How national rivalry led to dictatorship and the division of Europe. Contents: Introduction: From the Habsburgs to the Soviet Russians; Part One: The Tragedy of Nationalism: 1. The Lost Peace; 2. Federalist Failures; 3. The Nazi Challenge; 4. Czechs and Hungarians; 5. Appeasement of Hitler; 6. Munich: Hopes and Lessons; 7. From Munich to Moscow; Part Two: The Triumph of Tyranny: 8. German Hegemony; 9. Federalist Interlude; 10. Partition of Europe; 11. Churchill's Bargain; 12. Yalta: Hopes and Lessons; 13. Stalin's Triumph; 14. From Potsdam to Prague; 15. Benesh and the Russians; Part Three: The Aftermath -- Eastern Europe since 1948; Epilogue One: The Unfinished Struggle for Independence; Epilogue Two: Cold War Becomes Dïtente; Notes; Index.

"Never has the reviewer read a more objective account of events that have occurred in Central Europe over the past sixty years..." (Polish Review)