The Price of Freedom: Normandy 1944 (History 3044W)
Announcement of History Study Abroad Class
Application Deadline: 5 pm, Friday, October 26 (before normal registration) – to Professor Long (Phillips 320)
Information Meeting: Friday, October 5 (Phillips 411) at 12:30 pm or 6:30 pm __________________________________________________________________
Again this spring the History Department will be offering an unusual class that gives each student an opportunity to learn about a soldier from his or her hometown who died in the Normandy Campaign and is buried in the American Battlefield Cemetery at Omaha Beach. It is History 3044W, “The Price of Freedom: Normandy 1944,” taught by Professor Long.
The class will explore the causes, conduct, and consequences of the Normandy Campaign, examining the impact on individuals, communities, and the nation. The course is an intensive regular history department course with lectures, discussion, and film viewings. It will meet for lectures on Tuesday and Thursday from 4:45 to 6:00 pm, discussion on Thursday from 6:00 to 7:00 pm, and on Thursday, after discussion, for watching films from 7:00 until 9:30 pm or so. The course will carry 4 credits, satisfy a WiD requirement, and meet GPAC elements for Global Perspective, Oral Communication, and Critical Thinking. The course will be limited to 14 students.
Then, on Friday night, March 8, 2019, the beginning of spring break, the class will fly to Paris, arriving early in the morning on Saturday. Then everyone will board a bus and, before noon, arrive at Pegasus Bridge, where British Airborne troops landed at 16 minutes after midnight on D-Day – 6 June 1944. From there the class will conduct a rigorous “staff ride” (that’s army-speak for a participatory, educational tour) of the entire campaign – all the way from the beaches back to Paris.
Each student will conduct a briefing about some element of the campaign at the appropriate location. The trip will conclude its visit to the actual landing beaches by laying a wreath at the memorial in the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach and having each student present a eulogy for his or her soldier at the soldier’s graveside.
The only way to apply for the course is to submit a written application and a completed RTF-EZ to Professor Long by 5pm on Friday, October 26, 2018. You can obtain the Application on the table outside the History Department Office (Phillips 335), or from Professor Long (Phillips 320).
It is anticipated that the additional expense associated with the travel element of the course will be about $3,500 for items like airfare, hotels, some meals, bus transport, etc. You should plan on taking about $350 – $400 to cover the cost of 4 lunches, 5 dinners (plus any spending money). You will be required to make a $300 deposit when you are accepted for the course. One half of the balance will be due on January 18, 2019, and the balance on February 12, 2019. A limited amount of scholarship money is likely to be available for students who require assistance to be able to participate. Please try to evaluate your circumstances carefully.
Professor Long will conduct information sessions to discuss details of the course on Friday, October 5 from 12:30 to 2 or from 6:30 to 8 pm in 411 Phillips Hall. If you are interested in the course, you it is important that you attend one of them, even if you have already submitted your application.
Remember, the only way to apply is by submitting your application (with an RTF-EZ) to Professor Long by October 26. His office is Phillips 320.
If you have questions, please come to see Professor Long. His office hours are Monday and Wednesday 9:30 – 11 am. Or you can e-mail him at tomlong@gwu.edu.
