This compilation, edited by Arnd Koch and Martin Löhnig, deals with criminal law discourses and legislation in the early twentieth century. It refers to the interwar period (Zwischenkriegszeit), the period between the two World Wars (1918- 39). However, it is obvious that this period of legal history can only be comprehended if a broader temporal context is considered. Therefore, some of the case studies comprised in the book reflect issues concerning historical development between the mid-nineteenth century (eg in the article by Marju Luts-Sootak and Marin Sedman on the legal situation in Estonia) and the 1960s (eg in Danuta Janicka's account about Poland). Except for one article written in English (by Luts-Sootak and Sedman), the compilation is in German.
What is not apparent from the title of the anthology is the fact that the book focuses on legislation and discourse in Central and Eastern Europe. So, apart from an introductory article by Löhnig, the anthology comprises seven studies about the legal situation in individual territories in this European region. Attila Barna's article deals with the Hungarian criminal law, focussing on reform initiatives from 1908 and 1928. The latter reformed inter alia the system of fines and brought in the concept of the so-called serious criminal (Schwerverbrecher) which reflected discourses that could also be found in Germany during this time. Janicka's article deals with Poland, especially with the discussion about legal unification around 1918 and with the international network within which the debate took place. Furthermore, she shows the links to the concepts of the classical school of criminal law and to those of the sociological, 'modern' school. Koch addresses the history of Germany between 1919 and 1933, the so-called Weimar Republic. He notes that the project to comprehensively reform the German criminal code from 1871 (Reichsstrafgesetzbuch) failed during this period, but emphasises that the successes achieved in criminal policy during the Weimar period must not be forgotten. In this regard, Koch refers to the admission of women to the legal profession, the legislative regulation of fines, juvenile criminal law, and the reform of the prison system.
Luts-Sootak and Sedman focus on the Estonian Penal Code of 1929, which came into force in 1935. According to the authors [...]
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DOI: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/2049677X.2026.2671636
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