluge of men and armaments from Germany and Italy.
Far too often, we see Britain and France do nothing as the Nazis threaten one country after another before the step too far results in those Allies declaring war after the invasion of Poland.
One startling statistic from 1939 is a UK opinion poll which shows that more than 90% of British people want an alliance with the Soviet Union. Even the virulently anti Communist newspaper the "Daily Express" urges a deal with Stalin. But it was not to be. Stalin felt that Britain and France wanted Hitler to invade Russia so that they could avoid a major war with Germany and the Allies dragged their feet in diplomatic discussions as Germany stepped in and signed a non aggression pact with their Communist enemies.
There are hints of future problems for the world as the Arab nations battle against the British bid to settle Jews in Palestine. And the often ignored war between Japan and China is mentioned, albeit it to a lesser extent than happenings in Europe and the USA.
Meanwhile, even as appeasers believed a war could be avoided, Britain was preparing for it, with the introduction of conscription, the building of air raid shelters and distribution of gas masks. Increased budgets went to production of arms and aircraft. In Germany, the Nazis step up their persecution of Jews and sadly the rest of the world doesn't do enough to prevent the suffering which ensues - and this is long before the "Final Solution" is implemented.
At times, the lengthy newspaper editorials and reports of political speeches (there's detailed coverage of a 2 amd a half hour speech by Hitler!) become a bit wearing, but for students of history, this is an intriguing insight into the year in which World War 2 began.
That said, although hindsight is a wonderful thing, the author Robert Kee, does his best to show how the events of 1939 were perceived by people at that time.
All the major players of World War II are here as Chamberlain tries desperately to appease Adolf Hitler and to a far lesser extent, Benito Mussolini, while another Fascist dictatorship is set up in Franco's Spain, thanks to a deluge of men and armaments from Germany and Italy.
Far too often, we see Britain and France do nothing as the Nazis threaten one country after another before the step too far results in those Allies declaring war after the invasion of Poland.
One startling statistic from 1939 is a UK opinion poll which shows that more than 90% of British people want an alliance with the Soviet Union. Even the virulently anti Communist newspaper the "Daily Express" urges a deal with Stalin. But it was not to be. Stalin felt that Britain and France wanted Hitler to invade Russia so that they could avoid a major war with Germany and the Allies dragged their feet in diplomatic discussions as Germany stepped in and signed a non aggression pact with their Communist enemies.
There are hints of future problems for the world as the Arab nations battle against the British bid to settle Jews in Palestine. And the often ignored war between Japan and China is mentioned, albeit it to a lesser extent than happenings in Europe and the USA.
Meanwhile, even as appeasers believed a war could be avoided, Britain was preparing for it, with the introduction of conscription, the building of air raid shelters and distribution of gas masks. Increased budgets went to production of arms and aircraft. In Germany, the Nazis step up their persecution of Jews and sadly the rest of the world doesn't do enough to prevent the suffering which ensues - and this is long before the "Final Solution" is implemented.
At times, the lengthy newspaper editorials and reports of political speeches (there's detailed coverage of a 2 amd a half hour speech by Hitler!) become a bit wearing, but for students of history, this is an intriguing insight into the year in which World War 2 began.
November 30, 2023
"There will be no great war in Europe in 1939. There is nothing in our present situation which affords any ground to suppose that an upheaval must or will come." George Malcolm Thompson in the (London) Daily Express
The year started with hope and relief that the disastrous year of 1938 had passed. Of course, there was still fighting in Spain, but that would soon end with Franco's final victory. Poland was certainly a worry for Britain and France along with the Bear of the USSR. No one knew what Stalin would do, but nearly every peace-loving country was astonished when Germany and Russia signed a non-agression pact later that year. As the countdown moved slowly towards a real possibility of war, Britain hoped that simmering problems in the Mideast, and harrowing rumors of Jewish abusive treatment by Germany continued.
This book looks at the year 1939 thoroughly. It covers mostly the 'big' items, but also lesser known ones such as the sinking of two submarines in peacetime. It is certainly informative, if not always enjoyable.
Late in August, Anthony Eden spoke out soberly about world tensions: "The situation with which we are faced, is in my judgment as grave and perilous as any this country has faced at any time in her history," proved only too true. To resolve it took 6 years and millions of lives.
The year started with hope and relief that the disastrous year of 1938 had passed. Of course, there was still fighting in Spain, but that would soon end with Franco's final victory. Poland was certainly a worry for Britain and France along with the Bear of the USSR. No one knew what Stalin would do, but nearly every peace-loving country was astonished when Germany and Russia signed a non-agression pact later that year. As the countdown moved slowly towards a real possibility of war, Britain hoped that simmering problems in the Mideast, and harrowing rumors of Jewish abusive treatment by Germany continued.
