I am a historian of the Second World War and the aim of this site is to enable others to access some of the research I have carried out over the past few years,
and to encourage people to exchange ideas and views about a wide range of subjects relating to the conflict.
On this site you will find an oral history archive with transcriptions of many of the interviews
I have conducted with veterans of the war from many different countries, and there are also blogs, comment pieces, book reviews,
suggested reading, and also contributions from other leading historians in this field.
I hope you find it interesting.
James Holland
Sarah Helm
Antony Beevor
Geoffrey Wellum
Matthew Parker
George MacDonald Fraser
Michael Ondaatje
Alex Bowlby
Evelyn WaughCassino, May 21, 2004
Managed to catch my flight OK, and after landing back in Rome, drove down to Cassino once more, where I finally met Monty Soutar from New Zealand. He’s over here with a number of Kiwi veterans.
Piacenza, May 20, 2004
The party from last night reconvened and we headed off in cars into the mountains for a tour of their old Partisan haunts. It was an amazing day. Lunch was in a mountain trattoria run by another former partisan and seemed to be never ending – one course after another of incredible food, including nettle ravioli. I realised halfway through the afternoon that I was never going to catch my evening flight back to Rome, but rather than worrying about it, decided to go with the flow. And when we did eventually get back to Piacenza, it was easy enough to change. I’ve now got a very early start in the morning, but that’s all right. I’m so glad Stephen let me join him on this trip of his. It gave me a very clear picture of how the Partisans – in this part of Italy at least – operated. Stephen clearly loved every minute. He’s a terrific bon viveur and it’s really good to see someone in their mid eighties so spry and eager to enjoy himself.
