History 381- War & Society II: Napoleon (1800) to the Nuclear Age (1945) Spring Session 2006 MWF 12-12:50 Aaron P. Plamondon Office Hours: TBA Office: SS643 Email: applamon@ucalgary.ca Emergency contact: 999-2667 COURSE DESCRIPTION This course is the second of a three part introductory sequence on War and Society that covers the period from 1800 to 1945. The class will focus primarily on the relationship between political, social, technological, and economic changes in Europe and the United States that influenced the development of the military art. Topics covered will include: Military Philosophy, innovation and technology, civil-military relations, military medicine, evolution of strategy and tactics, life at the front, the influence of nationalism/ideology on military institutions and the conduct of war, and the onset of total war.
Assignments, Exams, and Grading 30% Midterm Exam Friday October 17 35% Essay Assignment (2,000-2,500 words approximately 8-10 pages topic to be approved by instructor) Due Last Day of Class 35% Final Exam: Scheduled by the Registrar Required Texts: Larry Addington. Patterns of War Since the 18 th Century. (Indiana, 1994). John Keegan. The Second World War. (New York: Penguin, 1989). Other readings may be posted on Blackboard with reading schedule to be discussed in class Historiographical Essay This assignment will require the student to choose a topic and become familiar with the literature of it, which is called the Historiography. Once that is done, you will formulate an informed interpretation on the topic and place it within what Historians have written already. Your thesis will place you on a side within the debate and you will use the evidence that the other historians have put forth as your evidence. You must choose which are the more compelling arguments and why. Essentially I want you to have a clear thesis, analyze the current historical literature on the topic, and then tell me where you fit into it, supported by evidence. This must be done without writing I think - you must use direct statements to take a position and defend it. We will discuss and practice the formulation of a thesis many times in class and how you will structure your paper around it. Essays are to be 2,000 to 2,500 words in length, or approximately 8-10 double- spaced, typed pages, complete with bibliography and footnotes. 12 Font, Times New Roman, Double Spaced. At least eight major books and/or articles on the selected topic must be consulted. You must use footnotes, not endnotes, Chicago School style. Do not use words that you do not really understand.
Avoid wordiness, metaphors, informal or colloquial language, rhetorical questions, unsupported observations or assumptions, first person statements ( I think ), conjunctions ( didn t ) and the passive voice. Perhaps most importantly you must EDIT your work. THIS MAY BE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF A PAPER - REVIEW AND EDIT. IF YOU THINK ITS GOOD ENOUGH THE FIRST TIME OUT, YOU ARE ALMOST CERTAINLY WRONG Remember that you can run your thesis and even draft essay by me in advance of submitting a final copy. Internet sources are not allowed unless cleared by me. Submissions will be done through email Attachment in Word Format Late Policy If an emergency arises, please speak to me immediately and in advance if possible. Computer emergencies do not count Course Exams There will be two tests on the course material. Tests will be in class and will consist of definitions, short answer, and essay style. The tests will always have three sections, and there will always be choices. You do not have to do every question on the test paper, but select those that you know best. The first section will be definitions you must explain what the term is and why it is significant for one mark. Ex: Lebensraum `Living space to the East` meant for Aryan Germans. This was significant as it was one of the ways for the Nazi`s to justify their national expansion. (1 mark) The second section will consist of short answer questions where I will be asking you to tie together themes from the material. They will be out of 4 and you will also have choices. Ex: What were four different causes put forth by historians regarding the outbreak of the Second World War (4 marks)
The final section will be an analytical essay. In this question I am looking for a clear demonstration that you understand what happened and your interpretation as to why. Critically analyze Hitler`s choice to invade Russia and discuss EQUALLY its pros and cons. Finish with which argument, for or against, you feel is the most compelling and why. (8 marks) Class Schedule The following is a tentative schedule of subjects covered by lectures and students are responsible for ensuring that they are keeping up to date with their reading. Topic One: Introduction to Military History, The Napoleonic Wars Topic Two: The Napoleonic Wars Topic Three: Warfare during the 1800s Military Philosophers, and Warfare during the 1800s Crimean War 1854-56, US Civil War 1860-65, Franco- Austrian War 1866, Franco-Prussian War 1870-71, South African War 1899, Russo-Japanese War 1905 30% MIDTERM EXAM Friday October 17 Topic Four: The Great War. Topic Five: World War II FINAL EXAM 30% - SCHEDULED BY THE REGISTRAR
