History 01:512:242 World War II Fall 2014

Course Syllabus

Section 01 Instructor: Richard Grippaldi, Ph.D.

Mondays & Thursdays 10:55am – 12:15pm Office: Van Dyck 001 (College Ave)
Hickman Hall 127 (Cook / Douglass) Office Hours: 12:50 – 1:50 pm Mondays &
Email: rgrippal@camden.rutgers.edu Thursdays, and by appointment

Course Description: This is a study of the causes, course, and aftermath of World War
II, with particular emphasis on the place of American culture and foreign policy within
world politics.

In addition to discussing American grand strategy and the course of the war in both
Europe and the Pacific, the class will consider topics such as the United States’
mobilization for war; roles of women and minority groups in the war effort; the use of
submarine and strategic air warfare; and the use of nuclear weapons against Japan.

Special Permission Numbers: There are two sections of this course this semester, both
taught by the same instructor. The enrollment capacity of this section is tied directly to
the number of desks in the classroom. When the section closes, there will be no desks
available for additional students. DO NOT ASK FOR A SPECIAL PERMISSION
NUMBER.

Course Readings: The following books are required. These can be purchased from the
campus bookstore, or special ordered from your local bookstore or Internet bookseller.

Murray, Williamson, and Allan R. Millett. A War to Be Won: Fighting the Second World
War. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 2000. ISBN 9780674006805

Overy, Richard. Why the Allies Won. New York: W. W. Norton, 1996. ISBN
9780393316193

Sledge, E. B. With the Old Breed, at Peleliu and Okinawa. New York: Random House,
2007. ISBN 9780891419198

Walker, J. Samuel. Prompt and Utter Destruction: Truman and the Use of Atomic Bombs
against Japan, revised ed. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2005. ISBN
9780807856079

The instructor also may make additional readings and documents available from the
course Sakai site.

Course Requirements: Students will complete a mid-term examination, worth 22%; a

final examination, worth 28%; two short papers, each worth 10%; and a course project,
worth 20%. Class attendance and participation will determine the remaining 10%.
The grading breakdown, therefore, is:

Exams 50%
Short Papers 20%
Course Project 20%
Attendance 8%
Participation 2%
Total 100%

Examinations: Each student will take a mid-term and a final examination. The midterm
will take place in class on October 23. The final will be given at a date, time and place to
be determined. Both examinations will cover readings, lectures, and discussion material.
On the midterm, students will answer five identifications and two essay questions; on the
final, ten identifications and two essay questions. The instructor will provide an
identification term study guide at least two classes before each exam.

Students will not be allowed to make up missed examinations unless a) their absence
would otherwise be excused (see “Class Attendance and Participation,” below) or b) they
arrange with the instructor for a make-up examination in advance of their absence.

Short Papers: In each short paper, you will answer the posed question using evidence
from readings, discussions, and lecture. The purpose of these assignments is to display
your ability to dissect historical works and offer complex interpretations of their
meanings.

All late papers will be penalized ten points for each class late, up to a maximum lateness
penalty of fifty points. That said, any points earned on a late paper will help your final
grade more than a zero. Except by prior arrangement between the student and the
instructor, the instructor will not accept assignments e-mailed to him.

Short Paper #1 due September 29. Length: 3 – 5 pages. Which person or institution
should bear the primary responsibility for the ineffective American defense of the
Hawaiian Islands in December 1941? (Note: while the instructor is open to arguments
that blame Franklin Roosevelt, the vast sea of “Pearl Harbor conspiracy” literature
produced over the past seventy years has failed to convince him of its correctness.)

Short Paper #2 due November 17. Length: 3 – 5 pages. Was the fall 1944 invasion of the
Palau Islands justified?

Each paper will be evaluated in six separate categories: Mechanics (10 points), Thesis (25
points), Argument & Organization (20 points), Evidence (20 points), Citations (10
points), and Proofreading (15 points). For more details on the instructor’s expectations
and tips on writing, see the “Writing a History Paper” handout posted on the course Sakai
site.

