History Commons^™

Not So Cavalier: Technical Study And Conservation Treatment Of A Potential 17th Century Anglo-Dutch Military Portrait Painting, Josephine Ren

Art Conservation Master's Projects

A potential 17^th century Anglo-Dutch military portrait painting from the Memorial Art Gallery at the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York arrived at the Garman Art Conservation Department at Buffalo State University for conservation research and treatment in 2022. The painting’s title, date, and artist were unknown and the subject was initially referred to as a “17^th Century Dutch Cavalier.” Little information existed on the provenance and history of the artwork. The painting was in a state of structural instability and aesthetic disfigurement and showed evidence of a past restoration campaign. This master’s project attempted to broadly …

Guard Duty For The Garries: Soldiers, Internees And The History Of Pow Camp R, David K. Ratz, Michel S. Beaulieu

Canadian Military History

With the outbreak of the Second World War, Winnipeg’s Fort Garry Horse (or Garries as they call themselves), like many units across Canada, found themselves mobilising and preparing to go overseas. However, when the order to embark on a train to Quebec was received in June 1940, it was not what many had hoped or expected. Instead of boarding a ship bound for England, they were instead sent to meet the first German prisoners of war sent to Canada to escort them to a newly established camp in northwestern Ontario at Red Rock. Using a series of interviews with veterans …

Review Of “Varsity’S Soldiers: The University Of Toronto Contingent Of The Canadian Officers’ Training Corps, 1914-1968” By Eric Mcgeer, Joel Watson

Canadian Military History

Review of Varsity’s Soldiers: The University of Toronto Contingent of the Canadian Officers’ Training Corps, 1914-1968 by Eric McGeer

Review Of “Bombs And Barbed Wire: Stories Of Acadian Airmen And Prisoners Of War, 1939-1945” By Ronald Cormier And “The Captain Was A Doctor: The Long War And Uneasy Peace Of Pow John Reid” By Jonathon Reid, Jean-Michel Turcotte

Canadian Military History

Review of Bombs and Barbed Wire: Stories of Acadian Airmen and Prisoners of War, 1939-1945 by Ronald Cormier and The Captain Was a Doctor: The Long War and Uneasy Peace of POW John Reid by Jonathon Reid.

Review Of “A Different Track: Hospital Trains Of The Second World War” By Alexandra Kitty, Cynthia Toman

Canadian Military History

Review of A Different Track: Hospital Trains of the Second World War by Alexandra Kitty.

Review Of “Part Of Life Itself: The War Diary Of Lieutenant Leslie H. Miller, Cef” Edited By Graham Broad, Gary Sheffield

Canadian Military History

Review of Part of Life Itself: The War Diary of Lieutenant Leslie H. Miller, CEF edited by Graham Broad.

Review Of “French Generals Of The Great War: Leading The Way” Edited By Jonathan Krause And William Philpott, Roy A. Prete

Canadian Military History

Review of French Generals of the Great War: Leading the Way edited by Jonathan Krause and William Philpott.

Review Of “Lifesavers And Body Snatchers: Medical Care And The Struggle For Survival In The Great War” By Tim Cook, Adam Montgomery

Canadian Military History

Review of Lifesavers and Body Snatchers: Medical Care and the Struggle for Survival in the Great War by Tim Cook.

Review Of “Treasuring The Tradition: The Story Of The Military Museums” By Jeff Keshen And David Bercuson, Craig Leslie Mantle

Canadian Military History

Review of Treasuring the Tradition: The Story of The Military Museums by Jeff Keshen and David Bercuson.

Review Of “Material Traces Of War: Stories Of Canadian Women And Conflict, 1914- 1945” By Stacey Barker, Krista Cooke And Molly Mccullough, Susan R. Grayzel

Canadian Military History

Review of Material Traces of War: Stories of Canadian Women and Conflict, 1914- 1945 by Stacey Barker, Krista Cooke and Molly McCullough.

Review Of “Haunted Britain: Spiritualism, Psychical Research And The Great War” By Kyle Falcon, Tim Cook

Canadian Military History

Review of Haunted Britain: Spiritualism, Psychical Research and the Great War by Kyle Falcon

Review Of “The Book At War: How Reading Shaped Conflict And Conflict Shaped Reading” By Andrew Pettegree, Tim Cook

Canadian Military History

Review of The Book at War: How Reading Shaped Conflict and Conflict Shaped Reading by Andrew Pettegree

Review Of “Small Stories Of War: Children, Youth And Conflict In Canada And Beyond” Edited By Barbara Lorenzkowski, Kristine Alexander And Andrew Burtch, Cynthia R. Comacchio

Canadian Military History

Review of Small Stories of War: Children, Youth and Conflict in Canada and Beyond edited by Barbara Lorenzkowski, Kristine Alexander and Andrew Burtch

Review Of “Four Colour Combat: Canadian Forces In War Comics” By Cord A. Scott, Matthew Barrett

