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

• Superior document: History of Warfare, Volume 96
• VerfasserIn: Epstein, Jonathan A.,
• Place / Publishing House: Leiden, The Netherlands : : Brill,, 2014.; ©2014
• Year of Publication: 2014
• Language: English
• Series: History of warfare ; Volume 96.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (300 p.)
• Notes: Description based upon print version of record.

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.

Table of 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.