The Battle Tours had a significant impact on European history in the 1920s and 1930s:
1. Rise of Fascism: The tours facilitated the rise of fascist movements in Europe. By glorifying the fallen soldiers and emphasizing national sacrifice, these tours fueled nationalist sentiments. This, in turn, contributed to the rise of nationalist leaders like Benito Mussolini in Italy and Adolf Hitler in Germany.
2. Militarization: The tours reinforced militaristic attitudes in Europe. They presented war and battle as heroic and honorable, which played into the hands of militaristic and revanchist groups seeking to regain territories lost in World War I. This militarization contributed to the build-up of military strength that eventually led to World War II.
3. Territorial Disputes: The tours perpetuated unresolved territorial disputes and grievances from World War I. By visiting sites associated with heroic defense or valiant defeat, the tours kept the wounds of the past open and contributed to tensions between nations. This played a role in the outbreak of World War II as unresolved grievances boiled over.
4. Political Propaganda: The tours were often used as political propaganda tools by right-wing and nationalist parties. By controlling the narrative and shaping the interpretation of history, these tours helped to mobilize public support for their political ideologies.
5. Anti-Semitism and Racism: Some of the tours perpetuated anti-Semitic and racist views. In Germany, for example, the focus on the "stab-in-the-back myth," which blamed the defeat in World War I on internal forces like Jews and communists, contributed to the growing anti-Semitic sentiment in the country.
Conclusion:
The Battle Tours in Europe during the interwar period had a profound impact on European history. They contributed to the rise of fascism, militarization, unresolved territorial disputes, political propaganda, and the spread of anti-Semitism. These factors ultimately set the stage for the outbreak of World War II and the devastation it brought upon Europe and the world.