Help me find left perspective history on WW1-WW2

[adipocere]

I'm looking for a book(s) about WW1-WW2 that deals with both of the wars, or at least with WW1 in context that is written from a European, macro left perspective. I'm not interested in the American experience nor am I looking for a military history. I also don't want to read about the personal dramas of squabbling aristocrats or individuals like Ann Frank - you know what I mean.

Additionally, if anyone knows of a macro left history on Japan as related to WW2.

Sorry I'm being vague, it's just such a big field and I don't really know where to begin.

[Luís Henrique]

I'm looking for a book(s) about WW1-WW2 that deals with both of the wars, or at least with WW1 in context that is written from a European, macro left perspective. I'm not interested in the American experience nor am I looking for a military history. I also don't want to read about the personal dramas of squabbling aristocrats or individuals like Ann Frank - you know what I mean.

Additionally, if anyone knows of a macro left history on Japan as related to WW2.

Sorry I'm being vague, it's just such a big field and I don't really know where to begin.

One recent read I liked much was Adam Tooze's The Wages of Destruction, which is a quite detailed study on the economics of Nazism and Nazi occupation.

Luís Henrique

[Devrim]

I read this (http://libcom.org/library/unpatriotic-history-second-world-war) recently, and thought it was pretty good.

Devrim

[Dr Doom]

Adam Hochschild's To end all Wars (http://libcom.org/library/end-all-wars-story-loyalty-rebellion-1914-1918)

A world undone: The story of the Great War, 1914 to 1918 - G.J. Meyer
(http://libcom.org/library/world-undone-story-great-war-1914-1918-gj-meyer)

[ComradeOm]

One recent read I liked much was Adam Tooze's The Wages of Destruction, which is a quite detailed study on the economics of Nazism and Nazi occupationTooze is excellent. Not exactly a "left perspective" but essential reading for anyone with an interest in WWII. Mazower's Hitler's Empire covers similar ground, albeit without the focus on economics, in detailing the realities of Nazi imperialism.

[adipocere]

Looks like some good stuff. Thank you all for your suggestions. :)

[goalkeeper]

Georges Haupt's Socialism and the Great War is probably exactly what you are looking for.

Also, Discovering Imperialism by Richard B Day and Daniel Gaido is a compilation of Second International writings on war and imperialism, including the first world war. It also has a decent introductory overview.

Other books on the history of the socialist movement should also deal with the left and the wars, for instance Geoff Eley's Forging Democracy or another book by an author whose name i forgot called Socialism: the first hundred years or something.