Discover how you can still see throughout the Continent many instances of the military infrastructure created in the two World Wars. Study the forts of the French Maginot Line, Hitler’s Atlantic Wall, the massive Flak Towers still haunting Berlin and Vienna, James Bond-style V2 launch complexes, massive U-Boat pens dotted along the French Atlantic coast, and a destroyer set half way up an Italian mountain! In art, study how the approach of the war artists of the World Wars changed dramatically in the "Great War" from the traditional pictures of bravery, discipline and glory to images depicting the tragedy and pathos of war. The concept of “War Artists” only came to reality in 1916, but by 1917 the likes of Paul and John Nash, CRW Nevinson and William Orpen were in the front line bringing the reality of war to the masses back home. The Second World War saw leading British artists including Paul Nash, Eric Ravilious and Edward Bawden deployed around the world to capture the conflict.
Course aim
To give an insight into the sheer scale of historic military structures from the World Wars that still remains throughout Europe and to appreciate through the art of the times how the two wars were such a different experience for all involved.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- This course is for beginners and improvers
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- Describe the launch complex for Hitler's V2 "terror weapon" that is sited inland of Boulogne.
- Name two of the French ports on the Atlantic coast where you can still visit massive U-Boat pens built in the 2nd World War.
- Cite two artworks that best represent the essence of the two World Wars
What else do I need to know?
- Nothing else is needed
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