This book looks at the year 1939 thoroughly. It covers mostly the 'big' items, but also lesser known ones such as the sinking of two submarines in peacetime. It is certainly informative, if not always enjoyable.
Late in August, Anthony Eden spoke out soberly about world tensions: "The situation with which we are faced, is in my judgment as grave and perilous as any this country has faced at any time in her history," proved only too true. To resolve it took 6 years and millions of lives.
August 20, 2020
There have been hundreds of books written detailing the lead up to the Second War World. This is likely one of the best. It was quite interesting to read excerpts from the NEW YORK TIMES within the book pertaining to the diplomatic maneuvers going on behind the scene in 1939. Hard to believe how far the TIMES has fallen these last several years in reporting factual news.
December 11, 2020
I guess I wanted the sound and feel of the world before World War II, and by 1939 the shadows loomed so large that proto-war already dominated.
August 3, 2021
This book pictures 1939 as it was viewed at the time by politicians, newspapers, and the public.
And it does it well – it was eye-opening on certain aspects of an inglorious era.
The year started with mixed feelings of hope and apprehension – the imminence of the war wasn’t clear for most of the people before the Germans invaded Poland on the 1st of September. Only 20 years have passed since the end of the Great War, with the enormous losses of life and suffering, so the policy of appeasement had popular support.
The author, quoting from public speeches and other sources, reveals the shocking reality of how unprepared the governments of France and Great Britain were for the eventuality that, after exhausting all the territorial gains the Nazis could extract diplomatically, they will start a new world war.
There was no Plan B when appeasement proved ineffective.
Great Britain tried to sign an anti-German treaty with the USSR, but Stalin was not interested in peace. He gambled on an exhausting war in the west in the hope his army will intervene at some later date and crush Germany. The Brits couldn’t offer him what he asked for at that point – territorial gains against his European neighbors, so he secretly negotiated at the same time a secret treaty with Germany, which was very happy to share Poland, and later let him occupy the Baltic states and part of Romania.
What is frightening is that the situation is similar in many ways to world politics today.
Hitler knew Britain and France had no real plans to fight a war against him over Poland.
His speeches before the war were as cocky and full of bad jokes (but hilarious for his own people) as Putin’s.
If you change some words – Crimea for Sudetenland, Eastern Ukraine for Danzig Corridor, they are almost identical.
And he knows that there is no Plan B for helping Ukraine or the Baltic states in case of a new invasion.
Another similar reality is the unspoken antisemitism and the immigration policies – everybody, including the USA, knew that the Jews situation in Germany was dire but, despite Germany willing to let their Jews emigrate in ‘38/39, only a very small number were accepted in UK and USA and none in other countries. The Polish policy against the Jews was almost as bad as that of the Germans before the war. Everybody preferred to look on the side and nobody said or did anything about it.
Today the number of illegal immigrants is increasing every year, but somehow Europe’s governments seem not to notice it, or come up with a coherent policy to deal with the ever-increasing numbers.
In ’39 the USA believed it can stay apart, but fortunately, Roosevelt understood the world is a small place and he prepared his country to be, only economically initially, on the side of the democracies.
I wonder how interested are they today to stand up against anti-democrats in Europe. So far, Biden reversed the previous policy, and now allows the shameful gas contract Germany did with the Russians, leaving Ukraine and Poland dry, and more dependent on Putin’s will.
I’m ranting now, but on 1.09.39 the war started, and the west did nothing to stop it before the Germans conquered France. But this was in 1940, which is not the scope of this book.
And it does it well – it was eye-opening on certain aspects of an inglorious era.
The year started with mixed feelings of hope and apprehension – the imminence of the war wasn’t clear for most of the people before the Germans invaded Poland on the 1st of September. Only 20 years have passed since the end of the Great War, with the enormous losses of life and suffering, so the policy of appeasement had popular support.
The author, quoting from public speeches and other sources, reveals the shocking reality of how unprepared the governments of France and Great Britain were for the eventuality that, after exhausting all the territorial gains the Nazis could extract diplomatically, they will start a new world war.
There was no Plan B when appeasement proved ineffective.
Great Britain tried to sign an anti-German treaty with the USSR, but Stalin was not interested in peace. He gambled on an exhausting war in the west in the hope his army will intervene at some later date and crush Germany. The Brits couldn’t offer him what he asked for at that point – territorial gains against his European neighbors, so he secretly negotiated at the same time a secret treaty with Germany, which was very happy to share Poland, and later let him occupy the Baltic states and part of Romania.
What is frightening is that the situation is similar in many ways to world politics today.
Hitler knew Britain and France had no real plans to fight a war against him over Poland.
His speeches before the war were as cocky and full of bad jokes (but hilarious for his own people) as Putin’s.
If you change some words – Crimea for Sudetenland, Eastern Ukraine for Danzig Corridor, they are almost identical.
