This thesis is the first academic treatment of the poetry of Anton Schnack (1892-1973): his work is not well known, even in Germany. Methodologically the thesis takes a combined literary, historical and biographical approach, exploring the complex and sometimes deceptive relations between his poetry and the turbulence of his time. The primary aim of the thesis is to show that Tier rang gewaltig mit Tier (1920) is a uniquely innovative volume of war poetry which, to be fully appreciated, needs to be assessed against the background of previous German war poetry and the development of the sonnet cycle. It is placed in the context of Schnack’s other lyrical work, particularly of the three volumes of Expressionist poetry which immediately preceded it and which themselves are analysed as examples of a very powerful kind of Expressionism. Schnack did not publish his next volume of verse until 1936, and three further collections emerged in quick succession between 1947 and 1953. These four collections are examined in detail in the context of Schnack’s decision to stay in southern Germany and to maintain a consistently low profile. The thesis begins with a general introduction to Schnack’s life and work and makes specific reference to his contemporary and current standing among literary historians and critics. Chapter Two focuses on the three volumes of Expressionist verse and documents the cultural circles which he frequented in Munich and the numerous Expressionist magazines and periodicals to which he contributed. The next three chapters are dedicated to Tier rang gewaltig mit Tier and examine it with reference to its poetic form as a cycle of sonnets and of its merits and status as war poetry. The final chapter pays particular attention to Schnack’s life in the Third Reich, situating the single collection he published during that era among the literary works of Inner Emigration, before analysing his three post-war collections.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal. / Pour respecter les droits d'auteur, la version électronique de cette thèse ou ce mémoire a été dépouillée, le cas échéant, de ses documents visuels et audio-visuels. La version intégrale de la thèse ou du mémoire a été déposée au Service de la gestion des documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Cette thèse étudie les militants des organisations Freies Deutschland (FD) fondées en Belgique, en France et en Suisse pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale. En reproduisant le modèle du Nationalkomitee « FreiesDeuschland », créé à Moscou en juillet 1943 par des exilés communistes et des prisonniers de guerre allemands, ils tentent de rassembler des opposants au régime nazi présents en Europe de l’Ouest. A l’aide d’une base de donnée biographique, la thèse analyse les modalités de l’engagement militant de ces acteurs.Celui-ci subit des variations notamment lors de la légalisation des organisations qui sont restées clandestines jusqu’à la Libération en Belgique et en France et jusqu’au printemps 1945 en Suisse. L’identité revendiquée de ces acteurs change également, alors qu’ils adoptent une rhétorique tournée vers leur nation et sa reconstruction. Enfin, après la guerre et après le retour des militants dans les deux Allemagnes, le SED leur demande de livrer leur expérience d’exil pour soutenir le discours officiel sur l’antifascisme. Ils trouvent alors une occasion de valoriser un capital politique négligé par le parti dans l’après-guerre et produisent un répertoire commémoratif sur l’antifascisme de l’Ouest. / This PHD dissertation studies the activists of the organisations Freies Deutschland (FD) in Belgium, France and Switzerland during the Second World War. Reproducing the model of the Nationalkomitee « Freies Deutschland », founded in Moscow in July 1943 by German communists and prisoners of war, they tried to gather Nazi regime opponents in Western Europe. The dissertation analyses the political engagement of these activists with the help of a biographical methodological approach. The commitment of these actors changed during the Liberation in Belgium and France and until spring 1945 in Switzerland. The identity theytried to give themselves also changed when they adopted a discourse more concentrated on their nation and its reconstruction. Finally, after the war and their return in East and West Germany, the SED asked them to write their story in exile to support the official discourse on antifascism. This gave them an occasion to promote their political experience, which was neglected by the party after the war. They produced a memorial narrative on western antifascism.

The diploma thesis deals with everyday life of the people at Mirovicko during years 1938 - 1945 with aim to a cover end of the Second World War. It is divided in three main parts. The beginning section describes work methodology and choice of sources. The following section covers period of the protectorate at Mirovicko. In these chapters there are described chronologically the chosen changes and new things in different spheres of the human lives that affected residents of Mirovicko in an each war years. The thesis regards the culture, political, resistance, federal and school life. The last part is dedicated to end of Second World War at Mirovicko. Also there are described all war events during the May revolutionary days in Mirovice. The end of this chapter mentions some of the war years consequences and outlines development of the situation after 13. May 1945 in Mirovice. Keywords: Mirovice- Protectorate Bohemia and Moravia- Occupation politics - Second World War- May 1945

