War and Memory in 20th-Century Europe

(Paperback)

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War and Memory in 20th-Century Europe outlines how and where the memory of 20th-century European conflict is located in contemporary society. Through an analysis of the collective memory of various conflicts, it demonstrates that knowledge of how different societies and cultures remember their experience of war is crucial to understanding the history of 20th-century Europe. The book begins by examining the definition of cultural memory and the key theories and methodologies involved in its study, before going on to examine key case studies in the memory of conflict, including: - The First World War and the Armenian Genocide - The Russian Revolution and Successor States in Eastern Europe - The Spanish Civil War - The Second World War - Occupation and the Holocaust in France and Poland - The End of the Cold War and Communism - The Yugoslav Wars The book provides a history of memory and a focus on memory spaces and memory practices following conflict, looking in particular at how memory has emerged in public discourse and spaces such as public parks, museums, and memorial sites. Every chapter involves a comparative element, exploring the similarities and differences in terms of how memory operates within different societies. Readers are supported throughout with illustrations and detailed further reading suggestions.

Author Bio

David A. Messenger is Professor of History and Global & Area Studies and Director of the Global & Area Studies Program at the University of Wyoming, USA.