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Course Project: The use of nuclear weapons against Japan remains one of the most
controversial aspects of American participation in World War II. The course project is
designed to educate students on the options American defense officials considered in
trying to compel the Japanese to surrender.

The course project has two parts. Each student will write a four- to six-page paper on one
of the five options (invasion, blockade, conventional bombing, negotiated surrender, or
atomic bombing). The paper is worth 75 percent of the project grade (15 percent of the
course grade).

On December 1, the instructor will break the class into groups. Each student will brief
other members of the group on her or his option. The group will then recommend one of
the presented options and briefly explain their decision in writing. The group portion of
the project is worth 25 percent of the project grade (5 percent of the course grade).

The course project is explained in greater detail in the “Course Project Instructions”
handout on the course Sakai site.

Class Attendance and Participation: Attendance is mandatory. The instructor believes you
will benefit from exposure to lectures and class discussions. Unexcused absences will
hurt your attendance grade.

Excused absences will not lower your attendance grade. These include but are not limited
to religious observances; being under a doctor’s care; attending the funeral of a loved
one; performing military service; or travelling as a member of a university-sponsored
group. You should inform the instructor about absences as soon as possible, and where
available provide documentation when you return to class.

The readings for each unit are listed on the course schedule. While the instructor
encourages you to complete all of the readings before a unit begins, he will tell you what
must be read for the next lecture. He will regularly set aside time for discussion of course
material and/or student questions. Students that demonstrate a firm grasp of the readings
and course issues will earn the highest participation grades. The instructor’s definition of
“class participation” includes relevant discussions by e-mail, before or after class, or
during office hours.

The attendance grade is calculated simply:

([Lectures attended + excused absences] / total number of lectures) x 8

The 2 percent allotted to participation is based entirely on the instructor’s judgment.

Academic Integrity Statement: Academic integrity is essential to the success of the

educational enterprise and breaches of academic integrity constitute serious offenses
against the academic community. Violations of academic integrity include but are not
limited to cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, denying others access to information or

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material, and facilitating others’ violations of academic integrity. The instructor assumes
students will familiarize themselves with the policies and information posted by Rutgers
at http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/ at the earliest opportunity.

Disability Services Statement: Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, abides by
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Section 508 of the Disabilities Act of
1998; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; and the Americans with Disabilities
Act Amendments of 2008. These mandate that reasonable accommodations be provided
for qualified students with disabilities and accessibility of online information. If you have
a disability and may require some type of instructional and/or examination
accommodation, please contact the instructor early in the semester so that he can provide
or facilitate in providing accommodations you may need. If you have not already done so,
you will need to register with the Office of Disability Services, the designated office on
campus to provide services and administer exams with accommodations for students with
disabilities. The Office of Disability Services is located in Lucy Stone Hall, Livingston
Campus, 54 Joyce Kilmer Avenue, Suite A145, phone number 848-445-6800. The
instructor looks forward to talking with you soon to learn how he may be helpful in
enhancing your academic success in this course.

Pet Peeves: On top of his general expectations that you will treat him, your classmates,
and your work with respect, the instructor asks you to avoid these two particularly
irritating behaviors.

1) Using your cell phones or smartphones during lectures or class discussions. When the
instructor sees you texting, or sees you staring at your lap intently for no obvious reason,
he tends to believe you are not paying attention to him or your classmates. You will see
the instructor turn off his cell phone before lecture begins. You should do the same.

2) Ignoring directions. The instructor assumes you are competent enough to follow
directions precisely and responsible enough to suffer the consequences of not doing so.
No one will ever be reprimanded for asking where to find the directions for an
assignment, or for asking for clarification of those directions.

Contacting the Instructor: After final grades are submitted, the instructor will not allow
students to raise their course grade via additional assignments or alternative assessments
of course knowledge. You may ask the instructor about your course standing at any time
during the semester. If you are dissatisfied with the grades you have earned, it is upon
you to contact the instructor for advice or help towards improving.

