HIS 4150 - History & Historians (Lyons,Fall 2024)

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Black, a distinguished military historian , bucks the current trend to demilitarise and gives due weight to the campaigns and battles that made up the war. In doing so he challenges common interpretations and includes new insights to make this one of the most exciting new histories of the Second World War. Covering all the main areas of conflict, the chronological approach includes analysis of attacks at land, air and sea and a comparison of military resources. The focus is always operational, but social, cultural and political aspects are also included.

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Highly regarded for its concise clarification of the complexities of World War II, this book illuminates the origins, course, and long-range effects of the war. It provides a balanced account that analyzes both the European and Pacific theaters of operations and the connections between them.

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The Second World War - begins with the consequences of the First World War and the events of the 1920s and 1930s that led to a new world conflict - examines the military strengths and weaknesses of the various warring nations, the course of the war, the pivotal battles, and the important weapons systems - assesses the major diplomatic and military decisions and milestones, such as the decision to employ the atomic bomb - explores the reasons why the war evolved as it did - considers the socio-economic impact of the war on the home fronts - discusses the immediate aftermath of the conflict and its important effects, the general peace settlement, and the origins of the Cold War.

The first book to address the complicated issues surrounding what happens to members of the United States Armed Forces after they die. Why does recovering the remains of service people matter? Soldier Dead examines this question and provides a thorough analysis of the processes of recovery, identification, return, burial, and remembrance of the dead. Sledge traces the ways in which the handling of our Soldier Dead has evolved over time and how these changes have reflected not only advances in technology and capabilities but also the shifting attitudes of the public, government, and military. He also considers the emotional stress experienced by those who handle the dead; the continuing efforts to retrieve bodies from Korea and elsewhere; and how unresolved issues regarding the treatment of enemy dead continue to affect U.S. foreign relations. Skillfully incorporating excerpts from interviews, personal correspondence and diaries, military records, and journalistic accounts--as well as never-before-published photographs and his own reflections--Michael Sledge presents a clear, concise, and compassionate story about what the dead mean to the living. Throughout Soldier Dead, the voices of the fallen are heard, as are those of family members and military personnel responsible for the dead before final disposition. At times disturbing and at other times encouraging, they are always powerful as they speak of danger, duty, courage, commitment, and care.