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                                                                                1914: The Coming of the First World War
                                        
                                            
                                        
                                    Classic PamphletThis pamphlet argues that the outbreak of the First World War represented not so much the culmination of a long process started by Bismarck and his successors, as the relatively sudden breakdown of a system that had in fact preserved the peace and contained the dangerous Eastern Question for over... 1914: The Coming of the First World War
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                                                                                Recorded webinar series: Commemorating the 75th anniversary of the UN Convention on Genocide
                                        
                                            
                                        
                                    Multipage Article9 December 2023 was the 75th anniversary of the passing of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (known as the UN Convention on Genocide). The convention was a clear statement by the international community that crimes of that nature should never happen... Recorded webinar series: Commemorating the 75th anniversary of the UN Convention on Genocide
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                                                                                Film: Bricks and the making of the city - London in the 19th century
                                        
                                            
                                        
                                    Virtual Branch
In this HA Virtual Branch talk Peter Hounsell drew on his recently published book Bricks of Victorian London, exploring the crucial role brick production played in the creation of Britain's capital and why the important place of bricks in the fabric of the city isn't always obvious.
Peter Hounsell has published... Film: Bricks and the making of the city - London in the 19th century
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                                                                                The Road to Dunkirk
                                        
                                            
                                        
                                    Historian articleSeventy years after the outbreak of the Second World War, British foreign policy in the 1930s remains as controversial as ever. While appeasement is now a byword for political failure, the reasons for its adoption and the responsibility of the statesmen concerned are constantly debated. In general, opinion looks unfavourably... The Road to Dunkirk
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                                                                                White City: the world’s first Olympic Stadium
                                        
                                            
                                        
                                    Historian articleThe modern Olympic Games were first held in 1896, but it was not until their fourth edition, held in London 1908, that they had a purpose-built stadium as their sporting and ceremonial heart. This article by Martin Polley explores the history of that stadium – White City. As well as... White City: the world’s first Olympic Stadium
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                                                                                My Favourite History Place: The Holburne Museum
                                        
                                            
                                        
                                    Historian featureJane A. Mills describes in this article how the fascination of Holburne Museum in Bath comes partly from the historical objects on display but also from the varied history of the building itself. She explains how the recent development of the museum illustrates the ongoing issue of trying to resolve... My Favourite History Place: The Holburne Museum
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                                                                                From Lithuania to Lancashire: life and death in the pursuit of freedom
                                        
                                            
                                        
                                    Historian articleIn this article, Simon Bromiley explores the history of twentieth-century Lithuania through the life of his grandfather. He experienced much of its difficult history, including the Soviet annexation of 1940 and the German invasion and occupation of the following year. The article follows him as he made a new life for himself in... From Lithuania to Lancashire: life and death in the pursuit of freedom
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                                                                                Film: Why does the massacre of the Armenians in the First World War still get overlooked?
                                        
                                            
                                        
                                    Virtual BranchWhy is the term 'Armenian Genocide' controversial, with many countries still not acknowledging a genocide at all? What do we know about the event of 1915 and the plight of the Armenian community in Turkey? How can we grapple with a history that many people want to forget? In this... Film: Why does the massacre of the Armenians in the First World War still get overlooked?
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                                                                                Cartoons and the historian
                                        
                                            
                                        
                                    Historian articleMany historical books contain cartoons, but in most cases these are little more than a relief from the text, and do not make any point of substance which is not made elsewhere. Political cartoons should be regarded as much more than that. They are an important historical source which often... Cartoons and the historian
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                                                                                The experience of Bilston in the cholera epidemic of 1831–32
                                        
                                            
                                        
                                    Historian articleAlannah Tomkins introduces a well-chronicled early example of how a local community dealt with cholera.
In September 1832 James Holmes, the governor of the workhouse at Bilston in Staffordshire wrote a letter to the salaried parish overseer of Uttoxeter. The initial impetus for the letter came from the two parishes’ shared interest... The experience of Bilston in the cholera epidemic of 1831–32
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                                                                                My great-grandfather and the Italian Campaign
                                        
                                            
                                        
                                    Historian articleThis remarkable item by a student at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Wakefield was the winning Young Historian entry in the Key Stage 3 Spirit of Normandy Trust category in 2022.
I’ve always known my great-grandfather fought in the Second World War, but never like this. When he left the army, he never... My great-grandfather and the Italian Campaign
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                                                                                Real Lives: Surviving the War in the Soviet Union: recollections of a child deportee
                                        
                                            
                                        
                                    Historian featureThis 'Real Lives' piece is based on a series of interviews Annette Ormanczyk carried out in 2019 with Mrs Irena Persak, who was deported as a five-year-old child with her family in February 1940. As well as offering a fascinating personal account of life in the Soviet Union during the Second... Real Lives: Surviving the War in the Soviet Union: recollections of a child deportee
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                                                                                My Favourite History Place: The Chantry Chapel of St Mary on Wakefield Bridge
                                        
                                            
                                        