Canadian Military History

Review of Four Colour Combat: Canadian Forces in War Comics by Cord A. Scott

Review Of “E. J. Hughes: Canadian War Artist” By Robert Amos, Matthew Barrett

Canadian Military History

Review of E. J. Hughes: Canadian War Artist by Robert Amos

Review Of “But I Live: Three Stories Of Child Survivors Of The Holocaust” Edited By Charlotte Schallié And “The Long Winter Of 1945: Tivari” By Anna Di Lellio And Dardan Luta, Matthew Barrett

Canadian Military History

Review of But I Live: Three Stories of Child Survivors of the Holocaust edited by Charlotte Schallié and The Long Winter of 1945: Tivari by Anna Di Lellio and Dardan Luta

Imperfect Mobility: Analyzing The Waffen Ss As A Means Of Social Mobility In Nazi Germany, Jacob O'Bannon

History Undergraduate Honors Theses

The military arm of the Nazi party, the Waffen SS, is an intense point of study by military historians. The Waffen SS are a well-documented force and are unique in their dual role as both a military and political elite. That dual role deserves analysis to better understand the dynamics of Nazi Germany and the evolution of its war machine. In this evolution the Waffen SS greatly expanded and as a result recruitment and volunteer numbers rose. The goal of this thesis is to examine how the Waffen SS who were known for their brutality could attract so many people …

The Rise Of Christian Nationalism: Government And Religion In The Reagan Era And Beyond, Daniela L. Bedolla

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This thesis examines why the relationship between government and religion should remain separated. By focusing on The Cold War and Ronald Reagan’s presidency (1981-1989), this thesis demonstrates Reagan’s administration marked a modern pointing that led to the rise of Christian Nationalism in American politics. The Cold War initially started modeling the puzzle pieces of what Christian Nationalism became, however it was during Regan’s presidency that the American public began to see white Evangelical religious leaders take prominent federal positions, the frequent use of different religious opportunistic tactics in presidential and governmental campaigns and witness religious rhetoric influence domestic as well …

Desertion And Discontent In The East German Border Police, 1948-1959, Rose Shafer

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The East German Border Police (Deutsche Grenzpolizei) was the organization responsible for patrolling the borders of the German Democratic Republic from its creation in 1946 until its transformation into the Border Troops of the GDR (Grenztruppen der DDR) and reorganization as part of the National People's Army (Nationale Volksarmee) in 1961. The organization had the dual task of preventing "Republikflucht," the illegal migration of East German citizens to West Germany, and acting as the first line of defense in the case of an attack from West German forces. The ruling Sociality Unity Party of Germany ( …

Mapping Stratcom: The Architecture Of Offutt, The U.S. Military, And Strategic Command, Anna Miles

Honors Theses

Architecture and the military have always been intertwined. The built environment both on and off U.S. military installations responds to the events, history, and influences of the military. This project explores one example of this by investigating the history of the United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, through the lens of architecture.

When exploring USSTRATCOM, this project aims to understand not only its history, but also its impact: on Offutt, on the world, and most importantly, on architecture. Firstly, the project explores the history of the military in the state of Nebraska and …

A Sense Of Loss: The Effect Of Prisoner Camp Conditions On German Pows’ Masculinity During The First World War, Analucia Lugo

The Purdue Historian

During the First World War, almost a million German soldiers became prisoners of war (POW) and held captive in enemy camps. The moment of capture and arrest caused these men to experience debilitating emotions, including guilt and fear. Varied conditions at POW camps bolstered these responses and often determined prisoner health and morale throughout the war. This article examines how camps in Britain, France, and Russia treated German POWs, and how German nationalism affected these soldiers' senses of masculinity and patriotism during and after the war.

143 Wing (Rcaf) Typhoons Over Normandy: Some Operational, Geographical And Archaeological Perspectives, David G. Passmore, David Capps-Tunwell

Canadian Military History

This article presents the first attempt to conduct a geographical analysis of every air-to-ground attack conducted by a tactical fighter-bomber wing over the period 1 May–31 August 1944 in support of Operation Overlord. Ninety-five per cent of the 606 attacks made by 143 Wing Typhoons on single or multiple targets can be resolved to a map reference or place name, and their chronology and distribution reveal new insights into the Wing’s operational history. Commemorative and heritage perspectives are also highlighted for attacks on targets in woodland settings where archaeological survey of bomb craters can be linked to specific raids.

