Military History Commons^™

"We May Not Be Goliath But We Have David’S Sling": Media And The Perception Of The New Zealand Home Guard, 1940-1942, Noah Szajowitz

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This thesis focuses on New Zealanders’ perception of the Home Guard through a specific lens of culture demonstrated through wartime printed newspapers across New Zealand. These newspapers allowed for a public forum for New Zealander’s thoughts on the Home Guard, enabling a national debate on the purpose of the Home Guard over the course of the Second World War. Critically, these print newspapers and public opinion drastically influenced the direction of the Home Guard, illuminated the problems the Home Guard faced, and often received a response from the New Zealand Government. The Home Guard’s initial difficulty with recruitment, the impressment …

'Here We Start And In Jerusalem We Meet:' The Motivational And Organizational Influences Of Israel's Statehood Ontransnational Salafi Jihad, Charlotte Armistead

Honors Theses

The Israeli occupation of Palestine and its impact on the proliferation and longevity of transnational Salafi jihad is largely underestimated in current literature. In this thesis, I argue that Palestine, defined as both the nation and physical borders before the Balfour Declaration, largely contributed to the twentieth century revival of transnational Salafi jihad and is used by both Al Qaeda and ISIS as liberation and annihilation movements, respectively. In order to assess the motivational and organizational influences of the Israeli occupation of Palestine on transnational Salafi jihad, I examine the works of Abdullah Azzam, a selection of Osama Bin Laden’s …

Anti-Fascism, Anti-Communism, And Memorial Cultures: A Global Study Of International Brigade Veterans, Jacob Todd Bernhardt

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The International Brigades were volunteer military units that fought for the Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War from 1936 to 1938. Some 40,000-45,000 men fought in the International Brigades as an act of anti-Fascism, international solidarity, and national preservation. Although many historians have examined the volunteer soldiers’ motivations, wartime experiences, and reintegration into their home societies on a national basis, there has not yet been a global study of veteran reintegration and memorial culture. This global comparative study demonstrates that a state’s acceptance or rejection of their Brigade veterans was dictated by a global anti-Fascist and anti-Communist divide. In …

The Infinite Crisis: How The American Comic Book Has Been Shaped By War, Winston Andrus

War, Diplomacy, and Society (MA) Theses

This thesis project argues that war has been the greatest catalyst for the American comic book medium to become a socio-political change agent within western society. Comic books have become one of the most pervasive influences to global popular culture, with superheroes dominating nearly every popular art form. Yet, the academic world has often ignored the comic book medium as a niche market instead of integrated into the broader discussions on cultural production and conflict studies. This paper intends to bridge the gap between what has been classified as comic book studies and the greater academic world to demonstrate the …

“Otherwise, It’S War”: Us-Taiwan Defense Ties And The Opening Of The People’S Republic Of China (1969-1974), Robert 'Bo' Kent

War, Diplomacy, and Society (MA) Theses

In 1969, President Richard Nixon inherited a much different Cold War than that which existed in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Writ large, the project of ‘containing’ communism appeared to be falling apart. The Soviet Union was ascendant in Eurasia, the Vietnam War was continuing to grind down American power projection, and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) was emerging as a potential partner on the world stage. Despite the uncertainty of the situation, both President Nixon and National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger saw these circumstances as an opportunity to reshape the global balance of power. Key to this …

Memories From The Great War: An Analysis Of Jackson Purchase Veterans’ Changes In Perspective Since 1914, David Wallace

Honors College Theses

The First World War affected the lives of millions, creating collective memories of hardships, uncertainty, political tension, and animosity toward foreign enemies. In the United States, World War I was a turning point in the nation’s growth and development, but on a smaller scale it was a critical historical moment in the individual lives of the veterans who served. This research project showcases the experiences of the Jackson Purchase’s WWI veterans with an emphasis on their perceptions during the war, their reasons for enlisting, the countless once-in-a-lifetime experiences they had along the way, the hardships they faced, and the remarkable …

Teaching The Lessons Of The Vietnam War And Applying Them To The War In Afghanistan: Lesson Plans For A Sophomore Us History Class, Zoe Bond

Honors Projects

This project is a series of lesson plans for a 10^th grade US History class detailing the lessons of the Vietnam War and how they have and haven’t been used by President Obama in his decisions during the War in Afghanistan. The lesson plan uses Differentiation and Universal Design for Learning to accommodate every student in the class. The goal of this project was to teach original research in a way that promotes inquiry even if there is no correct answer at that time.

Actions Above Words: A Biography Of Vice Admiral Clifton “Ziggy” Sprague, John Kirwan

Undergraduate Theses

Among the many larger than life and fascinating figures of the Second World War, one who is seldom spoken of is the late Vice Admiral Clifton A.F. "Ziggy" Sprague. A quiet man from New England, Admiral Sprague was an accomplished pilot, administrator, and commander. From service during the First World War to assisting in the testing of nuclear devices following the end of the Second World War, Sprague was a force behind the scenes. He was devoted to his profession and refused to play the political game those above him did, preferring that his actions speak greater volumes than any …

15 Nr 2001 Garrison Regiment Von Wissenbach, From February Respectively October 1780 Garrison Regiment Von Knoblauch -1780 – 1782, 1783 (January – July), Johannes Schwalm Historical Association

Schwalm Marburg Files

No abstract provided.

15 Nr 2000 Garrison Regiment Von Wissenbach, From February Respectively October 1780 Garrison Regiment Von Knoblauch -1776 (April – December), 1778 (January – July, September – December), 1779, Johannes Schwalm Historical Association

Schwalm Marburg Files

No abstract provided.

15 Nr 2003 Grenadier Battalion Von Linsing-1776 (April – December)- 1779, Johannes Schwalm Historical Association

Schwalm Marburg Files

No abstract provided.

15 Nr 356 Regiment Von Mirbach, From February 1781 Jung Von Lossberg-1783 – 1784 (January – May), Johannes Schwalm Historical Association

Schwalm Marburg Files

No abstract provided.

15 Nr 354 Regiment Von Mirbach, From February 1781 Jung Von Lossberg-1781, Johannes Schwalm Historical Association

Schwalm Marburg Files

No abstract provided.

15 Nr 352 Regiment Von Mirbach, From February 1781 Jung Von Lossberg-1779, Johannes Schwalm Historical Associationb

Schwalm Marburg Files

No abstract provided.

15 Nr 351 Regiment Von Mirbach, From February 1781 Jung Von Lossberg-1778, Johannes Schwalm Historical Association

Schwalm Marburg Files

No abstract provided.

15 Nr 350 Regiment Von Mirbach, From February 1781 Jung Von Lossberg - 1777, Johannes Schwalm Historical Association

Schwalm Marburg Files

No abstract provided.

15 Nr 349 Regiment Von Mirbach, From February 1781 Jung Von Lossberg -1776 (April-October), Johannes Schwalm Historical Association

Schwalm Marburg Files

No abstract provided.

15 Nr 2002 Grenadier Battalion Block, Von Lengerke -1777 (March – December) – 1779, Johannes Schwalm Historical Association

Schwalm Marburg Files

No abstract provided.

15 Nr 2004 Grenadier Battalion Köhler, Graff, From September 1781 Vacant Graff, From July 1782 Platte-1776 (April - December) -1777, 1778, Johannes Schwalm Historical Association

Schwalm Marburg Files

No abstract provided.

Philistia And Israel: The Role Of The Philistines In State Formation Processes, Eduard Burcea

Campus Research Month

No abstract provided.

Pacification Gone Awry: The U.S Failure To Underpin Hearts And Minds In South Vietnam, 1966–1968, Simon Mai

Phi Alpha Theta Pacific Northwest Regional Conference

Abstract: Throughout the escalation of American involvement in Vietnam from 1964 – 1968, one key strategy focused on pacification – the winning of the allegiance of South Vietnamese civilians to the Saigon-based Government of Vietnam (GVN). This paper will argue that American/GVN implementation of pacification programs at the provincial and village level revealed three fundamental factors that proved fatal and counterproductive. These factors were the political and social entrenchment of the Viet Cong or National Liberation Front (NLF), the provincial cronyism and corruption of GVN, and the indiscriminate application of American firepower in support of General William Westmoreland’s strategy of …

The Blood Logs: Factors In The U.S. Decision To Classify The Japanese Biological And Chemical Warfare Program, Linda R. Zhang

Phi Alpha Theta Pacific Northwest Regional Conference

Abstract: The Japanese Imperial Army maintained chemical and biological testing facilities during the Asian Pacific War where unwilling civilians and prisoners of war were subjected to human experiments regarding frostbite, germ warfare, syphilis, weapons testing, and human anatomy. As American forces began occupying Japan and restructuring the country, the Allied Powers established an international tribunal to prosecute Japanese leaders deemed responsible for the war. During this time period, American policymakers would classify the Japanese bio warfare program, essentially protecting Japanese participants in the warfare program from facing trial. My research analyzes why American policymakers would classify Japan’s Biochemical Warfare Program …

