Tag Archives: World War Two

Exploring the Nazi Career of Otto Skorzeny, the ‘Devil’s Disciple’

Posted on March 31, 2024 by historyatkingston

Although studies of Otto Skorzeny, said to be Hitler’s ‘favourite commando’, tended to be limited and were often of highly questionable quality for much of the post-war period, this situation appears to have changed in more recent years. Some qualitatively … Continue reading →

Posted in Anti-fascism, Conspiracy theory, European History, Extremism, Fascism, German History, Historiography, History of war, Nazism, Public History, Research, Uncategorized, World History | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Amazons against the Nazis: Women’s Home Defence in Wartime Britain

Posted on February 21, 2024 by historyatkingston

At the height of invasion fears in the summer of 1940, the British government asked for civilian volunteers ‘to go on duty against airborne invasion’ and be ‘entrusted with certain vital duties’ for which a knowledge of firearms would be necessary. Many … Continue reading →

Posted in Anti-fascism, Archives, British history, Fascism, Gender History, German History, Historiography, History of war, Local History, London history, Museums, Nazism, Public History, Research, Women's history | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Holocaust and Hate: When the late Zigi Shipper recalled Auschwitz

Posted on January 27, 2024 by historyatkingston

We were very sad to learn of the passing of Zigi Shipper, aged 93, in 2023. He came to Kingston University to deliver a talk on his experiences of the Holocaust and it was a truly moving experience for all … Continue reading →

Posted in Anti-fascism, European History, Events, Extremism, Fascism, German History, History of war, Kingston, Kingston University, Nazism, Public History, Teaching, World History | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The dangerous world of Marine Le Pen: a research note

Posted on December 20, 2023 by historyatkingston

Worrying opinion polls in France in recent months have indicated that Marine Le Pen and her ‘National Rally’ (NR) have become more popular than many of the mainstream French political parties and, indeed, indicate that the NR leader herself has … Continue reading →

Posted in Anti-fascism, European History, Extremism, Fascism, French History, Gender History, Media history, Nazism, Public History, Research, Teaching, Uncategorized, Women's history, World History | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Weaponising the Past: The British extreme right’s concept of history

Posted on November 23, 2023 by historyatkingston

From Alfred the Great to Wellington, via Nelson to Churchill, and from Francis Drake to Scott of the Antarctic, the extreme right in Britain have regularly sought to appropriate individuals who they claim were the ‘greatest’ Britons of the past. … Continue reading →

Posted in Anti-fascism, British history, British politics, Conspiracy theory, Events, Extremism, Fascism, Historiography, History skills, Local History, Media history, Nazism, Public History, Research, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

How a conspiracy theory bit the dust: Hess was indeed Hess

Posted on October 21, 2023 by historyatkingston

One of the big challenges for professional historians in recent years has been the worrying growth of conspiracy theory. Questionable claims with no empirical evidence often spread like wild-fire across the internet and, disturbingly for scholars, are regularly taken seriously … Continue reading →

Posted in Anti-fascism, British history, Conspiracy theory, European History, Extremism, Fascism, German History, History of war, Media history, Nazism, Public History, Teaching, Uncategorized, World History | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Kingston-on-Thames’s War Memorial: A brief history

Posted on October 12, 2023 by historyatkingston

In November, 2023, the main war memorial in Kingston-on-Thames in Surrey will be 100 years old, and will again be a key feature of Remembrance Sunday, which falls this year on Sunday, 12th November. Remembrance Sunday, created in the UK … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Events, History of war, Kingston, Local History, London history, Public History, Research, Surrey, Teaching, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The other Philby: The far right sympathies of St. John Philby

Posted on August 29, 2023 by historyatkingston

While there has been tremendous interest in the life and traitorous activities of the notorious spy Kim Philby, not many people are aware that he had a highly controversial father, St. John Philby, whose sympathies lay not with Communism but … Continue reading →

Posted in Anti-fascism, Archives, British Empire, British history, British politics, Conspiracy theory, European History, Extremism, Fascism, German History, Historiography, History of war, Middle East, Nazism, Public History, Research, The National Archives, Uncategorized, World History | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Exploring the Nazi Career of Otto Skorzeny, the ‘Devil’s Disciple’

Posted on July 5, 2023 by historyatkingston

Although studies of Otto Skorzeny, said to be Hitler’s ‘favourite commando’, tended to be limited and of questionable quality for much of the post-war period, this appears to have changed in more recent years. Some qualitively better researched material has … Continue reading →

Posted in Anti-fascism, European History, Fascism, German History, Historiography, History of war, Nazism, Public History, Research, Uncategorized, World History | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment