Caldron of Conflict tells the story of Eastern Europe in the tumultuous, often violent years 1918-1945. After introducing the region, Wynot traces the differing paths each nation took from imperial rule to independence following World War I. The author next explores how each fared in the two decades of peace, when so many high political and economic hopes were dashed on the rocks of antidemocratic movements and the financial reefs of the Great Depression. It concludes with a survey of World War II and its aftermath. Caldron of Conflict is essential reading for anyone trying to comprehend the recent and ongoing destruction in this explosive and pivotal region ofthe world.