De 1938 à 1940, l’existence d’un programme de revendications territoriales de l’Italie fasciste sur la France et le renforcement de l’Axe Rome-Berlin rendent impossible une entente réelle franco-italienne et conduisent au contraire à l’entrée en guerre de l’Italie contre la France le 10 juin 1940. Malgré une bataille des Alpes peu couronnée de succès mais grâce à la signature d’une convention d’armistice, l’Italie de Mussolini peut occuper de facto une partie du territoire métropolitain français. Quoique limitée dans sa superficie du 25 juin 1940 au 11 novembre 1942, l’occupation italienne se développe avec ses propres caractéristiques et s’inscrit dans une configuration géopolitique nouvelle. L’occupation incarne ainsi la revendication fasciste d’une place privilégiée au sein du nouvel ordre européen mais aussi la réalisation possible des ambitions territoriales énoncées depuis 1938, les deux au détriment de la France. L’extension de l’ « occupation », du 11 novembre 1942 au 8 septembre 1943, semble accentuer dans un premier temps cette emprise italienne sur la France et son territoire, mais la politique souveraine de l’occupant italien est éphémère puisque deux mois à peine après la chute du gouvernement fasciste, le 25 juillet 1943, l’Italie signe l’armistice avec les Alliés mettant fin à la domination italienne sur la France / From 1938 to 1940, the existence of a territorial claims program by Fascist Italy on France and the reinforcement of the Rome-Berlin Axis make a real agreement between Italy and France impossible and lead on the contrary to the Italian declaration of war against France on June 10th 1940. In spite of a battle in the Alps quite unsuccessful but thanks to the conclusion of an armistice convention, Mussolini’s Italy can occupy de facto a part of French metropolitan territory. Although a limited area is occupied from June 25th 1940 to 11th November 1942, the Italian occupation is developing with its own characteristics in a new geopolitical configuration. Thus the occupation illustrates the Fascist claim of a privileged position into the New European Order but also the possible realization of territorial ambitions stated for 1938, both to the detriment to France. The extension of the “occupation” from November 11th 1942 to September 8th 1943, seems to increase firstly the Italian “control” on France and its southeastern territory, but the sovereign policy of the occupying power don’t last since hardly two months after the fall of Fascist government, on July 25th 1943, Italy signs an armistice with the Allies which puts an end to the Italian domination on France

The proposed diploma thesis "The Third Republic in Podebrady" focuses on town Podebrady during years 1945-1948. The work provides the reader with a comprehensive overview of events at the end of the WWII. It also describes the period of liberation and the arrival of Red Army and Allied troops. Furthermore, the thesis investigates various events, that took place in Podebrady in the time of so-called Third Republic. The establishment of Municipal and District National Comitte is explored as well as their activities. Besides that, the work deals with actions of the National Security Corps (SNB) and with the development in schools and in industry in Podebrady, especially with the process of nationalization in glass and spa industries.

This thesis deals with the involvement of the Austrians in the 2nd tank division SS "Das Reich." The introductory part analyzes personnel cast of the division and aims at finding the answer to the question, in which period the largest number of the Austrians served in the division and possibly how many. The main focus is put on the question, whether the Austrians in the division who owned the highest army decorations of the Third Reich were represented by below-average or above-average numbers in view of their total number. We can not omit to mention a social profile of these decorated men, which provides us with broader point of view of their personalities. Last but not least, the thesis deals with the question, whether the Austrians took part in war crimes committed by the division. Key words: division "Das Reich", Waffen-SS, Austrians, social profile, war crimes, high decorations

Summary: The work deals with the educational system of the Czechoslovak Government-in-exile during the Second World War. The need for Czechoslovak youth education was in this time connected with political education and also with the publicity of Czechoslovak exile among British Allies. Therefore the work classifies the provided education and it also deals with future plans for the students. Educational department of Ministry of Interior had the leading role in the education, and therefore its history and organization is also defined. Czechoslovak education took place in a foreign country, so a cooperation was required. The influence of British authorities on Czechoslovak schools, that followed Czech laws valid before autumn 1938, is described. The cooperation between both states in the post-war situation is also studied, as well as the impact of the exile education on its students after their return to the homeland.

This thesis deals with the influence of the Marshall Plan for Great Britain. The goal is to characterize the contribution of European Recovery Programme for the island state. It focuses on the development of the policy and the economy of Great Britain after the Second World War in 1945 - 1948. It reflects British-American relations during this period. It mentions the impact of the Marshall Plan from a global perspective, both economically and politically. It analyzes the economic assistance provided by Great Britain, individual negotiations about the size of assistance, the impact of the program, interim opinions of British government and directions for future development of London.