I'm very interested in WWII and am lucky enough to have the opportunity to pick the coursework question myself. I need to find a topic which has been debated by historians, but not one that is so generic that it has been done countless times before and lacks depth (e.g 'What was the turning point of the second world war?').
I was thinking of exploring a topic such as 'how extensive was the role of the French resistance in undermining German occupation throughout WWII?'. This could be interesting, as it would enable me to examine social and political themes in depth, as well as some military aspects of the war. I'd hope this would give my answer variety and make it stand out, whilst also allowing me to explore a feature of WW2 that is often overlooked in the greater context of the large scale military campaigns.
This question would allow me to explore topics such as resistance to the Vichy regime, the role of Charles de Gaulle in prompting the beginnings of French resistance groups, the role of propaganda and the media in breeding resistance against Nazi occupation, the actions of the French resistance in aiding allied spying, the creation of intelligence reports, and their role in the allied invasion of France (quite a lot of variety? - and I'm sure much, much more could be covered in such a topic).
As of now, my knowledge of the French resistance is very limited, but I know it's an aspect of the war I'd really enjoy researching and I'd like to gain a more comprehensive understanding of its role in subverting Nazi control. My question is, would I be able to find enough evidence/arguments from different historians to create a well fuelled debate on this topic?
(sorry if this is the wrong subreddit, I read the rules and I see it says no homework, I hope it's ok since I'm not asking for answers to a specific piece of homework - Thanks in advance for any replies :)
Absolutely. There's a ton of research on the topic and historians have made a variety of arguments about the significance and meaning of French resistance. In lieu of discussing that historiography, which would take far too long and take up way too much space, I'll provide you with a bibliography that'll hopefully help you get started on your research (I'll stick strictly to English-language sources):
Three essential overviews of Vichy France that focus on French collaboration with/resistance to Nazi Germany are:
Robert Paxton, Vichy France: Old Guard and New Order, 1940-1944 (1972): This book is without question the most influential book on Vichy France. Its arguments have been expanded and refined by other historians since Paxton first published it in the early '70s, but it's still the standard book on the topic.
Julian Jackson, France: The Dark Years, 1940-1944 (2001): Jackson is one of today's preeminent historians of 20th-century France. This is the best recent overview of Vichy France. While not overturning any of Paxton's arguments, Jackson does provide a more detailed narrative that incorporates a lot of the research that followed the publication of Paxton's book.
Philippe Burrin, France under the Germans: Collaboration and Compromise (1996).
In terms of biographies, Julian Jackson's recent De Gaulle is the new standard book on the subject. It replaces Jean Lacouture's more hagiographical treatment of De Gaulle in his 2-volume biography.
For general overviews of the French Resistance, there's two recent books on the topic, each by a well-respected historian of modern France.
Robert Gildea, Fighters in the Shadows: A New History of the French Resistance
Olivier Wieviorka, The French Resistance
Wieviorka has also recently published another book about the broader Western European resistance to Nazi Germany, The Resistance in Western Europe, 1940-1945
Other excellent books on the French resistance include:
H.R. Kedward, In Search of the Maquis: Rural Resistance in Southern France, 1942-1944
H.R. Kedward, Resistance in Vichy France: A Study of Ideas and Motivation in the Southern Zone, 1940-1942
Eric T. Jennings, Free French Africa in World War II: The African Resistance
Valerie Deacon, The Extreme Right in the French Resistance: Members of the Cagoule and Corvignolles in the Second World War
Regarding the collaboration/resistance of French intellectuals and artists, there's:
Frederic Spotts, The Shameful Peace: How French Artists and Intellectuals Survived the Nazi Occupation (2008).
Alice Kaplan, The Collaborator: The Trial and Execution of Robert Brasillach (2000).
Relevant sections of Ronald Aronson, Camus and Sartre: The Story of a Friendship and the Quarrel that Ended It (2004).
For Camus' role in the French Resistance, see Camus at Combat: Writings, 1944-1947, edited by Jacqueline Levi-Valensi (2007).
For the French response to Nazi Germany's discrimination of the Jews, see Robert Paxton's and Michael Marrus's foundational book (recently released in a 2nd, updated edition), Vichy France and the Jews. Another good book on the topic is Susan Zucotti, The Holocaust, the French, and the Jews (1999).
This is a small selection of books on the topic, but hopefully it'll provide you with enough to get started on your research. It's a fascinating topic, and best of luck!
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