1. Department: History
 2. Course Number: 3213
 3. Title: World War II
 

II. COURSE OBJECTIVES

A.  By studying the causes, nature, and consequences of World   War II, the student should develope an understanding of major contemporary problems.

B. By studying the suffering experienced and sacrifices made by the people involved in World War II, the student   should develop a respect and tolerance for all nationalities and races.

C. By studying the nature of the totalitarian regimes in Japan, Italy, and Germany, the student should develop a sixth sense that will help him recognize dangerous   political movements in the present.

D. By studying the horrible destruction of World War II, the student should learn the potential destruction   capabilities of the human race.

E. By learning vicariously what it was like to experience   combat, the student should develop a mature attitude toward war.

F. Students should be able to reach balanced judgments in regard to controversial historical interpretations of   World War II.

G. Students should develop the ability to think, express those thoughts, and understand the thoughts of others.
 

III. COURSE OUTLINE

 A. Road to War:  Europe 1919-1939

      1. Germany and the Rise of Hitler
      2. England and Appeasement
      3. Russia
      4. France
      5. Italy
      6. Major Crises, 1933-1939

 B.  America and Isolationism

 C.  Road to Pearl Harbor
 
      1. Manchuria
      2. "China Incident"
      3. Pearl Harbor

 D. Major European Battles
 
      1.  Poland
      2.  Russo-Finnish War
      3.  Norway and Denmark
      4.  Fall of France
      5.  Battle of Britain
      6.  Battle of the Atlantic
      7.  North Africa
      8.  The Russian Campaigns
      9.  Sicilian and Italian Campaigns
      10. D-Day
      11. Battle of the Bulge
      12. World War II Diplomacy

 E. Pacific War

      1.  Phillippines
      2.  Malaya and Singapore
      3.  Midway
      4.  Guadalcanal
      5.  Island-Hopping
      6.  Reconquest of the Philippines
      7.  Burma
      8.  Atomic Bomb

 F.  Holocaust

 G.  Cold War

      1. World War II Diplomacy
      2. Atomic Diplomacy
 

IV. REQUIREMENTS (some variation according to the instructor)

A.  Weekly quizzes based on assignments from the textbook (Stokesbury) and/or the supplements (Jones and Fussell).

B. Three comprehensive examinations, including the final,consisting of both multiple choice questions and essay questions.

C. An interpretive essay concerning the everyday life of the foot soldier.
 

V. METHODS OF INSTRUCTION

Class consists primarily of lectures, frequently supplemented by the use of films and filmstrips.  Class  discussion of the subject is encouraged.
 

VI. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

There is an excellent annotated bibliography in the text which is quite adequate for the course.
 

VII. SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS

 A. Filmstrips
 
      1. Causes of World War I
      2. Dwight D. Eisenhower: Soldier and Statesman
      3. Causes of World War II

B. Films

      1. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich Series (Parts I - IV)
      2. Victory at Sea (I-III)
      3. Montgomery V. Rommel
      4. D-Day
      5. The Decision to Drop the Bomb
      6. The Plot to Murder Hitler
      7. Let There be Light

Note:  The above syllabus should be considered as a general guide only, and is subject to revision by the instructor.