2025 was the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War – a conflict that defined the twentieth century and still has an influence on relationships and attitudes today.

In this online short course, we welcome academics from institutions across the UK and abroad to contribute to a series of lectures and discussions on aspects of the Second World War. This is not a course about battles but rather about how people engaged with the conflict in different regions, exploring political motivations, cultural responses and social impacts and legacies.

Sessions include Italy at War, Britain’s conscientious objectors, propaganda in Nazi Germany, Allied occupation and displaced persons in post-war Europe, crime in wartime Britain, and Japan's road to the Pacific War. 

How is the course structured? 

This self-guided short course is 100% online. The resources are structured but can be dipped into at any time, so you can work through them at your own pace and convenience. Through this unit you can access:

• 12 recorded lectures by historical experts 
• Access to our curated resource unit 
• Two recorded discussion sessions 

These materials were originally compiled and produced as part of our 2025 live short course on the impact and legacy of the First World War. 

If you're unable to access the course content below, please use the link for your Membership type:
Historian members | Primary members | Secondary members | Student members