A Canadian Civil Affairs Officer In Italy: Lieutenant-Colonel H. S. Robinson, Provincial Commissioner For Brescia In 1945, Janet Sanders, Rolando Anni, Maria Paola Pasini

Canadian Military History

This article provides an overview of one Canadian Civil Affairs Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Homer Smiley Robinson, and his contribution to the rebuilding of the province of Brescia in north Italy and its eponymous capital after liberation from Nazi occupation. Robinson, as Provincial Commissioner, led the Civil Affairs team from April to October 1945 as the first Canadian to be appointed to the position. Traditionally, Civil Affairs has been studied predominantly as a bureaucratic structure. The human element in terms of staff and stakeholders has been almost entirely neglected. It is hoped that this account of a soldier-turned-governor will prove to be …

Preaching Peace, Selling Arms: The Evolution Of Canadian Military Export Policy, 1946-49, Paul Esau

Canadian Military History

Recent sales of Canadian military equipment to Saudi Arabia have highlighted a contradiction between Canadian military export policy on paper and in practice. This contradiction is rooted in a series of policy decision made between 1946 and 1949, just after the Second World War. During this period Canadian policymakers accepted that military exports were economically and strategically necessary, and become an opportunistic exporter of military equipment to the non-communist world. The military export policies adopted during these years were flexible, pragmatic, and reactive; they incentivised risk-aversion and commercial competitiveness, but not internally consistency. Consequently, the defining principle of Canadian military …

From Zombie To Martyr: The Short Military Service Of Private Hector Sylvestre, Paul Marsden

Canadian Military History

This article outlines the brief military service of Private Hector Sylvestre, a young Franco-Ontarien paratrooper executed by the SS. His career began as a conscript in the Active Army, serving nine months prior to enlisting in the Canadian Active Service Force. From this point forward he made a series of fateful decisions, which ultimately led to his death as a member of the French Resistance. His path from Zombie to “martyr” is unique for a Canadian soldier during the Second World War.

The Vernon Military Camp And The Imperial Training Archipelago, 1939-45, Megan Hamilton

Canadian Military History

The Vernon Military Camp was one of the many interwoven institutions that fed trained soldiers into the vast armies of the British Empire in the Second World War. Beginning the war as a barren hill that lacked modern equipment, it was eventually developed into a professional training centre that both served and benefitted from national, Imperial and Allied war efforts. Taking a ground-level view of Canadian Army training and inter-theatre learning, this article argues that army training camps, even those in the periphery, played a vital role in strengthening Imperial and Allied interoperability by facilitating knowledge transfer away from active …

Georgia And Russia: A Tenuous Relationship, Ani Rostomyan

Helm's School of Government Conference - American Revival: Citizenship & Virtue

In 1801, the Tsar of Russia signed a decree in order to incorporate Georgia into the Russian empire. The decree was very unpopular among the Georgians and caused much unrest. After 1905, Joseph Stalin, a Georgian, became a revolutionary in the country and eventually lead the Soviet Union. In 1922, the Soviet Union forced Georgia to be a part of a Socialist Republic with its surrounding countries, upending the local population and disrupting historic boundary lines. Despite many religious and cultural similarities, Russia’s rule was deemed erratic and domineering. Unfortunately, being ruled under Communism caused the country to become extremely …

A Cryptid For Catholics And Communists: The Asuang As An Apparatus For Socio-Political Control In The History Of The Philippines, Alexandra Eckhart

Honors Projects

This essay explores the utilization of folklore beliefs in psychological warfare through a comparative analysis of General Edward Geary Lansdale's tactics during the Hukbalahap insurgency at the beginning of the Cold War and the historical exploitation of the asuang myth by Spanish Catholic missionaries in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. While both instances involved leveraging local superstitions to influence behavior, their motivations and approaches diverged significantly. Unlike the missionaries, Lansdale's actions stemmed from a strategic imperative to combat communism rather than a sense of racial superiority or religious domination. Drawing parallels between Lansdale's methods and centuries-old patterns of oppression, this …

Bureaus Of Ungentlemanly Warfare: Comparing The Roles Of Women In The Special Operations Executive And The Office Of Strategic Services During World War Ii, Adaline Nolley

Senior Honors Theses

In 1940, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill created the Special Operations Executive. The SOE was one of the first government agencies to recruit female spies. In 1941, United States President Franklin Roosevelt commissioned the Office of Strategic Services, which also employed women. The organizations approached the concept of female agents differently. The OSS maintained female staff in domestic offices, but employed foreign women as agents. The SOE recruited women to go abroad, as they were less suspicious than men in occupied territories. The study of female staff in the OSS and the SOE allow historians to understand roles of women …

Secrets, Soviets, And Sverdlovsk: Critiques Of The Biological Weapons Convention And Biosecurity In The 1970s And 1980s, Morgan Kelley

Student Research Submissions

The Biological Weapons Convention, initially ratified in 1975, banned the production and stockpiling of biological weapons; however, it has faced considerable modern criticism for being unenforceable and not strong enough to ensure states' compliance. These modern critiques are based on the knowledge that the Soviet Union was in violation of the Convention, which was not confirmed until 1989. By analyzing the reactions to the Biological Weapons Convention by scholars and scientists, American intelligence officials, and American news media, it becomes clear that concerns about the Convention did exist prior to 1989, even when for many it was not certain that …