Module overview
The second half of the special subject invites you to consider not only how the French resisted Occupation and achieved Liberation from German military forces in 1944, but how they have subsequently memorialised the war and Occupation experience as a whole. The module begins with an exploration of popular resistance to German Occupation and Vichy rule. A culture of dissent emerged, especially after 1942, encompassing guerrilla warfare, underground publishing and demonstrations for food. We study the military, political and social dimensions of the Liberation of 1944, from D-Day onwards, and the competing visions for liberated France outlined by different political factions, especially Gaullists and communists; as well as the trials of collaborators that followed Liberation (1945-51). Finally, we explore post-war representations and interrogations of the experience of Occupation, from documentary films and fiction to trials for crimes against humanity, public apologies and compensation claims made by deportees, in order to gain a sense of how public memory of the ‘dark years' has been articulated and contested since 1944.
Linked modules
HIST3036