Discover the lesser-known histories of WW2 on this 6-week, co-taught course, from the role played by Indians during the independence era to the experiences of Africans and the First Nation peoples of the USA.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
Explore some of the lesser-known political, social and military dynamics of WW2 and reflect upon why some aspects of its historiography might be overlooked or underplayed. Following an overview of the era, we will examine 4 case studies: India and Indian experiences of WW2; Africa and the experience of Africans; Latin America; and the lesser-known experiences of African American and First Nation Peoples. In the final session, you will reflect upon the significance of these case studies, their legacies, and why some histories of WW2 are less well known to us than others. Please note that the course is co-taught, so you will meet different tutors on this course.
What will we cover?
Week 1: 11/05/2026 – Dr. Dafydd Townley/overview
Week 2: 18/05/2026 – Ketan Varia, Indian experiences
BANK HOLIDAY 25/5/26
Week 3: 01/06/2026 Dr. Sunday Oyewole African experiences
Week 4: 08/06/2026 – Dafydd Townley, USA
Week 5: 15/06/2026 Dr. Maisa Edwards, Latin America, Brazil
Week 6: 22/06/2026 Dr. Dafydd Townley, conclusions
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Evaluate the significance of the role played by India in WW2 and the repercussions of war for the independence movement
• Assess the role played by Africa and Africans in WW2
• Identify the role played by African Americans and First Nation Peoples in WW2 and the impact of their contributions to the war effort
• Explain Latin America's role with particular reference to Brazil
• Critically consider the impact of the above 4 case studies on our understanding and knowledge of WW1.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
A general knowledge of WW2 would be helpful, but a basic overview of the conflict will be provided in the first session to help you to frame your understanding of our 4 key case studies. Generally, the only requirements for this course are an open mind, an interest in the topics explored, and a willingness to engage constructively and respectfully with both learners and tutors in any class discussions/debates.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Lectures, discussions and debates. Access to a Google Classroom where you can find resources relating to the topic will be provided. Reading is encouraged. As stated, the course is co-taught, so you will meet 4 different lecturers on this course.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
No - a pen and paper if you wish to take notes.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Please see our global and Imperial History area on the website for details of other courses. Other courses of interest may be found in our Americas, Africa and Asia areas.
Dr. Maísa Edwards holds a Joint International Relations PhD from King’s College London and the University of São Paulo. Her doctoral research focused on Brazil, the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic and the South Atlantic region. She also has an MSc in Brazil in Global Perspective from King’s College London and a first degree in French and Spanish from University College London. Maísa also has a keen interest in multilingual and multicultural literature and has run the Talk Books With Me (@talk_books_with_me) project since February 2021.
Sunday Abraham OgunodeSee moreSee less
Dr Sunday Ogunode holds a BA, in History and International Studies (First Class honours) and an MPhil and PhD in History. He started his university teaching career as a Graduate Fellow in 2009 and took on the position of Senior Lecturer (Assistant Professor) of African History in 2021. His research and teaching focused initially on the history of Sub-Saharan Africa and, within that, the socio-political history of Nigeria with a focus on kingship, kinship, and power politics since the pre-colonial period. More recently, he has extended his teaching and research to also encompass prisoners’ rights, prison labour, social justice, unjust imprisonment, and penal systems in modern Africa, peace/conflict studies, imperial history, and Africa’s relations with the global community. Well versed in higher education and the international research scene, Dr. Ogunode is very excited to meeting the learners of City Lit.
Dafydd TownleySee moreSee less
Dafydd Townley is a lecturer in American History at the University of Reading where he teaches courses to undergraduates and graduates on the FBI, protest groups in 1960s America, and race and ethnicity in the United States, as well as broad survey modules on US history. His research interests include American national security policy, the US intelligence community, cybersecurity policy, US grand strategy and US domestic counterintelligence operations. His research has been supported by University of Oxford’s Rothermere American Institute, Columbia University, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, the Institute for Historical Research and the Royal Historical Society. His work has been published in History, the Journal of Intelligence History and his monograph, The Year of Intelligence in the United States: Public Opinion, National Security and the 1975 Church Committee will be published by Palgrave Macmillan in June, 2021. His current research focuses on the long-term development of US cybersecurity policy.