The Stories Behind "Forever Changed", Britt Braaten, Tim Cook

Canadian Military History

This article explores the history behind the Canadian War Museum’s special exhibition Forever Changed – Stories From the Second World War. The curator and interpretive planner offer insight into the work underpinning the exhibition and some of the challenges and thinking behind the presentation. Forever Changed was the museum’s primary exhibition to mark the seventy-fifth anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Through personal stories and artifacts, the exhibition provides a new way for Canadians to make connections to the Second World War and the part played by Canadians from many diverse communities, representing a range of …

Historical Thinking And Visual Literacy: Exploring The Canadian War Museum With Graphic History, Matthew Barrett

Canadian Military History

This article investigates how graphic history, a visual process which uses different artistic styles, illustrated narratives and comic-page sequential drawing, can contribute to our study and understanding of the past. I examine the theories and practices that underpin this visual approach to scholarship and overview how some academic historians are beginning to embrace graphic histories when conducting historical inquiry, analysis and interpretation. I also address important critiques about the academic rigour, pedagogical value and intellectual foundation of graphic history. I conclude with a graphic article to show how drawing, perspective and artistic techniques can be used to unpack historical concepts …

Killing Time, Not Germans: Reserve Positions In The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division During The Battle Of Normandy, Alex Souchen

Canadian Military History

Allied victory during the Battle of Normandy is often attributed to operational and strategic factors, but the high-level focus on command and combat effectiveness obscures the infantry’s lived experiences. Although combat was their primary purpose, soldiers killed time as often as they killed Germans. This article examines the significance of the reserve position and the “down time” that soldiers spent within its confines. It argues that the reserve position was critical to combat effectiveness and high morale because it provided defensive and offensive flexibility and surplus labour for work parties and logistical tasks, while officers used it to integrate reinforcements …

The Tide Is Coming In: Fort Pulaski's Historical Relationship With Water, Sadie Ingram

Honors College Theses

Savannah, Georgia is the fourth busiest port in the United States, processing approximately 4.35 million standard shipping containers every year. The port’s protector Fort Pulaski towers among the coastal marshlands and estuaries of the Savannah River. Located on Cockspur Island at the mouth of the Savannah River, this strategic location allowed the fort to protect Savannah’s vital harbor. Built as part of the United States’ Third System plan to build fortifications along the eastern seaboard, construction of Fort Pulaski began in 1827 and finished twenty years later.

Water has played a pivotal role in the history of Fort Pulaski and …

Risk Transfer Militarism And The Iraq War, Kathleen H. Bannon

Honors Projects in History and Social Sciences

President Barack Obama's military and political strategies during the withdrawal period from January 2009 to December 2011 of Operation Iraqi Freedom (IOF) effectively mitigated the risks of the U.S. forces stationed within the region while also ensuring influence over regional actors' trained military counterparts. By restructuring core military programs, leveraging civilian partnerships, and enacting new military doctrines, the U.S. engaged within the latest iteration of risk-transfer militarism

The Octofoil, April/May/June 2021, Ninth Infantry Division Association

The Octofoil

The Octofoil is the offical publication of the Ninth Infantry Division Association, Inc., an organization formed by the officers and men of the 9th Infantry Division in order to perpetuate the memory of fallen comrades, preserve the esprit de corps of the Division, promote peace and serve as an information bureau about the 9th Infantry Division. The Association is made up of 9th Infantry veterans from WWII and Vietnam, spouses, widows and lineal descendants.

Aerial Terror: The Shift In American Daylight Bombing Over Europe During World War Ii, Joseph Sullivan

History & Classics Undergraduate Theses

In the final two years of the Second World War, the United States abandoned daylight precision bombing for terror bombing. During the interwar years, the United States cited international norms and laws to speak out against unjust air attacks by Germany and Japan. Even during the United States’ period of neutrality, President Franklin Roosevelt criticized Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union for their tactics. But, as the war dragged on, the ferocity and persistence of the Nazis forced the United States to change their approach to strategic bombing. With fewer military industrial targets remaining and Allied casualties rising, the US …

Warhorses Amongst War Machines: The German Army's Use Of Horses And Cavalry During World War Ii, Katherine V. Mcfarland

Senior Theses

This thesis explores the role of the horse as used by the German Army throughout the Second World War. Contrary to the propagandic image of a mechanized Germany and of the blitzkrieg, the reality of warfare at the time remained primarily dependent on the horse, as man and beast continued to engage in conflict side by side. Horses served a variety of uses within the German forces, from mounted cavalry to hauling artillery, with disasters and successes throughout the war. Employing vast numbers of horses, the Germans allocated extensive resources, and often found themselves relying on the animal when vehicles …