Department of History
Dr. Richard B. McCaslin, Chair
P.O. Box 310650
Denton, Texas 76203
Phone: 940-565-2288
Email: history@unt.edu |
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Military History
Center
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Military History
at UNT |
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The Department of History is proud to
welcome Dr. Geoffrey D. W. Wawro
as the inaugural holder of the Major General Olinto Mark Barsanti Chair
in Military History and Director of the Military History Center. Dr. Geoffrey Wawro comes to us from the U.S. Naval War College
in Newport, Rhode Island, where he is currently Professor of Strategic
Studies.
Read more >>>
The
Department of History at the University of North Texas provides an
unusually wide range of courses in military history, both European and
American. Undergraduates and graduate students can study the broad
outlines of military history in classes on the evolution of warfare from
the ancient Greeks to Napoleon and from Napoleon to the end of the Cold
War. In addition, faculty members offer courses on the American War of
Independence, the War of 1812, the U.S. Civil War, both World Wars, the
Korean conflict, the Vietnam War, and Desert Storm.
Students also have access to an unusually rich collection of military
history in the department's Kingsbury/Thomason Library located in Wooten
Hall. Thousands of volumes and videotapes of military history in this
library complement the extensive holdings in military history in the
university libraries: German Foreign Ministry and army documents of the
twentieth century, individual service records of Texas soldiers in the
Civil War, the official records of the American Civil War, one of the
nation's largest collections of oral-history interviews on World War II,
records of the occupation of Axis nations, and many other collections of
military history.
Faculty members have published a wide array of books and scholarly
articles on military and diplomatic history, including recent studies of
the armistice after World War I, histories of various aspects of Texas
during the Civil War, and examinations of the landing at Omaha Beach in
World War II. Graduate students have written numerous theses and
dissertations on military history, some of which have been published as
books and articles in scholarly journals. The department also publishes a
scholarly journal of military history, Military History of the West.
The department provides various forms of financial aid for many of its
students. Scholarships, teaching assistantships, teaching fellowships, and
research assistantships are awarded every spring for the following
academic year.
For further Information Contact:
Professor
Geoffrey D. W.
Wawro, Director
Center for Studies of Military History
Department of History
P.O. Box 310650
University of North Texas
Denton, TX 76203-0650
Telephone: 940/565-2288
Fax: 940/369-8838
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Courses in Military
History |
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The Courses in Military History at North Texas are amongst the more
popular courses offered by the Department of History.
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World War II. History of World War II, 1939_1945. Emphasis is on
European military events, but attention also is given to the Pacific
theater, politics, diplomacy and technology.
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The American Revolution. Issues and events emerging in 1763
that led to American Independence in 1783 and the founding of a new
nation.
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Early United States Military History to 1815. The genesis
and development of the American military system and traditions from
colonial times through the War of 1812.
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Evolution of Warfare to Napoleon. A survey of the evolution
of the art and science of warfare in Western Civilization from ancient
Greek society to the French Revolution.
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The Civil War and Reconstruction. The slavery controversy,
secession and the appeal to arms, and Reconstruction.
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Studies in United States Military/Diplomatic History.
Extensive readings and study in either United States military or
diplomatic history.
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Seminar in United States Military/Diplomatic History.
Research seminar in either United States military or diplomatic history.
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Studies in European Military/Diplomatic History. Extensive
readings and study in either European military or diplomatic history.
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Seminar in European Military/Diplomatic History. Research
seminar in either European military or diplomatic history.
In addition to these courses, other specialized
topics in military history (e.g., World War I, the United States in World
War II, U.S. Aviation in Peace and War, the U.S. in Korea and Vietnam,
Command and Commanders, the
Arab-Israeli Wars) are taught
under the heading of History 4260.
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The Military History
Seminar Series |
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In 1983,
Dr. Alfred F. Hurley, then the relatively new Chancellor and President of
UNT, initiated the annual Military History Seminar Series. Listed below is
a survey of the topics and speakers for
the first twenty such events in the Series.
A military
historian, Dr. Hurley came to UNT as Vice President for Administrative
Affairs in September1980, after completing a thirty-year career in the
U.S. Air Force. Some nineteen of those years involved service as a History
faculty member at the Air Force Academy, to include fourteen years
as Permanent Professor and Head of the Department. Upon assuming that
role, he supported the suggestion of a fellow faculty member to create in
1967 the annual, and five years later, bi-annual, Military History
Symposia that have evolved into two and one half day events. The Twentieth
Academy Symposium will quite appropriately focus in October 2003 on the
historical implications of the Centennial celebration of the Wright
Brothers first powered flight.
The strong
interest in military history among several UNT History faculty and among
Texas business and professional people during Dr. Hurley's first months
following his appointment as Chancellor and President in February 1982,
prompted him to start the Seminar Series in 1983.Sensitive to the work
schedules of the potential audience, he chose a Saturday morning/early
afternoon format. A well-recognized military historian begins each program
followed by a discussion with the audience. After lunch, a retired or
former officer or enlisted man offers his perspective on the topic,
followed by another discussion with the audience that ends at 2:30 p.m.
In
choosing topics and speakers, Chancellor Hurley consults with his many
contacts among leading military historians and knowledgeable senior
officers. Outstanding local sources have included military historian Dr.
Calvin Christman of Cedar Valley Community College and retired Lieutenant
General Charles Hamm, USAF.
One of the
most noteworthy aspects of the series has been the high quality of
audience participation. Virtually every speaker has acknowledged the
stimulation such a well-informed audience provides. Importantly, this
dimension seems to have figured in the audience's continuing growth past
150 business and professional people from throughout Texas.