E-mail is the best way to contact the instructor. He checks for messages at least twice
daily. He will acknowledge receipt of your message with a reply. If you do not receive a
reply within 24 hours, you should assume the instructor has not received your message
and write again. There are two sections of this course this semester, so please include
“WWII sec. 01” in your subject line. E-mails sent without a subject will be ignored.

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In addition to his office hours, the instructor will usually be available immediately before
and after class to interact with students. If you would like to discuss matters with the
instructor but are not available at those times, he encourages you to make an appointment
to talk at a time which is convenient for you.

Course Schedule
Note that the instructor reserves the right to change the schedule, readings, and
assignments.

Unit I – Course Introduction and Concepts – September 4

Readings: Murray & Millett, preface; Overy, preface, ch. 1

Unit II – American Military and Foreign Policy, 1919 – 1939 – September 8, 11 & 15
Readings: Murray & Millett, ch. 1 – 2, ch. 7 (pp. 143 – 64), appendices 1 – 3

Unit III – Coming of War, 1939 – 1941 – September 18, 22 & 25

Readings: Murray & Millett, ch. 3 – 6, ch. 7 (pp. 164 – 68), ch. 8 (pp. 169 – 81)

Unit IV – Military and Economic Mobilization – September 29 & October 2

Readings: Murray & Millett, ch. 19; Overy, ch. 6 – 9

Short Paper #1 due September 29

Unit V – 1942 – October 6 & 9

(Wake and the Philippines, Arcadia Conference, Coral Sea & Midway, Guadalcanal,
Invasion of North Africa)
Readings: Murray & Millett ch. 8 (pp. 181 – 95), ch. 9 (pp. 196 – 201, 210 – 15), ch. 11
(pp. 262 – 302); Overy ch. 3

Unit VI – Strategic Use of Bombers and Submarines – October 13 & 16

(Battle of the Atlantic, Combined Bomber Offensive, Submarine Warfare in the Pacific)
Readings: Murray & Millett ch. 9 (pp. 223 – 27), ch. 10, ch. 12, ch. 13 (pp. 348 – 53);
Overy ch. 2, ch. 4

Make-up / Midterm Review Day – October 20

MIDTERM EXAMINATION – October 23

Unit VII – 1943 – October 27 & 30

(Strategic Conferences, Solomon Islands, New Guinea, Sicily, Italy [August 1943 – end
of war], Tarawa)
Readings: Murray & Millett ch. 9 (pp. 201 – 9, 215 – 23, 227 – 33), ch. 11 (pp. 302 – 3),
ch. 13 (pp. 336 – 46), ch. 14 (pp. 374 – 95)

Unit VIII – Maintaining the War Effort – November 3 & 6

Readings: review readings from Unit IV (Murray & Millett, ch. 19; Overy, ch. 6 – 9)

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Unit IX – 1944 – November 10, 13 & 17
(Marshall Islands, Mariana Islands, Normandy, Race to the German Border, Peleliu,
Leyte)
Readings: Murray & Millett, ch. 13 (pp. 346 – 8, 353 – 73), ch. 14 (pp. 395 – 410), ch.
15; Overy, ch. 5; Sledge, Part I

Short Paper #2 due November 17

Unit X – 1945 – November 20, 24 & 25

(Luzon, Battle of the Bulge, Yalta, Iwo Jima, the German collapse, Okinawa, strategic
bombing of Japan)
Readings: Murray & Millett ch. 16 – 17, ch. 18 (pp. 509 – 16); Sledge, Part II

NOTE: November 25 is a TUESDAY. The university is closed for Thanksgiving on

November 27.

Unit XI – Course Project: Ending the Pacific War – December 1

Readings: Murray & Millett ch. 18 (pp. 516 – 26); all of Walker

Written component of Course Project due December 1

Unit XII – War’s Aftermath – December 4

Readings: Murray & Millett, ch. 20 & epilogue; Overy, ch. 10 & epilogue

Unit XIII – Course Conclusion – December 8

Readings: Murray & Millett, epilogue; Overy, epilogue

Final Exam Review – December 8

Final Examination – date, time & place TBD.