The Centre for Second World War Studies and the British Commission for Military History are organizing a joint conference from Friday 24 July to Sunday 26 July 2009 to mark the 70th Anniversary of the outbreak of Second World War. The Conference will be held at the Centre for Professional Development, College of Medical & Dental Science, University of Birmingham.

The theme of the Conference is “New Thinking on the Second World War”. Archival research is beginning to challenge many of the traditional interpretations and the organizers would like to receive proposals for papers which take a fresh view of many aspects of the war. Proposals for papers from current PhD students are particularly welcome. It is intended that a number of papers will review the established reputations of a number of major commanders and there will be four Workshop sessions, dealing with the following topics:

- Land Warfare – Tactics & Operations

- Women in War

- Small Wars in a Great War – Resistance & Counter-Resistance Operations

- Occupation Policies & Economic Exploitation

Professor Gary Sheffield of the University of Birmingham will give a Keynote Address on “The British Army in the Second World War; Past, Present & Future”.

Accommodation will be available on the University of Birmingham Campus from Thursday 23rd July until the end of the Conference. A significant reduction of the Conference Fee will be offered to the chosen speakers.

For further information about the Conference or to offer a paper please contact:

Michael Orr, Secretary General [secgen.bcmh@ntlworld.com]
British Commission for Military HistoryWar Studies

or

Dr Steffen Prauser, Director of the Centre for Second World War Studies - University of Birmingham