Office Hours
Mondays and Thursdays from 9-10:30 am and Wednesdays from 10-11:30
am in Dakota 12, although you can arrange to see me anytime. I
will be in one of my offices almost every day. Give me a call.
If I'm in, chances are we can meet.
Required Readings
Allan Millett and Williamson
Murray, A War to Be Won: Fighting the Second World War.
Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-674-00680-1.
Mary R. Habeck, Storm of Steel: The Development of Armor Doctrine
in Germany and the Soviet Union, 1919-1939. Cornell University
Press. ISBN 0801440742.
Geoffrey Megargee, War of Annihilation: Combat and Genocide
on the Eastern Front, 1941. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
ISBN 0-7425-4482-6.
Rick Atkinson, The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy,
1943-1944. Henry Holt & Company. ISBN 0805062890.
H. P. Willmott, The Battle Of Leyte Gulf: The Last Fleet Action.
Indiana University Press. ISBN 0253345286.
Catalog Description:
Study of the war from
a political, military, social and economic point of view. American
or European emphasis dependent upon instructor.
Course Objectives
This course surveys the history of World War II, the most destructive
conflict of the 20th century. Although this class will be taught
primarily from an operational perspective, we will discuss a wide
range of issues about which you will be expected to think and
form your own opinions. Military history is about more than generals
and battles (what some historians like to call "Guns and
Drums History"). We will cover all major military operations
but will also spend much of our time discussing things like technology,
doctrine, diplomacy and politics, and the social impact of the
war on those affected by it. Rote memorization will do you little
good in this class; be prepared to think for yourselves. You are
strongly encouraged to make use of the instructor's office hours
throughout the semester.
Course Requirements
The instructor expects each student to keep up with the schedule
of readings that appears on this syllabus. You will have a much
better idea of what's going on if you have done the reading. These
assignments, along with the monographs you are reading and information
from the lectures and discussions, will provide the material for
the exams. There are 400 possible points to be earned in this
class. There will be two (2) essay exams, one at midterm and one
during finals week. Each exam will be worth 150 points. Bring
a big bluebook and pen(s) to each exam. You will also write two
book reviews worth 50 points each, which are explained in more
detail below. Your course grade is determined by your average
and is based on a standard 10-point scale.
Book Reviews
Writing critical book
reviews is an important task for historians. Journals ask scholars
with a specific expertise to succinctly evaluate books for their
peers. You will do the same with two of the four books we are
reading this semester. Each review will be 4-5 pages long,double spaced, typed in a standard 12-point
font with appropriate margins, and have page numbers in the upper
right hand corner of the page. Content
of each book review should follow these guidelines. Your due
dates are:
Makeups
Makeups must be taken within two weeks of a missed exam and will
only be given if the student has a university-approved absence.
It is your responsibility to arrange the makeup. Unless
there are extenuating circumstances, makeups not completed within
two weeks will have a score of zero entered on the gradesheet.
Students with unexcused absences will not be allowed to take a
makeup.
Writing Identification Exam
Questions
On identifications, keep three things in mind. First, identify
the person, place or thing so that I know that you know what it
was. Next, put the item in historical context so that your understanding
of its place in history is apparent. And finally, if possible,
demonstrate that you understand why the item was significant.
Why did I ask you about it? What was its historical contribution?
Writing Essay Exam Questions
When writing essays, it is important that you build your answer
around some kind of thesis statement. Be blunt and put your thesis
in the opening paragraph. The remaining paragraphs should strengthen
your thesis while answering the question. I often write essay
questions that ask you to explain different aspects of a basic
question. You may find it easiest to make each of these aspects
the subject of its own paragraph. Be sure to support your essay
throughout with details from lectures and your readings. Make
it crystal clear to me that you understand the material.
Finally, include a strong conclusion where you tell me what you
just told me in the rest of the essay.
Semester Schedule
Topics and dates are subject to change.
Email from Instructor - Introduction to the course
23 January - Drift to War, Part I
Readings: A War To Be Won, ch. 1.28 January - Drift to War, Part II
Readings: A War To Be Won, ch. 7.30 January - Interwar Seapower
Readings: A War To Be Won, ch. 2.4 February - Interwar Airpower
6 February - Origins of Blitzkrieg
11 February - Blitzkrieg Against Poland and France
Readings: A War To Be Won, ch. 3-4.
Storm of Steel book review due as one option for Review 1.13 February - Battle of Britain
20 February - The Holocaust
25 February - Documentary: "Night and Fog"
27 February - US Moves Towards War
3 March - US Grand Strategy
5 March - Sept. 1940 - Dec. 1941
Readings: A War To Be Won, ch. 5-6, 8.
Battle of Annihilation book review due as one option for Review 2.10 March - Allied Strategy in 1942
12 March - MIDTERM
Readings Covered: A War To Be Won, ch. 1-8; Storm of Steel, War of AnnihilationSPRING BREAK
24 March - War in the Pacific, 1942
Readings: A War To Be Won, ch. 9.26 March - Battle of the Atlantic
Readings: A War To Be Won, ch. 10.31 March - Eastern Front, 1942-43
Readings: A War To Be Won, ch. 11.2 April - Allied Strategy from Torch to D-Day
Readings: A War To Be Won, ch. 14.
The Day of Battle book review due as one option for Review 2.7 April - German War Mobilization
9 April - Allied Bombing Offensive
Readings: A War To Be Won, ch. 12.14 April - Command Technology
16 April - Women at War
21 April - Victory in Europe: D-Day to VE Day
Readings: A War To Be Won, ch. 15-16.23 April - Victory in the Pacific: Midway to 1945
Readings: A War To Be Won, ch. 13, 17-18.
The Battle of Leyte Gulf book review due as one option for Review 2.28 April - The Home Front
Readings: A War To Be Won, ch. 19.30 April - Defeat of Japan and the War's Aftermath
Readings: A War To Be Won, ch. 20.08 May - FINAL EXAM - 12:30-2:30 pm in East 213
Readings Covered: A War To Be Won, ch. 9-20; The Day of Battle, The Battle of Leyte Gulf
Statement on Disabilities:
Any student who feels s/he may need academic accommodations or
access accommodations based on the impact of a documented disability
should contact and register with Disability Services during the
first week of class. Disability Services is the official office
to assist students through the process of disability verification
and coordination of appropriate and reasonable accommodations.
Students currently registered with Disability Services must obtain
a new accommodation memo each semester.
Ernetta L. Fox, Director
Disability Services, Room 119 Service Center
(605)677-6389
Web Site: www.usd.edu/ds
E-mail: dservices@usd.edu
College of Arts & Sciences
Plagiarism Policy:
The College of Arts and
Sciences considers plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic
dishonesty inimical to the objectives of higher education. The
College supports the imposition of penalties on students who engage
in academic dishonesty, as defined in the "Conduct"
section of the University of South Dakota Student Handbook.
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