Discovering History: Propaganda, Resistance and Underground Operations in the Second World War
At a Glance
- Classroom course (South Kensington)
- Wednesdays 18:00 - 20:00
- 10 weeks | November - February
- Starts 13 November 2024
- Fees from £144
- Tutor: Dr Sheila Lecoeur
Enrol-by Date
- 4 November 2024
Although espionage and secret military operations have existed for many centuries, our modern understanding of the terms owes a great deal to the Second World War, and in particular the attempts by the Allies to support the work of local resistance fighters in various parts of occupied Europe.
Pre-eminent amongst these was Britain's Special Operations Executive, or SOE. By the end of the Second World War in 1945, the SOE was employing and supporting over 13,000 people across Europe, many of them women agents.
Along with the Military Intelligence branches of the British Government, the most famous of which are the two surviving branches MI5 and MI6, the guile, courage and ingenuity of agents working in Propaganda, Resistance and Special Operations against the Nazis and Japanese during the Second World War remains breathtaking.
On this course Dr Sheila Lecoeur invites us to explore the history of resistance fighters, propagandists and spies during the Second World War, not only from Britain, but those working for other countries involved in the hostilities. This included the American Office of Strategic Services, the Soviet Union's GRU and, of course, the German Abwehr.
Using archive film footage, photographic archives and written testimonials we will try to piece together the still secretive activities of the military intelligence services and the resistance fighers they supported, including many men and women who might rightly be described as real-life James Bonds.
No previous knowledge of politics or history is necessary.
Class Recordings
These classes are not recorded
Attendance Certificate
Successful completion of this course leads to the award of an Imperial College attendance certificate
Terms and conditions apply to all enrolments to this course. Please read them before enrolment
Course Information
Course Programme
Course Programme (may be subject to change)
Week 1: The early establishment of MI5, undercover operations in the inter-war period, relations with the Soviet Union and the recruitment of spies such as the Cambridge Five.
Week 2: Propaganda to and from Germany prior to World War II, the establishment of the Ministry of Information. The Nazi cultural ‘charm offensive’, effective in France in the 1930s. Nazi support in Britain among the aristocracy and press.
Week 3: The work of decoding German communications at Bletchley Park and its impact on the course of the war. The reduction of U-boat attacks in the Atlantic. Operations such as ‘The man who never was’ and support of resistance movements. The eventual infiltration at Bletchley by John Cairncross, of the Cambridge Five.
Week 4: The establishment of the SOE and the daring exploits of its agents across Europe, particularly France, Greece and the Balkans.
Week 5: Co-ordinating with and training American Secret Service agents. Sharing information and working together in North Africa and Germany. Relations with the USSR.
*** Christmas break ***
Week 6: The growth of resistance movements in Poland, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia etc; their support for the SOE and their sometimes problematic relations.
Week 7: Double-agents, betrayals and undercover operations such as the Norwegian success in destroying the Nazi ‘Heavy water’ plant, in the race for the early construction of nuclear weapons.
Week 8: The Italian Armistice and failure to co-ordinate resistance in the Adriatic. The intensification of propaganda and resistance in anticipation of the Allied liberation of Europe.
Week 9: The importance of undercover operations in co-ordinating D-day and the final push to invade Germany.
Week 10: Mopping up after the war. Attempts at de-Nazification in Germany and to boost morale in austerity Britain. Relations with USSR and Stalin.
Your Tutor
Dr Sheila Lecoeur has specialised in Italian studies and is currently engaged in historical research for publication and teaching on the Imperial College Evening Class Programme.
Sheila is also a social historian of Europe in the 20th century, with a particular interest in the history of fascism and the Second World War. Sheila has produced a documentary film about Greece in World War II for television. Her book on the Italian occupation of Greece, ‘Mussolini’s Greek island’, has also been translated into Greek. She is currently working on a second documentary film on the present crisis in Greece.
