The British and Commonwealth Armies and the Second World War

The book provides an unprecedented panoramic history of the 'citizen armies' of the UK and its Empire during the Second World War. Drawing on new sources to reveal the true wartime experiences of ordinary people, Dr Fennell fundamentally challenges our understanding of the war and the relationship between conflict and socio-political change.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Dr Fennell will explore how fractures on the home front had profound implications for the performance of the British and Commonwealth armies. He will trace how soldiers' political beliefs, many of which emerged because of their combat experience, proved instrumental to the socio-political changes of the post-war era.

Fighting the People's War: The British and Commonwealth Armies and the Second World War was published by Cambridge University Press in January 2019.

This event will be moderated by Professor Beatrice Heuser, RUSI Senior Associate Fellow and Professor of International Relations at the University of Glasgow.

This event is open to RUSI members only. To become a member, please click here.

To take part, you must pre-register no later than 21 February using the ‘Register Now’ button. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. If you have any questions, please e-mail Sabrina Downey, Events Director, at sabrinad@rusi.org.