World War Two was the greatest conflict in history. An estimated 60 million men, women and children died in a war that engulfed the globe and shaped the world in which we live. It was a defining event in the history of the twentieth century. This comparative, transnational survey will focus on the political, social and cultural aspects of this conflict, and working with diverse historical materials and perspectives. It will deal with the war in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, addressing topics including: German and Japanese war aims; Blitzkrieg in Poland and France; propaganda, civilian mobilisation and total war; allied leadership, co-operation and division; civilians under occupation (collaboration and resistance) and the experience of prisoners of war; racial policies and genocide; wartime intelligence and espionage; the debates over mass bombing and recourse to atomic weapons; and concepts of post-war reconstruction and the emergence of new international institutions. We will survey the contexts and legacies of the war, and evaluate its enduring historical significance.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. understand the history of the Second World War, its origins, its course and its outcomes;
2. understand the major controversies and moral debates surrounding the Second World War;
3. understand the different models of interpretation that have been used to explain key aspects of the Second World War;
4. critically analyse primary and secondary sources, identify bias and possible omission, and assess the relevance of information to the particular topic under discussion, using the basic skills of historical inquiry and historical analysis; and
5. apply evidence and theory, formulate arguments and express their views in both oral and written form.

Research-Led Teaching

The first assessment project and research essay for this course require students to work critically and creatively with primary sources, and to reflect on the distinctive contexts and characteristics of those sources. In tutorials students will be encouraged to reflect on research materials, questions and methods. Lectures, including specialist guest lectures, will draw on the active research expertise of academics and reflect on current historiographical issues and debates.

Recommended Resources

There is no set text for this course. Evan Mawdsley's World War II: A New History (Cambridge, 2009) is recommended as a valuable overview of themes and events relevant to the coverage of the course.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• with the return of assessment (generally within 2 weeks of the work being submitted)
• in individual consultations with students on request.

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Other Information

A student is required to attempt all written assessment items to pass the course. Failure to do so will result in a grade of NCN.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	The World on the Eve of War: Europe and Asia
2	Hitler – Germany’s strategic ambitions and tactical gains
3	Europe under Nazism – collaboration, resistance and endurance
4	Over-reach: Germany at its zenith, and war with the Soviet Union
5	Asia for the Asians: the ideological and economic logic of the Japanese Empire	Essay plan and bibliography due
6	The United States and war in the Pacific
7	The Holocaust
8	Underbelly – Italy, Africa and Operation TORCH
9	Home Fronts - in Europe, Asia, the US and Australia	Research essay due
10	The Secret War: Spies, signal intelligence and deception
11	Destruction and Reconstruction
12	Aftermath: the coming of the Cold War and reckoning with Japan	in-tutorial quiz

Tutorial Registration

Students should register for their tutorial groups through the course Canvas page.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Learning Outcomes
Participation	10 %	*	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Essay plan and bibliography	25 %	27/03/2026	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Research Essay	45 %	08/05/2026	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
in-tutorial Quiz	20 %	*	1, 2, 3, 5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Canvas’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Assessment Task 1

Participation

Tutorial Participation (weekly). The mark will be based on your informed contribution to tutorial discussions throughout the semester. You must read the set readings for each week in order to be able to contribute to these discussions. Your participation is worth 10 % of your total mark. Each week you are to bring a question or some comments you have written down referring to the week’s essential readings. Consult Course Guide for detailed instructions

Assessment Task 2

Essay plan and bibliography

Essay plan and bibliography. Due 27 March 2026.

Value: 25% - Due: by end of day, 27 March - Length: 1200 words (minus/plus 5%)

Consult Course Guide for detailed instructions

Assessment Task 3

Research Essay

Research Essay. Due 8 May 2026.

Value: 45 % - Due: by end of the day, 5 May - Length: 2,500 words (minus/plus 5%)

Consult Course Guide for detailed instructions

Assessment Task 4

in-tutorial Quiz

Quiz – 20%, Week 12 tutorial: during your tutorial time, in your regular tutorial room

Consult Course Guide for detailed instructions

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Returning Assignments

Assignments will be returned to students either through the Canvas site for the course or as email attachments

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Accessibility for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students