The Second World War

Catalog description

This course examines the causes, the major events, and the consequences of the Second World War from a global perspective, meaning that both the European and Asian/Pacific theaters will be covered. Although the significant military campaigns and battles of the war are addressed, this is not intended to be a military history course. Rather, the emphasis will be on the Second World War as the transformative event of the 20th century politically, culturally, socially, economically, and morally, addressing: the ideological agenda of the “Axis Powers” before and during the war; the significance of the home front in the context of “total war”; propaganda and the role of media; human rights and war crimes; and the evolving ways in which the war has been remembered and represented the war in the U.S., Europe, and Asia since 1945. Prerequisite: HST 104 .