New Thinking on the Second World War

Our Summer Conference this year was held jointly with the Centre for Second World War Studies, University of Birmingham and marked the 70th Anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War.

With the assistance of the Director of the Centre, Dr Steffen Prauser, a very varied programme was developed, covering some traditional BCMH ground such as Tactics and Operations but also moving into new areas such as Occupation and Collaboration. A number of researchers from Europe and the United States presented papers and greatly enriched the Conference with the diversity of their perspectives. On two afternoons we ran a programme of workshops, with two running simultaneously each day. This allowed us to cover a wider range of topics than would normally be available and provided an opportunity for audience members to contribute more fully to the discussion and describe their own researches.

The format of twin track workshops meant, on the other hand, that attendees could not attend every session; we fitted 21 sessions into the weekend as opposed to six or eight in our traditional format.

The great majority of speakers have been kind enough to provide a summary or, in some cases, copies of their complete presentation so that members and others can become acquainted with their 'New Thinking' which, by definition, will develop.

Not every paper is represented on this page but as speakers provide copy so it will be updated.

• The British Army in the Second World War – Past, Present & Future - Professor Gary Sheffield
  
  
• The Legality & Legitimacy of the Strategic Bombing Campaign - Air Commodore (Retd) Peter Gray
  
  
• German Generals
  
  
• The Polish Experience of the Second World War
  
  
• Workshop 1: Occupation Policies & Economic Exploitation
  
  
• Workshop 2: Women In War
  
  
• Workshop 3: Small Wars in a Great War
  
  
• Workshop 4: Land Warfare: Tactics & Operations