German Soldiers and the Occupation of France, 1940-1944

Erscheinungsjahr 2020
ISBN: 978-1-108-45759-0
Verlag: Cambridge University Press

Buch, Englisch, 290 Seiten, Format (B × H): 152 mm x 229 mm, Gewicht: 427 g

Reihe: Studies in the Social and Cultural History of Modern Warfare

From 1940 to 1944, German soldiers not only fought in and ruled over France, but also lived their lives there. While the combat experiences of German soldiers are relatively well-documented, as are the everyday lives of the occupied French population, we know much less about occupiers' daily activities beyond combat, especially when it comes to men who were not top-level administrators. Using letters, photographs, and tour guides, alongside official sources, Julia S. Torrie reveals how ground-level occupiers understood their role, and how their needs and desires shaped policy and practices. At the same time as soldiers were told to dominate and control France, they were also encouraged to sight-see, to photograph and to 'consume' the country, leading to a familiarity that limited violence rather than inciting it. The lives of these ordinary soldiers offer new insights into the occupation of France, the history of Nazism and the Second World War.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Torrie, Julia S.

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtswissenschaft Allgemein
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Weltgeschichte & Geschichte einzelner Länder und Gebietsräume Europäische Geschichte
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtliche Themen Militärgeschichte
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Weltgeschichte & Geschichte einzelner Länder und Gebietsräume Geschichte einzelner Länder Europäische Länder

Inhaltsverzeichnis

List of figures; Acknowledgements; List of recurring personalities; List of abbreviations; Map; Introduction; 1. Occupations past and present; 2. Consuming the tastes and pleasures of France; 3. Touring and writing about occupied land; 4. Capturing experiences: photography and photo books; 5. Rising tensions; 6. Westweich? Perceptions of 'softness' among soldiers in France; 7. Twilight of the gods; Bibliography; Index.

Über Autor(innen)

Torrie, Julia S.
Julia S. Torrie is a Professor of History at St Thomas University, New Brunswick. Her publications include 'For Their Own Good': Civilian Evacuations in Germany and France, 1939–1945 (2010).