Academic Misconduct: The University of Calgary s Plagiarism Statement reads as follows: Plagiarism - essentially plagiarism involves submitting or presenting work in a course as if it were the student's own work done expressly for that particular course when, in fact, it is not. Most commonly plagiarism exists when: (a) the work submitted or presented was done, in whole or in part, by an individual other than the one submitting or presenting the work (this includes having another impersonate the student or otherwise substituting the work of another for one's own in an examination or test) (b) parts of the work are taken from another source without reference to the original author (c) the whole work (e.g., an essay) is copied from another source, and/or (d) a student submits or presents work in one course which has also been submitted in another course (although it may be completely original with that student) without the knowledge of or prior agreement of the instructor involved. While it is recognized that scholarly work often involves reference to the ideas, data and conclusions of other scholars, intellectual honesty requires that such references be explicitly and clearly noted. Plagiarism is an extremely serious academic offence. Any student caught plagiarizing will automatically receive a failing grade for the class. For further information on the University of Calgary s Academic Misconduct policies, please consult The 2004-2005 University of Calgary Calendar or visit the appropriate page on the University of Calgary website (http://www.fp.ucalgary.ca:8030/secretariat/app-acc.htm ) Essay Topics N.B. Students will recognize that these essay topics are not yet focused. Even if the essay is on the list, it will be required that the student discuss the topic with the instructor, in order to sharpen and focus the material. NO ESSAY WILL BE ACCEPTED THAT HAS NOT PREVIOUSLY BEEN DISCUSSED WITH THE INSTRUCTOR. Remember that the best essays set out to solve a problem or answer a specific question. French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Warfare, all aspects. Roger Fenton and the Crimean War: Photography as a Way of Learning. The Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava: An Historical Problem. Problems of Logistics in the Crimea. The Crimea, Medicine and Disease.
French Problems in the Franco-Prussian War. Military Defence of the Paris Commune. The Mitrailleuse in 1870-1871. The Machine Gun Rivals - Maxim, Nordenfelt, Gatling, Colt, etc. Evolution of European Naval Technology in 19th Century. Professionalization of European Armies in 19th Century. Savage War: French and British Tactics in Colonial Wars. Impact of the Change from Sail to Steam and Wood to Metal. Nelson an Innovator? The Industrial Revolution and the Development of Munitions Industries - ie. Rise of the Krupps in Germany, Armstrongs in Britain, the Schneiders in France, or the Mitsuis in Japan. The Railroad in Warfare Logistics in War: Choose one Campaign. Lessons of the South African War Through Military Observers' Reports. Was the Russo-Japanese War the First 'Modern' War? Military Theory Before World War I. The Evolution of the Machine Gun 1900-1918. The Evolution of the Tank 1900-1918. The Evolution of the Aeroplane 1905-1918. World War I Generals: Donkeys Leading Lions? Evolution of Battle Tactics on Western Front 1914-1918. The Eastern Front (1914-1917). German Defensive Tactics on Western Front. Evolution of the Storm Trooper. Poetry of the Great War/Literature of the Great War/Music and songs of the Great War. Shell-shock (World War I). Medicine During World War I. European Pacifist Movements During and After World War I. Canadian Role in World War I. Set-Piece Battles: Organization and Planning (World War I). Canadian Corps in specific Battles. Theory Between the Wars - Liddell Hart/Fuller/Guderian/de Gaulle. World War II - the Concept of Mass War. World War II - Logistical Problems: Oil, Weapons, Ships, Food, Convoys, etc. Hitler as Military Leader. Battle of Britain - Historiography. The Bomber Offensive - the Reason Why. Living Through the Blitz - Berlin, London, Dresden. Dieppe - An Analysis (University of Calgary Special Collection) Intelligence During World War II (Ultra Microfilm in Library). Operation Barbarossa. The North African Campaign. The Battle of the Atlantic - Convoys and Submarines. Analysis of Generals Rommel/Montgomery/Patton, etc. Mussolini and the Italian Role in World War II.
The Burma Campaign. Allied Cooperation During the War (Russia, U.S., U.K., France). Anti-Submarine Warfare in WW II. Aircraft Carrier in WW II. Submarine in WW II. Long Range Bomber in WW II. Fighter Aircraft in WW II. Medicine in World War II. The Canadian Role in World War II (Air, Land, Sea). The Literature/Films/Poetry of World War II. Grading System This is the History Department s grading scale: A+ 95-100 A 90-94 A- 87-89 B+ 83-86 B 80-82 B- 77-79 C+ 73-76 C 70-72 C- 67-69 D+ 63-66 D 60-62 F 0-59 Biography of instructor Completed a BA in military history at the University of Alberta Graduate First in Class with a Masters of Warfare at the Royal Military College of Canada Toured the battlefields of WWI and WWII in Europe on a Normandy Scholarship Ph.D. with David Bercuson at the University of Calgary Focus is on Canadian military history, with a broader interest in WWII, and international warfare. Currently writing a book on Weapons Procurement in Canada and the Sea King Helicopter.