History 4913
 Tues. 5:30-8:20
 Dr. James F. Baker
 Office: LA 202E
 Work Telephone: 974-5279 or ext. 5277

 Course Description:
 This course will explore the nature of the World War II and soldiering through a  study of documentaries, movies, novels, and memoirs.  Chronologically the course  will cover the causes and battles of World War II.

 Texts:
 Stokesbury, James, A Short History of World War II
 Fussell, Paul, Wartime
 Sledge, E.B., With the Old Breed

 Content:
 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 Campaign.
  9.  Sicilian and Italian Campaigns.
  10.  D-Day.
  11.  Battle of the Bulge.
  12.  World War II Diplomacy.

 E.  Pacific War.

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

 F.  Holocaust.

 G.  The Combat Soldier.

 H.  Cold War.

  1.  World War II Diplomacy.
  2.  Atomic Diplomacy.

Required Reading:
James L. Stokesbury, A Short History of World War II; Paul Fussell, Wartime;  E. B. Sledge, With the Old Breed

Assignments:
 A. Knowledge Base Exams, Exam I will be held January 26 and covers the first list of names and chapters 1-14 in Stokesbury.
Exam II will be held February 2 and will cover a new list of names and chapters 15-28.  Your average on these two quizzes will constitute 1/5 of your final grade.

 B.  Reading assignment in Fussel, Chapters 1-7; 8, 12, 14, 17, 18.  Each student will prepare an analysis on the assignments based on the formats handed out in class.  Your grade on this will constitute 1/5 of your final grade.  Dates:  February 9 and 16

Semester Assignment:
Each student will write a comparative essay (12-15 pts.) on a topic chosen after consultation with me.  In the essay the student will compare a secondary source written by an historical scholar with film (s) and a memoir or novel on the subject.  Emphasis will be placed on accuracy of facts and impressions.  An example might be:   John Miller Jr. The United States Army in World War II:   The war in the pacific Guadalcanal:  The First offensive compared with the movie The Thin Red Line (the movie)  Compare with James Jones, The Thin Red Line (the movie)  or Herbert Christian Merrillat, Guadal Canal Remembered.  A book analysis will be due March 9.  Your grades will constitute 2/5 of your final grade.

Class Meetings:
Class meetings will involve lectures, films, and class discussion.  Quizzes will be given the next meeting - concerning the previous meeting.  Therefore attendance is vital.  Your average on these quizzes constitutes 1/5 of your final grade.

Definitions:
 For purposes of this course "film" means documentaries and movies and "literature" means scholarly secondary works, memoirs and novels.