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History

The Second World Wars

7 lessons

7.5h total length

Discover how the Allied powers won World War II.

World War II, the greatest armed conflict in human history, encompassed global fighting in unprecedented ways with new technologies, diverse theaters, numerous styles of fighting, and towering figures.  

“The Second World Wars,” a free online course taught by Victor Davis Hanson and Larry P. Arnn, will help you to understand this massive and complex conflict in a new way by organizing the war into seven fundamental topics: The Stakes of World War II, Air, Water, Earth, Fire, People, and Ends. The result is a clear picture of why the war was fought and how the Allied powers ultimately triumphed.

Join us today in this crucial study of the war that saved the West from a new form of tyranny. 

Taught by:

Larry P. Arnn, President of Hillsdale College, Professor of Politics and History 

Victor Davis Hanson, Wayne and Marcia Buske Distinguished Fellow in History


Lessons in this course

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36:20

lesson 1

The Stakes of World War II

World War II can be understood in terms of two competing arguments regarding the nature of man. One argument views man primarily as part of a collective, shaped in decisive respects by race or class. This led to the invasion of peaceful lands and the organized slaughter of millions. The other argument views the human soul as free—never to be governed without consent. The unflinching insistence on this view led to liberation.

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51:01

lesson 2

Air

During the interwar years, tremendous technological advances led several leading theorists to overestimate the importance of air power in World War II. They overlooked the inherent limitations of air power and failed to account for the indispensability of naval and ground operations. The lessons the Allied powers learned about air power in 1941-1943 led to the development of new technologies and tactics, which enabled them to achieve air superiority and eventually air supremacy.

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50:22

lesson 3

Water

At the beginning of World War II, naval doctrine emphasized the primacy of battleships in naval warfare. However, the war revealed the battleship’s limitations and the importance of a diversified and flexible fleet centered around aircraft carriers. The Allies’ ability to build and supply such a fleet allowed them to achieve naval supremacy first in the Atlantic and eventually in the Pacific.

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54:21

lesson 4

Earth

While World War II gave rise to significant advancements in air and naval power, ground operations remained the key to success. The war’s belligerents employed a variety of means and tactics, based on geography, history, military command, and politics. However, they all pursued a common goal—the destruction of the enemy’s industrial capacity and the occupation of his capital.

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47:47

lesson 5

Fire

At the beginning of World War II, military theorists believed that tanks would dominate ground warfare. This was due mainly to their ability to plunge through enemy lines and capture territory. However, to make armored tactics effective, the major powers first had to answer essential questions regarding size, design, firepower, fuel, and support.

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52:53

lesson 6

People

In World War II, the leaders of the major belligerents prosecuted the war in vastly different ways: the ruthless Axis powers were committed to ideologies that clouded their strategic judgment, while Russians employed desperate measures to ensure the survival of their equally ruthless Soviet state. By contrast, the United States and Great Britain developed a strategy to preserve liberty and limit the loss of human life.

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51:31

lesson 7

Ends

The tragedy of World War II resulted from a combination of British appeasement, American isolationism, and Russian collusion, which allowed fascism to grow and thrive. It took six years and millions of lives to overcome the Axis powers. The aftermath of World War II presented new threats, marked by the ideological split and distrust between the Soviet Union and its former allies.

Watch the course trailer

Enroll in this free course on World War II today!

What Current Students Are Saying

Victor Davis Hanson is one of the smartest men on the planet. His knowledge of subject matter is excellent. His explanations are clear and concise and understandable for me.

Nancy from North Carolina

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