This course will focus on diaries and recollections of the Second World War, the seminal episode of the murderous 20th century. A truly global conflict that left at least 55 million people dead in its wake, World War II left an indelible imprint on the memories of everyone who was old enough to be aware of it at the time - my parents, your grandparents, and everyone else besides. World War II is of course also a focal point for highly controversial collective memories - memories of the Holocaust, of the routine targeting of civilians by all the major belligerents, of ruthless combat violence, and much else besides. Memories of World War II are very often memories of survival, and the ethical dilemmas posed by the imperative to survive in extreme situations. Course readings and films will focus on memories of survival and its ethical complexities. The stories told in the course will serve as a rich introduction to the concepts of time, memory, and narrative in the context of wartime trauma. In exploring these themes, we'll make extensive use of primary sources in a discussion- and writing-intensive setting.