Over the course of the semester, this course will examine the Second World War in both Europe and Asia. We will try to understand the war in all its complexity, looking at the two decade lead up to war, military planning and operations, morale, ideology, propaganda, alliance diplomacy, domestic politics, economic developments, new technologies, the Home Front, the Holocaust, intelligence gathering, the Resistance, and the decisive role of the war in shaping the post-1945 world. Class participation will constitute a small but significant portion of the final course grade.
Attendance is mandatory.
Students more than fifteen minutes late for class will be deemed absent. The instructor alone will make this determination. No make-up work will be accepted for unexcused absences. Written assignments submitted after the assigned due date will be assessed a full letter grade penalty for each school day that the work is tardy.