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The twentieth century is central to students who wish to understand history, international relations and the contemporary world. The recent global past is also a notable content area in schools’ Modern History syllabus, and the course is therefore crucial for intending secondary teachers. Beyond content-specific knowledge, the course will provide students with advanced skills in critical thinking, enabling future research and life-long learning.

This subject will focus on the only total war of the twentieth century and will explore questions about the causes of armed conflict, the nature of total war, and some of the consequences (social, economic, cultural and political) of total war for modern European, Asian and global history. Students examine topics such as: the situation of Europe and Japan after World War One; the rise of fascism in Italy and Germany; interwar diplomacy and its failure to preserve peace; the origins of World War Two in Asia and Europe; the barbarism of warfare; the Holocaust; and the legacy of total war, including the development of international human rights legislation and the Cold War.

On completion of this course students should have:

1. Identify the principal figures and significant events of World War Two;
2. Describe the concept of total war and examine its impact on politics, society, economics and culture;
3. Identify some of the historiographical arguments on topics related to World War Two and the practice of total war;
4. Analyse primary and secondary sources in constructing historiographical arguments;
5. Apply research skills using printed and electronic sources in preparation of a critical secondary source analysis;
6. Apply skills of critical thinking through group discussion of subject readings and preparation of written assessment.