Fears over the Bolshevik, Soviet-inspired, revolution existed throughout the decade in Central and Western Europe. Many on the right were fearful of the spread of communism and used these fears to justify paramilitary violence. In 1919, socialists worked to ignite revolutions in places such as Germany.

Inspired by the Russian Revolution, the French working class wanted improvements in their pay, expanding the welfare state, and improving working conditions. This led to the strikes in 1919 and 1920 which rocked the nation and allowed workers to have an eight-hour workday. However, the middle class was increasingly alienated and scared, especially since many had lost money in bonds or property in Russia due to the Russian Revolution and were worried over a similar revolution.

In Germany and Hungry, the immediate aftermath of the war was witnessed through social and political turmoil. In Germany, Many of the recently demobilized soldiers were distracted and not told of the new republic or its values. Workers protested in January in Berlin and in February those on the extreme left proclaimed a socialist republic; only to quickly collapse and its supporters killed by counter-revolutionary paramilitary groups. Paramilitary activity peaked in the early 1920s, with increased violence. When the violence slowed down, many fighters joined fascist organizations in the late 1920s and early 1930s. But in this decade there was little concern over a future state. The rightist Free Corps attacked the leftist organizations, seizing power in Bavaria in 1920.

In 1916, Irish republicans launched a surprise attack against the British, seizing parts of Dublin, including the Post Office. Feeling betrayed by the Irish in the World War One, the British quickly retook the city and imprisoned the fighters, killing the leaders. The event and British heavy-handed response galvanized much of the Irish population and demands for independence increased. From 1919-1921, the Irish fought a guerrilla war against the British, attacking small patrols and isolated barracks. The British recruited World War One veterans to form a force known as the Black and Tans to crush the rebellion but became notorious for their attacks on civilians. Michael Collins organized an attack on the British intelligence service, killing 14 officials in one morning only to have the British fire upon civilians attending a Gaelic football match. A truce was negotiated in 1921 that led to the partition of Ireland-as Northern Ireland was to remain under British rule- and resulting into a nearly year long civil war over the treaty itself.The Irish revolt and the ensuing civil war caused the death of many people and destroyed much of the country’s infrastructure. The country remained partitioned and struggled to overcome the wounds of the civil war.

Figure 6: “A Black and Tan on duty in Dublin”