HI3408 France and the First World War 1912-1920

Module Coordinator: Prof. John Horne
Duration: All Year
Contact hours: 3 hours per week
Weighting: 20 ECTS
Assessment: 20% essay, 80% examination

Module Handbook (PDF, 5.2mb)
Module Handbook II (PDF, 360kb)

This course examines the impact of the First World War on France in a number of related ways: the experience of separation at the level of individuals and families; the modification or reinforcement of gender roles; the process of social and political mobilisation, the industrial war effort; the growth of pacifism; economic distress and social protest (strikes, mutinies, bread riots); and the political crises of 1917-18. Overall, the course attempts to evaluate the resilience and weaknesses of both French society and the Third Republic faced with the test of a ‘total’ war. Sources include pacifist and labour publications, newspapers and parliamentary records, police, administrative and legal documents as well as personal accounts. A good reading knowledge of French is essential.

The aim of this module is to conduct an intensive study of the impact of the First World War on France, especially through the medium of primary sources

Bibliographical advice will be provided in the module handbook

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

• Explain in detail the principal impacts upon the society, culture, economy and politics of France of the First World War
• Identify and contextualize the main interpretative trends and problems identified in historical writing on the period
• Undertake an advanced analysis of a wide range of relevant primary sources
• Apply different techniques of evaluation and interpretation to these sources
• Critique relevant historiography in the light of these sources
• Provide an individual synthesis based on a reading of primary and secondary sources
• Defend such a synthesis in written and oral presentations.