Course Catalogue

Humanities and Social Science

1. To provide students with specialist knowledge of the history of France in the era of the Second World War, and of the historical legacies of this conflict 2. To enable students to engage historiography and historical concepts in a sophisticated fashion 3. To enable to students to develop high-level skills in the critical evaluation and analysis of primary sources

Outline Syllabus:This course aims to introduce students to the key social, cultural and political contexts and historical debates concerning everyday life in France in the period leading up to, during and following the Second World War. Students will be introduced to key historiographical debates such as the legacies of the First World War; the significance of political and social divisions in 1930s France; the reasons for the defeat of 1940; the depth of French anti-Semitism and involvement in the Holocaust; the nature and goals of collaborationism; the nature and aims of the Vichy regime; the nature, role and realities Resistance to the German occupation; significance of role of the Empire in this period of French history and the experiences of colonial subjects; the experience of everyday life for ordinary French people during the war years; the impact of occupation upon gender relations; the experience of Liberation; the realities of the post-war purges & the efforts to renew France; the development of post-war memory of the war years and debates surrounding the trials of leading Vichy-era figures in the 1980s, 1990s & 2000s. Students will be introduced to key historical concepts such as ‘Resistance’; ‘Collaboration’; ‘Everyday Life’; ‘Gender’ and ‘Memory’. Students will develop their critical and analytical skills to a high level through the analysis of a broad range of primary and secondary materials, including documents, diaries, letters, autobiographies and testimonies. Other materials such as novels, posters and films will also form a key part of the course.

Module Overview:
This module aims to introduce key social, cultural and political contexts and historical debates concerning everyday life in France in the period leading up to, during and following the Second World War. You will be introduced to key historiographical debates such as the legacies of the First World War, the significance of political and social divisions in 1930s France and the reasons for the defeat of 1940.

Additional Information:No knowledge of French is required or expected.