HIST 496A Thesis: Genocide and War in 20th-Century Europe
In the first half of the 20th century European history was marked by what Tony Judt called "orgies of violence," inside the continent, or in the colonies. How can we explain massive use of brutal force against mostly unarmed, innocent civilians, the murder of millions of men, women, and children? What short-term and what lasting impact did these acts of mass violence have on surviving victims, perpetrators, and whole societies? How did European societies try to punish perpetrators, reconcile victims, remember the violent acts? Why did they often rather forget or silence these events?
Prerequisite
Open to History majors and minors only