The Amon
Carter Foundation of Fort Worth, thanks to the help of its board member
and regular Seminar attendee, Dr Bobby Brown , has stepped forward to help
fund both the Series and a subvention to the UNT Press that will enable
the publication of at least the first volume of Seminar papers. Also, but
quite belatedly, each of the last three Seminars has been videotaped and
archived.
A list of the Military History Seminar topics and speakers
follows:
2004
Subject: The Recent History of U.S. Civil-Military Relations
Leading Authority: Dr. Richard H. Kohn
( "The Dangers of Militarization in a Perpetual War on Terrorism")
Veteran's Perspective: Lt. General Bradley C. Hosmer, USAF (Ret.)
("The Professional Military and Political War: What are the Risks?" )
2003
Subject: Precursors to Current Conflicts
Leading Authority: Dr. Brian M. Linn
(" The U.S. War in the Phillippines, 1890-1902")
Veteran's Perspective: Lt. Gen. Dave R. Palmer, USA (Ret.)
(" Winning the Peace: The Role of a Nation's Army")
2002 Subject: Terrorism
Leading Authority: Dr. Norman Itzkowitz
("The Psychology of Terrorists and Terrorism")
Veteran's Perspective: Lt. Gen. Maxwell C. (Clay) Bailey, USAF (Ret.)
("Counter Terrorism: Unconventional Warfare in Afghanistan")
2001 Subject: Perspectives on the Russian Military in World War II and
the Cold War
Leading Authority: Col. David M. Glantz, USA (Ret.)
("Fact and Fancy: The Great Patriotic (Soviet-German) War, 1941-1945")
Veteran's Perspective: Lt. Gen. Charles Hamm, USAF (Ret.)
("Cold War Duty in Moscow")
2000 Subject: World War II
Leading Authority: Dr. Williamson "Wick" Murray
("Generalship, Leadership, and the Conduct of Operations in Europe,
Lessons in World War II")
Veteran's Perspective: Mr. John H. "Lucky" Luckadoo
("Life with the Bloody Hundredth Bomb Group")
1999 Subject: The War in Vietnam
Leading Authority: Dr. George Herring
("The Reluctant Warrior: LBJ as Commander-in-Chief")
Veteran's Perspective: Brig. Gen. David Winn, USAF (Ret.)
("Smart People; Dumb War?")
1998 Subject: The U.S. Fights in Asia: The Korean War
Leading Authority: Dr. Allan Millett
("Korea, the Forgotten War: Understanding is Better than Remembering")
Veteran's Perspective: Colonel Henry F. Gole
("The Combat Climate in Korea: A Reflection by a Once Young Soldier")
1997 Subject: Military Leadership in Total and Cold Wars
Leading Authority: Dr. Carlo D'Este
("General George Patton's Leadership in Total War-Who was George S.
Patton?")
Veteran's Perspective: General Russell Dougherty
("A General's Perspective: Leadership in the Cold War")
1996 Subject: Political-Military Relations: In World War II and Cold
War
Leading Authority: Dr. Mark Stoler
Veteran's Perspective: General John Chain
("Cold War Perspectives")
1995 Subject: The Decision to Use the A-Bomb
Leading Authority: Dr. Robert Divine
Veteran's Perspective: Mr. David Braden
("B-29 Operations Against Japan")
1994 Subject: Japanese Combat Tradition
Leading Authority: Dr. Alvin Coox
Veteran's Perspective: Mr. Roy Appleton
("Five Pacific Landings with the Marines")
1993 Subject: Role of Intelligence in 20th Century History
Leading Authority: Dr. Carl Boyd
Veteran's Perspective: Admiral Bobby Inman
("Post World War II Intelligence")
1992 Subject: 1942 in the Pacific
Leading Authority: Dr. Robert Love
Veteran's Perspective: General Robert Galer
("Marine Air Operations in the Pacific")
1991 Subject: German Planning of Barbarossa Campaign
Leading Authority: Dr. Gerhard Weinberg
Veteran's Perspective: Colonel Carl Reddel
("Perspectives on Soviet Society")
1990 Subject: The German Offensive 1940
Leading Authority: Dr. Dennis Showalter
Veteran's Perspective: Air Vice-Marshall R.A. Mason
("The Battle of Britain")
1989 Subject: Hitler and the United States
Leading Authority: Dr. Gerhard Weinberg
Veteran's Perspective: Maj. General A.R. "Bud" Bolling
("The Battle of the Bulge")
1988 Subject: Eisenhower as Supreme Commander
Leading Authority: Dr. Stephen Ambrose (Dr. Al Hurley-substitute)
Veteran's Perspective: Maj. General H.S. Hansell, Jr.
("Planning the Air War in Europe")
1987 Subject: The Lessons of the Korean War
Leading Authority: Dr. Burton I. Kaufman
Veteran's Perspective: Brig. General Ed Simmons
("The Marines in Korea")
1986 Subject: George Marshall
Leading Authority: Dr. Forrest Pogue
Veteran's Perspective: General William Y. Smith
("View of the Soldier-Statesman")
1985 Subject: Operations of the Pacific
Leading Authority: Professor Ron Spector
Veteran's Perspective: General T.R. Milton
("World War II Bombing Operations")
1984 Subject: General Douglas McArthur
Leading Authority: Dr. Clayton James
Veteran's Perspective: General Bryce Poe
("Reconnaissance Operations of Korea")
1983 Subject: General George Patton
Leading Authority: Professor Martin Blumenson
Veteran's Perspective: Lt. General A.P. Clark
("The POW Experience in Europe")
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