Course Fees and Rate Categories
| Weeks | Standard Rate | Internal Rate | Associate Rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Early Bird: £241 Full price: £268 |
Early Bird: £144 Full price: £160 |
Early Bird: £190 Full price: £211 |
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| All fee rates quoted are for the whole course. Early Bird rates are available until the end of 30 September only. Part-payments are not possible. | |||||
Rate Categories and Discounts
Standard Rate
- Available to all except those who fall under the Internal Rate or Associate Rate category.
Internal Rate
- Current Imperial College students and staff (incl. Imperial NHS Trust, Imperial Innovations, ancillary & service staff employed on long-term contracts at Imperial College by third-party contractors)
- People enrolling under our Friends & Family scheme
- Alumni of Imperial College and predecessor colleges and institutes, including City & Guilds College Association members
- Students, staff and alumni of the Royal College of Art, Royal College of Music and City, UAL and the City and Guilds of London Art School
- Students, staff and Governors of Woodhouse College and the IC Mathematics School
Associate Rate
- Austrian Cultural Forum staff
- Co-operative College members
- Francis Crick Institute staff, researchers and students
- Friends and Patrons of the English Chamber Orchestra
- Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
- Friends of Leighton House/ Sambourne House
- Friends of the Royal College of Music
- Harrods staff
- Historic Royal Palaces staff
- Lycee Charles de Gaulle staff
- Members of the Friends of Imperial College
- Members of the Kennel Club
- Members of the London Zoological Society
- Members of the South London Botanical Institute (SLBI)
- Members of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
- National Health Service (NHS) employees
- Natural History Museum staff
- Residents of postcodes SW3, SW5, SW7, SW10 and W8
- Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council staff
- Royal Geographical Society staff
- Science Museum staff
- Staff of Exhibition Road Cultural Group (Discover South Kensington) organisations
- Students (non-Imperial College)
- Teachers and other staff of UK schools
- The American Institute for Foreign Study
- Tutors and other staff of institution members of the Association of Colleges
- Tutors and other staff of other universities and higher education institutions
- Victoria and Albert Museum staff
Late enrolment
It is possible to enrol on many of our adult education courses after the course has already started. For non-language courses this is subject entirely to agreement by the tutor. For language courses it is subject to agreement by the language coordinator conducting level assessment. If you want to join a course late do bear in mind there might be work you will need to catch up on, particularly in language courses.
Friends and Family Scheme
This course is eligible for allowing Imperial College students and staff to share their discount with their friends and family.
Term Dates 2024-25
| Weeks | Autumn term | Spring term | Summer term | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Week starting 11 November - week ending 14 December 2024 (5 weeks)* | Week starting 13 January - week ending 15 February 2025 (5 weeks)* | n/a | ||
| *This is a 2-term course: Autumn term PLUS Spring term | |||||
Enrolment Process
Enrolment via the blue booking link is open. Early-bird discounts are available until the end of 30 September 2024
Enrolment and payment run through the Imperial College eStore. When enrolling:
- Do check on the drop down menu above called "Course Fees and Rate Categories" to see if you are eligible for a discounted rate and also do make sure you select that rate when enrolling on the eStore
- If you are a first-time eStore user you will need to create an account before enrolling. You can do this by entering an email address and password. This account can then be used for any future enrolments via the eStore.
When you have enrolled you will be sent the following email notifications:
| What is sent | When is it sent | What does it contain | |
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| 1. Payment confirmation | Is sent straight away following submission of your online application |
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| 2. Enrolment confirmation | Is usually sent within 10 working days. Please treat your payment confirmation as confirmation that your applicant details and payment have been received |
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| 3. Programme information | Is usually sent on Friday late afternoon the week before term starts |
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Any Questions?
If you have any questions about the academic content or teaching of this course please contact the Course Tutor, Dr Sheila Lecoeur, s.lecoeur@imperial.ac.uk
If you have any questions about your enrolment or payment processes please contact the Programme Administrator, Christian Jacobi, eveningclass@imperial.ac.uk