And he knows that there is no Plan B for helping Ukraine or the Baltic states in case of a new invasion.
Another similar reality is the unspoken antisemitism and the immigration policies – everybody, including the USA, knew that the Jews situation in Germany was dire but, despite Germany willing to let their Jews emigrate in ‘38/39, only a very small number were accepted in UK and USA and none in other countries. The Polish policy against the Jews was almost as bad as that of the Germans before the war. Everybody preferred to look on the side and nobody said or did anything about it.
Today the number of illegal immigrants is increasing every year, but somehow Europe’s governments seem not to notice it, or come up with a coherent policy to deal with the ever-increasing numbers.
In ’39 the USA believed it can stay apart, but fortunately, Roosevelt understood the world is a small place and he prepared his country to be, only economically initially, on the side of the democracies.
I wonder how interested are they today to stand up against anti-democrats in Europe. So far, Biden reversed the previous policy, and now allows the shameful gas contract Germany did with the Russians, leaving Ukraine and Poland dry, and more dependent on Putin’s will.
I’m ranting now, but on 1.09.39 the war started, and the west did nothing to stop it before the Germans conquered France. But this was in 1940, which is not the scope of this book.
April 9, 2020
Robert Kee was an excellent historian and I remember years ago reading and enjoying his book on Ireland. 1939 was a blow by blow account of that year, predominantly relying on newspaper stuff from UK, US, Germany, France etc. These covered the main events of 1939; the problems in Palestine, the IRA bombing of the UK mainland, the rape of Czechoslovakia, the Spanish Civil War and Danzig and the outbreak of war. There's a small section on events from September to December 1939.
I suppose having researched and written three novels about the late 30s there was not a great deal I could learn from this book although I did enjoy reading the newspaper extracts, especially those like pieces of The Times which stank of appeasement.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen, Two Families at War and The Summer of '39, all published by Sacristy Press.
I suppose having researched and written three novels about the late 30s there was not a great deal I could learn from this book although I did enjoy reading the newspaper extracts, especially those like pieces of The Times which stank of appeasement.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen, Two Families at War and The Summer of '39, all published by Sacristy Press.
October 28, 2023
As Remembered by a Ten Year Old Boy in New York City
I was a listener to adults talking at a young age, and picked up their opinions as expressed at that time. To them war was on the horizon of life, but not desired. Many, my father included, had been in WW1, and knew what was could bring to a country. Those too young lived through the civilian side of the war. Many were from Europe, French, British, German, Hungarian, Italian. News were also in the mix of folk. So, hearing their opinions on the events in Europe was meaningful. Reading "1939" brought back those memories, but in greater detail now, which I did not pick up Bach then. Those fools talking about WW3, should read this book to see how easily a World could collapse into destruction. There were terrible things going on then, with no immediate solution, but was war the only answer?
I was a listener to adults talking at a young age, and picked up their opinions as expressed at that time. To them war was on the horizon of life, but not desired. Many, my father included, had been in WW1, and knew what was could bring to a country. Those too young lived through the civilian side of the war. Many were from Europe, French, British, German, Hungarian, Italian. News were also in the mix of folk. So, hearing their opinions on the events in Europe was meaningful. Reading "1939" brought back those memories, but in greater detail now, which I did not pick up Bach then. Those fools talking about WW3, should read this book to see how easily a World could collapse into destruction. There were terrible things going on then, with no immediate solution, but was war the only answer?
February 4, 2024
Considerable Insight
This book begins New Year Day of 1939 when the world was anxious about the possibility of another impending European conflict. The author follows all major events of the year, political and those not political. The plight of Jewish citizens in Germany and Austria are extensively documented as well as Britain’s numerous concessions to avoid another expensive and disastrous war. Although France and Britain were officially at war with Germany after the invasion of Poland in September, there were no hostilities on the Western front the remainder of the year. The book ends with an newspaper editorial predicting peace in 1940.
This book begins New Year Day of 1939 when the world was anxious about the possibility of another impending European conflict. The author follows all major events of the year, political and those not political. The plight of Jewish citizens in Germany and Austria are extensively documented as well as Britain’s numerous concessions to avoid another expensive and disastrous war. Although France and Britain were officially at war with Germany after the invasion of Poland in September, there were no hostilities on the Western front the remainder of the year. The book ends with an newspaper editorial predicting peace in 1940.
September 6, 2023
A remarkable achievment
The clearest and most detailed account of the complexities of the fateful year of 1939 yet written. It would be a mistake for anyone wishing to understand this period to avoid it.
The clearest and most detailed account of the complexities of the fateful year of 1939 yet written. It would be a mistake for anyone wishing to understand this period to avoid it.
September 9, 2023
Superbly written and provides a detailed history of the events leading up to the start of WW II. I found it tremendously helpful and I personally gained a better understanding the worldview at the time.