Ketan VariaSee moreSee less
Ketan teaches courses in Philosophy and History at City Lit, covering topics including Indian history and philosophy, the history of mathematics and engineering, and the Industrial Revolution. He also delivers short courses in Generative AI. Ketan is of Indian heritage with a deep passion for history and culture. Having studied engineering before moving into a career in business change and transformation. He brings a rare blend of technical and humanistic perspective to his teaching. Over the past 25 years he has visited many places of historical and spiritual significance across the Indian subcontinent and Europe.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/hidden-histories-of-ww22747780Hidden Histories of WW2https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/GLE538_1.JPG149149GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/Global & imperial history/Courses/Online courses228511771178121017311228511771178<p>Discover the lesser-known histories of WW2 on this 6-week, co-taught course, from the role played by Indians during the independence era to the experiences of Africans and the First Nation peoples of the USA. </p>002747747Hidden Histories of WW2149149https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/GLE538_1.JPGInStockEveningMonOnlineAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-05-11T00:00:00+00:00May 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHWH246149149Hidden Histories of WW214997149Maisa Edwards, Sunday Abraham Ogunode, Dafydd Townley, Ketan Variahidden-histories-of-ww2/hwh246-2526<p>Discover the lesser-known histories of WW2 on this 6-week, co-taught course, from the role played by Indians during the independence era to the experiences of Africans and the First Nation peoples of the USA. </p>0000-Available|2026-05-11 00:00:00<p>Explore some of the lesser-known political, social and military dynamics of WW2 and reflect upon why some aspects of its historiography might be overlooked or underplayed. Following an overview of the era, we will examine 4 case studies: India and Indian experiences of WW2; Africa and the experience of Africans; Latin America; and the lesser-known experiences of African American and First Nation Peoples. In the final session, you will reflect upon the significance of these case studies, their legacies, and why some histories of WW2 are less well known to us than others. Please note that the course is co-taught, so you will meet different tutors on this course.</p><p>Discover the lesser-known histories of WW2 on this 6-week, co-taught course, from the role played by Indians during the independence era to the experiences of Africans and the First Nation peoples of the USA. </p><p>Week 1: 11/05/2026 – Dr. Dafydd Townley/overview</p><p>Week 2: 18/05/2026 – Ketan Varia, Indian experiences</p><p><strong>BANK HOLIDAY 25/5/26</strong></p><p>Week 3: 01/06/2026 Dr. Sunday Oyewole African experiences</p><p>Week 4: 08/06/2026 – Dafydd Townley, USA</p><p>Week 5: 15/06/2026 Dr. Maisa Edwards, Latin America, Brazil</p><p>Week 6: 22/06/2026 Dr. Dafydd Townley, conclusions</p><p> </p><p>Evaluate the significance of the role played by India in WW2 and the repercussions of war for the independence movement</p><p>• Assess the role played by Africa and Africans in WW2</p><p>• Identify the role played by African Americans and First Nation Peoples in WW2 and the impact of their contributions to the war effort</p><p>• Explain Latin America's role with particular reference to Brazil</p><p>• Critically consider the impact of the above 4 case studies on our understanding and knowledge of WW1.</p><p>A general knowledge of WW2 would be helpful, but a basic overview of the conflict will be provided in the first session to help you to frame your understanding of our 4 key case studies. Generally, the only requirements for this course are an open mind, an interest in the topics explored, and a willingness to engage constructively and respectfully with both learners and tutors in any class discussions/debates. </p><p>Lectures, discussions and debates. Access to a Google Classroom where you can find resources relating to the topic will be provided. Reading is encouraged. As stated, the course is co-taught, so you will meet 4 different lecturers on this course.</p><p>No - a pen and paper if you wish to take notes.</p><p>Please see our global and Imperial History area on the website for details of other courses. Other courses of interest may be found in our Americas, Africa and Asia areas. </p>HistoryGlobal & imperial historyvirtual14914997HWH246NONEMon11/05/26 - 22/06/2619:30 - 21:0019:3021:006 sessions (over 7 weeks)65-10 weeksEveningWeekdayOnlineOnlineMaisa Edwards, Sunday Abraham Ogunode, Dafydd Townley, Ketan VariaAvailable courses2026-05-11T00:00:00+00:00May 2026Culture, history & humanities149149Hidden Histories of WW2hidden-histories-of-ww2/hwh246-2526<p>Discover the lesser-known histories of WW2 on this 6-week, co-taught course, from the role played by Indians during the independence era to the experiences of Africans and the First Nation peoples of the USA. </p>0000-Available|2026-05-11 00:00:00<p>Explore some of the lesser-known political, social and military dynamics of WW2 and reflect upon why some aspects of its historiography might be overlooked or underplayed. Following an overview of the era, we will examine 4 case studies: India and Indian experiences of WW2; Africa and the experience of Africans; Latin America; and the lesser-known experiences of African American and First Nation Peoples. In the final session, you will reflect upon the significance of these case studies, their legacies, and why some histories of WW2 are less well known to us than others. Please note that the course is co-taught, so you will meet different tutors on this course.</p><p>Discover the lesser-known histories of WW2 on this 6-week, co-taught course, from the role played by Indians during the independence era to the experiences of Africans and the First Nation peoples of the USA. </p><p>Week 1: 11/05/2026 – Dr. Dafydd Townley/overview</p><p>Week 2: 18/05/2026 – Ketan Varia, Indian experiences</p><p><strong>BANK HOLIDAY 25/5/26</strong></p><p>Week 3: 01/06/2026 Dr. Sunday Oyewole African experiences</p><p>Week 4: 08/06/2026 – Dafydd Townley, USA</p><p>Week 5: 15/06/2026 Dr. Maisa Edwards, Latin America, Brazil</p><p>Week 6: 22/06/2026 Dr. Dafydd Townley, conclusions</p><p> </p><p>Evaluate the significance of the role played by India in WW2 and the repercussions of war for the independence movement</p><p>• Assess the role played by Africa and Africans in WW2</p><p>• Identify the role played by African Americans and First Nation Peoples in WW2 and the impact of their contributions to the war effort</p><p>• Explain Latin America's role with particular reference to Brazil</p><p>• Critically consider the impact of the above 4 case studies on our understanding and knowledge of WW1.</p><p>A general knowledge of WW2 would be helpful, but a basic overview of the conflict will be provided in the first session to help you to frame your understanding of our 4 key case studies. Generally, the only requirements for this course are an open mind, an interest in the topics explored, and a willingness to engage constructively and respectfully with both learners and tutors in any class discussions/debates. </p><p>Lectures, discussions and debates. Access to a Google Classroom where you can find resources relating to the topic will be provided. Reading is encouraged. As stated, the course is co-taught, so you will meet 4 different lecturers on this course.</p><p>No - a pen and paper if you wish to take notes.</p><p>Please see our global and Imperial History area on the website for details of other courses. Other courses of interest may be found in our Americas, Africa and Asia areas. </p>HistoryGlobal & imperial historyconfigurable
12101178Global & imperial historyhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/history/world-history1/2/285/1177/1178/12101/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/Global & imperial history