                                    Historian featureWakefield Bridge Chapel, by the River Calder, is thought by many to be the finest of four bridge chantries, the others being Bradford-on-Avon, Derby and Rotherham. The chapel at Wakefield was originally founded and endowed by the people of Wakefield and district between 1342 and 1359.
In 1397 Edmund de Langley,... My Favourite History Place: The Chantry Chapel of St Mary on Wakefield Bridge
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                                                                                Film: Discussion: The post Civil Rights era
                                        
                                            
                                        
                                    Film series: The African-American Civil Rights MovementProfessor Tony Badger, Professor Joe Street and Professor Brian Ward discuss the African-American Civil Rights movement and examine different ways we might interpret the significance of key individuals, groups, institutions and events that played a role in its development and progress.
In this final section the activities of the key individuals... Film: Discussion: The post Civil Rights era
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                                                                                My Favourite History Place: the Berlin Wall
                                        
                                            
                                        
                                    Historian featureMilitary history enthusiast David Wilson writes about why the Berlin Wall is still such an important symbol and reminder.
I first visited Berlin in the mid 1980s when I was stationed in Germany as part of the British Army. It was an interesting place to go because until then the Cold... My Favourite History Place: the Berlin Wall
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                                                                                The throne and the fairy tellers
                                        
                                            
                                        
                                    Historian articleFairy tale princesses and mysterious castles are just part of the way that historically story tellers have been connected to royalty. In this article some of the most famous story tellers are discussed with their royal patronage and experiences.
Hans Christian Andersen couldn’t believe his luck. In 1854, he was... The throne and the fairy tellers
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                                                                                England Arise! The General Election of 1945
                                        
                                            
                                        
                                    Historian article‘The past week will live in history for two things’, announced the Sunday Times of 29 July 1945, ‘first the return of a Labour majority to Parliament and the end of Churchill's great war Premiership.’ Most other newspapers concurred. The Daily Mirror, of 27 July, proclaimed that the 1945 general election... England Arise! The General Election of 1945
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                                                                                The People's Pensions
                                        
                                            
                                        
                                    Recorded lectureWhy did the British get pensions when they did? What part did the great social surveys (Booth and Rowntree) play? Was there something rotten at the heart of Empire? What part did fears of a Red Peril play? Was Britain slow, with Bismarck and even the Tsar providing some measures of... The People's Pensions
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                                                                                How is the source base of the twentieth century different from that of earlier periods?
                                        
                                            
                                        
                                    ArticleHistorians often debate when, exactly, the twentieth century began; that is, when the themes and trends that we have come to understand as defining this tumultuous, rapidly changing period first started, and when they ended. One place we can look to answer this question is the available primary resources that help... How is the source base of the twentieth century different from that of earlier periods?
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                                                                                Podcast Series: The Women's Movement
                                        
                                            
                                        
                                    Multipage ArticleIn Part 2 of our series on Social and Political Change in the UK 1800-present we look at the Women's Movement in the UK from its early origins through to the end of the 20th century
Part 2 features Dr Anne Logan, Professor June Hannam and Ms Jean Spence.
Also... Podcast Series: The Women's Movement
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                                                                                History Abridged: Language and the African continent
                                        
                                            
                                        
                                    Historian feature
History Abridged: This feature seeks to take a person, event or period and abridge, or focus on, an important event or detail that can get lost in the big picture. Think Horrible Histories for grownups (without the songs and music). See all History Abridged articles
Africa is a huge continent... History Abridged: Language and the African continent
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                                                                                The Versailles Peace Settlement
                                        
                                            
                                        
                                    Classic PamphletThis classic pamphlet takes you through the Paris Peace Conference and the 'German Question', Peacemaking and the Treaty of Versailles, Europe and the German question after Versailles. The Versailles Peace Settlement
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                                                                                Recorded webinar series: The Olympic Games
                                        
                                            
                                        
                                    Culture and political impact across the twentieth century2024 was an Olympic Games year. Held every four years (with the exception of during the World Wars and Covid-19 restrictions), the modern Olympics is the largest international sporting event in the world. However, historically it has not always been just the sports that are played and the athletes’ performances... Recorded webinar series: The Olympic Games
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                                                                                Fake news: Psy-war and propaganda in the Indonesian Genocide of 1965-66
                                        
                                            
                                        
                                    Historian articleGeoffrey Robinson explores a little-known episode of the Cold War where half a million people were killed and the Indonesian communist party was destroyed, aided and abetted by the major Western Powers.
Amidst all the talk of fake news and Russian meddling in US politics, it is easy to lose... Fake news: Psy-war and propaganda in the Indonesian Genocide of 1965-66
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                                                                                The American Diplomatic Tradition
                                        
                                            
                                        
                                    Classic PamphletIndisputably, the United States of America has been and continues to be the leading power of the twentieth century. No country or people, however large or small, has been immune from American influence. A succession of American presidents have become international celebrities whose personal strengths and weaknesses are discussed and disssected... The American Diplomatic Tradition