ABSTRACT
The destruction brought about by the first World War undoubtedly played a part in the degeneration of Europe in the twentieth century. About ten million Europeans were killed in battle between 1914 and 1918. Losses in battle were twice as much in the second World War and yet its effects were on the whole rather favourable to the recovery of Europe, particularly in Germany and Italy. This loss of confidence released the destructive potentialities of the scientific outlook which had already been developing for some time in Europe. Moreover, when the cruel tyranny of the Czars evoked indignation throughout Europe, including Russia itself, this was fully justified by the standards of the nineteenth century. Totalitarianism was introduced into history by Marxism and its Fascist variety arose in 1921 at the hand of Mussolini following his victory over an Italian communist insuigence. Totalitarianism had become endemic in Europe.
