Why Britain is at War facts for kids
Cover of reprint edition, based on November 1939 first edition
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| Author | Harold Nicolson |
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| Country | England |
| Language | English |
| Series | Penguin Special S47 |
| Genre | Treatise Propaganda |
| Publisher | Penguin Printer: Wyman and Sons Ltd |
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Publication date
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7 November 1939 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 160 setting |
| ISBN | 0141048964 |
| Preceded by | The Case for Federal Union by W. B. Curry (S46) |
| Followed by | The Penguin Political Dictionary by Walter Theimer (S48) |
Why Britain is at War is an important book written by Harold Nicolson. It was first published by Penguin Books on November 7, 1939. This was a short time after World War II began. In the book, Nicolson explains why Britain was fighting. He talks about Adolf Hitler's desire for power. He also describes how Nazi Germany used tricky foreign policy and threats to get what it wanted. The special Penguin edition of the book cost six old English pennies and sold 100,000 copies.
Contents
Who Was Harold Nicolson?
At the time he wrote this book, Harold Nicolson was a Member of Parliament (MP). He represented the area of Leicester West in the British government. Nicolson was one of the few MPs who had spoken up in the House of Commons. He warned others about the danger of fascism and Hitler's actions.
Why Was This Book Written?
The Idea Behind the Book
On September 25, 1939, Allen Lane had an important idea. He was the person who started Penguin Books. Lane asked Harold Nicolson to write a special book. This book would explain to the British people why they were at war with Germany. It would also explain why it was so important to defeat Nazism.
How the Book Became Popular
The book quickly became very popular. It sold 100,000 copies soon after it was released. By February 1940, it had been printed three more times because so many people wanted to read it. Even important leaders, like Anthony Eden, praised the book. Eden wrote to Nicolson, saying he liked the book and had bought many copies.
Nicolson used clever writing to make sure people understood the danger of Nazism. This was during a time called the Phoney War. This period was between October 1939, when Poland fell, and April 1940, when Germany invaded Denmark and Norway.
What the Book Is About
Hitler's Plan to Take Over Europe
In Why Britain is at War, Nicolson explains Hitler's methods. He shows how Hitler tried to force Britain and France to agree to his demands. Hitler wanted more land for Germany. This included areas like the Rhineland, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and later Poland.
Key Events Leading to War
Nicolson's book shares details about Hitler's early life. It also looks closely at Hitler's own book, Mein Kampf. Different chapters in Nicolson's book focus on each area that Nazi Germany claimed:
- The takeover of the Rhineland in March 1936.
- The forced union with Austria, called the Anschluss, in March 1938.
- The issues around the Munich Agreement between March and September 1938. This agreement tried to prevent war but failed.
- The takeover of Czechoslovakia in March 1939.
- The invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939. This event officially started World War II.
The book ends by looking at the main reasons why the war began. It also suggests what Britain hoped to achieve by fighting.
