Faculty Fellow Lecture by Associate Professor of History Marion Dorsey: Chemical Bonds: Poison
Gas, the Allies, and World War II
In World War II, the
Western Allies--Canada, Britain, and the United States—developed strong wartime
bonds, creating a joint policy to refrain from gas use, despite variations in
treaty obligations, national interests, and military might. Yet the allies' bonds faced repeated and critical
strains, including intense debates over planning for the D-Day invasion.
Their consistency in avoiding chemical weapons
demonstrates that their decisions were based on more than national preferences
or even Hitler’s plans.
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The Center for the Humanities annually hosts a series of informal lectures featuring the recipients of faculty fellowships. The talks focus on the fellows’ research. They provide an opportunity for faculty members to learn more about each other’s work and allow the Center to show off some of the intellectual riches it has helped foster. The goal of the series is to create a collegial environment that encourages discussion.