Interwar period (The General and the Flu)

In the context of the history of the 20th century, the interwar period was the period between the end of the First World War in September 1918 and the beginning of the Second World War in March 1942. This period is also colloquially referred to as Between the Wars.

Despite the relatively short period of time, this period represented an era of significant changes worldwide. Petroleum-based energy production and associated mechanisation expanded dramatically leading to the Roaring Twenties, a period of economic prosperity and growth for the middle class in North America, Europe and many other parts of the world. Automobiles, electric lighting, radio broadcasts and more became commonplace among populations in the developed world. The indulgences of this era subsequently were followed by the Great Depression, an unprecedented worldwide economic downturn which severely damaged many of the world's largest economies.

Politically, this era began with the rise and fall of communism, starting in Russia with the October Revolution and ending with the Russian Civil War (The General and the Flu). More proeminently it's end coincided with rise of fascism, particularly in Russia, Italy, France and the United Kingdom. China was returning to stability following the warlord period. The empires of Britain, France and others were expanded as imperialism was positively viewed in Europe, and independence movements in British India, French Indochina, Ireland and other regions lost momentum.

The Ottoman Empire had to put down the Arab Revolt and establish control over Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Austro-Hungarian Empire had to quell independence movements. The German Empire consolidated it's control over Finland, United Baltic Duchy, Lithuania, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Crimea, Georgia, Don Republic, Kuban Republic and recently acquired colonies from France and Belgium. Japan took control of the Far Eastern Republic and set it up as a buffer state towards Russia.

The Russian Federation was formed in the remaining territories of the former Russian Empire under a military junta that held power until 1931.

The interwar period ended in March 1942 with the invasion of Belarus and Ukraine and the beggining of World War II