As we get closer to the 80th anniversary of Operation Overlord and the D-Day Landings, we're beginning to witness the passing of 'living memory' from the Second World War. With more eyewitnesses, participants, and war veterans passing away every day, how can we ensure that their memories, stories, and experiences are safely preserved? The University of Oxford have launched a new project to help combat this problem: Their Finest Hour. By creating a digital history project to encourage people of all backgrounds to submit their experiences or their relatives experiences of the Second World War, they're creating an invaluable digital archive that captures moments and stories that helped define the 20th century. But why is preserving these living memories so important - and what can we learn from the people who have already submitted their tales?
In this episode, James welcomes Dr Joseph Quinn to the podcast to talk about this project, and what they aim to achieve from it. Hearing stories from individuals who have already submitted oral histories, and learning about the importance of preserving living memory - why is this Oxford project so important for future historians, and what can we do to help?
You can submit to the project here.
Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free original podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians like Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Lucy Worsley, Matt Lewis, Tristan Hughes and more. Get 50% off your first 3 months with code WARFARE. Download the app on your smart TV or in the app store or sign up here.
You can take part in our listener survey here.
For more Warfare content, subscribe to our Warfare Wednesday newsletter here.
Supersonic Nazi Vengeance: V2 Rocket from Cautionary Tales
WW2: How The War Ended
Rwandan Genocide
Napoleon's Greatest Victory: Austerlitz
WW2: Life in Tanks
Battle of Kursk with James Holland
Putin's Rise to Power
Afghanistan: The Legacies of Withdrawal
Tito: President of Yugoslavia
Rommel: The Desert Fox
Robert Mugabe
WW2: The Deadliest Blitz?
Chairman Mao
Oppenheimer
WW2: Top 5 Strangest Weapons
Ukraine: War Crimes & Cluster Bombs
War Time Origins of the NHS
Suicide Drones: A History
Alan Turing & Bletchley Park
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Dan Snow’s History Hit
The Ancients
How and Why History
Historical Fiction
Darius Arya Digs