June 13, 2020
Build up to war
Brilliant a magnificently written work as you would expect from Mr Kee. A very astute narrative on the build up and first months of WW2
Brilliant a magnificently written work as you would expect from Mr Kee. A very astute narrative on the build up and first months of WW2
January 28, 2021
Great overview of the year 1939 from January to December. The naivite and then the start of WWII. I found it very interesting.
July 6, 2021
A highly absorbing read of 1939 as seen through some key media commentaries and articles. Three and a half stars but am marking it up rather than down to three ;)
October 13, 2023
Interesting narrative of the year 1939 largely as presented in the newspapers of the world at the time.
January 17, 2024
Interesting approach but did not work for me
February 15, 2024
Very interesting book. Well documented. Interesting but a bit dry at times. Covers some more minor incidents which was interesting.
March 4, 2024
History
Typical history book. Boring with dry facts, dates, and people. Not a book I would recommend unless you need details for a report.
Typical history book. Boring with dry facts, dates, and people. Not a book I would recommend unless you need details for a report.
May 30, 2024
In depth
The author provides an in depth view of the observations of the concurrent events leading to the beginning of the war.
The author provides an in depth view of the observations of the concurrent events leading to the beginning of the war.
September 1, 2025
Interesting historical data
October 8, 2019
Such an interesting but thought provoking read. 1939 was a year that started with a will we, won’t we go to war and we all know the ending. However this book is not just about the build up to war but relates all the other day to day issues of the year and gives a view from the sidelines as if you were there reading the papers of the day yourself. . With news reports, speeches from both sides of the Atlantic , sensational murder trials,sport plus the threats from Hitler, Mussolini and the plight of Jews in Poland and Germany it helped the reader to put everything into context. As news spread of the horrors in concentration camps, people back home found it hard to believe that these horrific accounts could be true and most believed them to be exaggerated or falsified.
October 18, 2019
Excellent read
Interesting facts about the year leading up to the second world war. It would appear that the mix of indecision, and refusal of the gr8 government to understand what was happening in Europe. The dire repercussions the Versailles treaty placed on Germany were totally ignored by the allies and allowed the rise of Hitler. It appears little was learned from the great war and the arrogance and ineptitude of British and American foreign policy took us headlong into another appalling war. Something which continues to this day. Don't think I'm making excuses for the evil of the Nazi regime they had to be stopped, but by punishing Germany so harshly as the Versailles treaty did allowed Hitler to propagate his vile ideas and come to power.
Interesting facts about the year leading up to the second world war. It would appear that the mix of indecision, and refusal of the gr8 government to understand what was happening in Europe. The dire repercussions the Versailles treaty placed on Germany were totally ignored by the allies and allowed the rise of Hitler. It appears little was learned from the great war and the arrogance and ineptitude of British and American foreign policy took us headlong into another appalling war. Something which continues to this day. Don't think I'm making excuses for the evil of the Nazi regime they had to be stopped, but by punishing Germany so harshly as the Versailles treaty did allowed Hitler to propagate his vile ideas and come to power.
December 13, 2019
A momentous period
Robert Lee comprehensively quotes from the press in order to build up a picture of the information available to the reader prior to the beginning and early stages of the Phoney War. He assiduously avoids hindsight. This is a fascinating exercise. Sometimes the lengthy quotes can become tedious, and a greater leavening of social history would have been welcome. However, there is no denying the importance of this volume.
Robert Lee comprehensively quotes from the press in order to build up a picture of the information available to the reader prior to the beginning and early stages of the Phoney War. He assiduously avoids hindsight. This is a fascinating exercise. Sometimes the lengthy quotes can become tedious, and a greater leavening of social history would have been welcome. However, there is no denying the importance of this volume.
December 24, 2019
A nice read
This book will give a tasted of the past and relevance /insight in to reading or listening to the news nowadays. How in 1939 the war was being cooked and nobody was bothered. How fascism, dictators and communist manipulated and common man and democracies were ignoring signs.
This book will give a tasted of the past and relevance /insight in to reading or listening to the news nowadays. How in 1939 the war was being cooked and nobody was bothered. How fascism, dictators and communist manipulated and common man and democracies were ignoring signs.
October 12, 2019
Interesting look at history
Very well written book . The author takes each month using newspapers to explain the thoughts and views of the time. Mainly resisting the temptation to use foresight in explaining what is happening. Good book.
Very well written book . The author takes each month using newspapers to explain the thoughts and views of the time. Mainly resisting the temptation to use foresight in explaining what is happening. Good book.
November 11, 2019
Very interesting
Takes you back to a bygone age before the horrors of war, living in The realisation of what could come but not believing it could
Takes you back to a bygone age before the horrors of war, living in The realisation of what could come but not believing it could
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews