This map collection explores the geopolitical transformation of Europe between 1914 and 1949. From the First World War (1914-18) and the collapse of empires to the rise of fascism, communism, and totalitarian regimes, through the Second Wolrd War (1939-45) and postwar reconstruction, these maps reveal how war and ideology reshaped European borders and power structures, laying the foundation for modern Europe as we know it today.
Image Gallery
Europe on the Eve of the First World War, 1914
A map illustrating the situation in Europe as it teetered on the brink of World War I (1914-18). The political landscape was marked by intricate alliance systems and fierce imperial rivalries among European powers, especially between the British, Russian, and German empires, with nationalistic fervor soaring and the aspirations of various ethnic groups for greater autonomy or independence high. Meanwhile, Europe had engaged in an arms race, with militarism rising, the nations built up their military forces, stockpiled weapons, and prepared for a potential conflict.
