Discovering History: Propaganda, Resistance and Underground Operations in the Second World War

Course Programme (may be subject to change)

Week 1
The early establishment of MI5, undercover operations in the inter-war period, relations with the Soviet Union and the recruitment of spies such as the Cambridge Five.

Week 2
Propaganda to and from Germany prior to World War II, the establishment of the Ministry of Information. The Nazi cultural ‘charm offensive’, effective in France in the 1930s. Nazi support in Britain among the aristocracy and press.

Week 3
The work of decoding German communications at Bletchley Park and its impact on the course of the war. The reduction of U-boat attacks in the Atlantic. Operations such as ‘The man who never was’ and support of resistance movements. The eventual infiltration at Bletchley by John Cairncross, of the Cambridge Five.

Week 4
The establishment of the SOE and the daring exploits of its agents across Europe, particularly France, Greece and the Balkans.

Week 5
Co-ordinating with and training American Secret Service agents. Sharing information and working together in North Africa and Germany. Relations with the USSR.

*** CHRISTMAS BREAK ***

Week 6
The growth of resistance movements in Poland, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia etc; their support for the SOE and their sometimes problematic relations.

Week 7
Double-agents, betrayals and undercover operations such as the Norwegian success in destroying the Nazi ‘Heavy water’ plant, in the race for the early construction of nuclear weapons.

Week 8
The Italian Armistice and failure to co-ordinate resistance in the Adriatic. The intensification of propaganda and resistance in anticipation of the Allied liberation of Europe.

Week 9
The importance of undercover operations in co-ordinating D-day and the final push to invade Germany.

Week 10
Mopping up after the war. Attempts at de-Nazification in Germany and to boost morale in austerity Britain. Relations with USSR and Stalin.

Dr Sheila Lecoeur has specialised in Italian studies and is currently engaged in historical research for publication and teaching on the Imperial College Evening Class Programme.

Sheila is also a social historian of Europe in the 20th century, with a particular interest in the history of fascism and the Second World War. Sheila has produced a documentary film about Greece in World War II for television. Her book on the Italian occupation of Greece, ‘Mussolini’s Greek island’, has also been translated into Greek. She is currently working on a second documentary film on the present crisis in Greece.

Rate Categories and Discounts

Standard Rate

• Available to all except those who fall under the Internal Rate or Associate Rate category.

Internal Rate

• Current Imperial College students and staff (incl. Imperial NHS Trust, Imperial Innovations, ancillary & service staff employed on long-term contracts at Imperial College by third-party contractors)
• People enrolling under our Friends & Family scheme
• Alumni of Imperial College and predecessor colleges and institutes, including City & Guilds College Association members
• Students, staff and alumni of the Royal College of Art, Royal College of Music and City, UAL and the City and Guilds of London Art School
• Students, staff and Governors of Woodhouse College and the IC Mathematics School

Associate Rate

• Austrian Cultural Forum staff
• Co-operative College members
• Francis Crick Institute staff, researchers and students
• Friends and Patrons of the English Chamber Orchestra
• Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
• Friends of Leighton House/ Sambourne House
• Friends of the Royal College of Music
• Harrods staff
• Historic Royal Palaces staff
• Lycee Charles de Gaulle staff
• Members of the Friends of Imperial College
• Members of the Kennel Club
• Members of the London Zoological Society
• Members of the South London Botanical Institute (SLBI)
• Members of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
• National Health Service (NHS) employees
• Natural History Museum staff
• Residents of postcodes SW3, SW5, SW7, SW10 and W8
• Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council staff
• Royal Geographical Society staff
• Science Museum staff
• Staff of Exhibition Road Cultural Group (Discover South Kensington) organisations
• Students (non-Imperial College)
• Teachers and other staff of UK schools
• The American Institute for Foreign Study
• Tutors and other staff of institution members of the Association of Colleges
• Tutors and other staff of other universities and higher education institutions
• Victoria and Albert Museum staff

Late enrolment

It is possible to enrol on many of our adult education courses after the course has already started. For non-language courses this is subject entirely to agreement by the tutor. For language courses it is subject to agreement by the language coordinator conducting level assessment. If you want to join a course late do bear in mind there might be work you will need to catch up on, particularly in language courses.

Friends and Family Scheme

This course is eligible for allowing Imperial College students and staff to share their discount with their friends and family.

Enrolment via the blue booking link is open. Early-bird discounts are available until the end of 30 September 2024

Enrolment and payment run through the Imperial College eStore. When enrolling:

• Do check on the drop down menu above called "Course Fees and Rate Categories" to see if you are eligible for a discounted rate and also do make sure you select that rate when enrolling on the eStore
• If you are a first-time eStore user you will need to create an account before enrolling. You can do this by entering an email address and password. This account can then be used for any future enrolments via the eStore.

When you have enrolled you will be sent the following email notifications:

If you have any questions about the academic content or teaching of this course please contact the Course Tutor, Dr Sheila Lecoeur, s.lecoeur@imperial.ac.uk

If you have any questions about your enrolment or payment processes please contact the Programme Administrator, Christian Jacobi, eveningclass@imperial.ac.uk