Norman M. Naimark

The thesis of this book appears to be that the division of Europe into two separate camps after 1948-1949 was not inevitable, and tries to show that through a number of case studies, in Denmark (occupation of Bornholm), West Berlin, Italy, Finland, Albania, Poland and Austria. I wasn't completely convinced by the author, since in a number of these cases, the Russians were not dealing from positions of overwhelming strength. In Austria and West Berlin, Russia was constrained by the presence of the other powers; in Italy, they were shut out; Albania had no major Russian military presence; and Finland was involved with the facts on the ground that would have made occupation difficult. The book seems to show that the Russians were somewhat hesitant and contradictory in their decision-making, but the 1948 Czechosolvak coup (notably, NOT one of the case studies here) had a strong effect on many of the other elements, such as Italy, Austria and West Berlin. An interesting book, but I wasn't totally convinced by the thesis.… (more)