Online Program

Adventures Online: A Look at WWII in London & Normandy

Program No. 24305RJ
Join historians for a deeper dive into the events leading up until D-Day and the invasion of Normandy during this online learning adventure, live from London and Paris.

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At a Glance

On June 6, 1944, the events of D-Day changed the course of World War II. With historians, delve into the events prior to the Battle of Normandy during this online learning adventure, live from London and Paris! Take an online walk along the streets of Westminster with historian Ruth Polling to learn about the impact of WWII on the city as you stop at notable landmarks like Buckingham Palace, the Churchill War Rooms and Parliament Square. Attend lectures by Dr. Spencer Jones on the history of WWII and get insight into the Allied strategies for D-Day and how the German forces planned to resist. Examine the geography of the Normandy Beaches during an online field trip with Nettah Yoeli-Rimmer as he offers a look into the challenges and successes of Operation Overlord. Get to know your fellow Road Scholars along the way as you share your interest in the events of WWII and join your experts for an afternoon Q&A session that allows you to further study the history of D-Day.

What You'll Learn

  • Join historian Ruth Polling for an online field trip through the streets of Westminster to learn about the impact of WWII on the city of London.
  • Get a firsthand look at the geography of the Normandy beaches and countryside during an online field trip with expert Nettah Yoeli-Rimmer that offers insight into the events and strategies behind D-Day.
  • Attend online lectures by Dr. Spencer Jones on the Allied plans for D-Day and how the Germans planned to resist.

General Notes

You’ll enjoy 2-3 hours of daily instruction, discussion and/or field trips, which includes sufficient breaks throughout the program. This online program is through Zoom, an easy-to-use web video service that includes closed captioning. All you need is an Internet connection and your computer. We’ll provide a how-to guide to make sure you’ll have a hassle-free experience. In keeping with our Traditional On-Site programs, ALL ADVENTURES ONLINE MULTI-DAY PROGRAMS (INCLUDING THIS PROGRAM) ARE PRESENTED LIVE; THESE PROGRAMS ARE NOT RECORDED. Please review the daily itinerary for start and end times to ensure you won’t miss a minute of this live experience. All times are listed in the EASTERN time zone. If you live in a different time zone, please adjust your schedule accordingly.
Featured Expert
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Spencer Jones
Dr. Spencer Jones is an award-winning historian with a special interest in the First and Second World Wars and the life of Sir Winston Churchill. He is a senior lecturer in armed forces and war studies at the University of Wolverhampton, and serves in the British Army as the regimental historian of the Royal Artillery. His most recent publication is 'The Armchair General World War One: Can You Win the Great War?'

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Spencer Jones
Spencer Jones View biography
Dr. Spencer Jones is an award-winning historian with a special interest in the First and Second World Wars and the life of Sir Winston Churchill. He is a senior lecturer in armed forces and war studies at the University of Wolverhampton, and serves in the British Army as the regimental historian of the Royal Artillery. His most recent publication is 'The Armchair General World War One: Can You Win the Great War?'
Profile Image of Nettah Yoeli-Rimmer
Nettah Yoeli-Rimmer View biography
Nettah Yoeli-Rimmer studied French and Spanish literature before going on to get a master’s in European culture at the University of Cambridge. He has traveled extensively and has many years of experience leading educational adventures in France, Spain and Italy. He has recently completed a PhD in 19th-century Spanish literature. In addition to his principal research, he regularly writes for a number of publications on urban history and architecture.
Profile Image of Ruth Polling
Ruth Polling View biography
Ruth graduated at the top of her class as the London Blue Badge Travel Educator of the Year and has been sharing her knowledge of England with curious travelers for three years. London born and bred, she is energetic and passionate about her city and country and sharing their stories. Ruth graduated from the London School of Economics with a degree in International History with an emphasis on Military History. She previously worked in London politics for eleven years including in the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
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3 days
2 nights
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DAY
1
Orientation, Introductions, D-Day Planning, Wartime London
From the comfort of your own home.

Activity note: Today’s session will start at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time and end at 4:50 p.m.

Afternoon: 1:00 p.m. Welcome and Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and review the program theme, the up-to-date daily schedule and any changes, Zoom meeting protocols, roles and responsibilities, and answer any questions. 1:15 p.m. Lecture. Dr. Spencer Jones will give us a presentation on Allied Planning for D-Day. From the summer of 1940 onwards, Allied planners pondered how they might one day liberate Europe from the Nazis. Numerous options were considered and rejected, exposing a rift between American aggression and British caution. We will learn about this difficult planning process and examine why the Allies eventually agreed on the Normandy landings. The lecture will be followed by Q&A. 2:45 p.m. Break. 3:00 p.m. Introductions. We’ll say hello to one another during group introductions facilitated by our Group Leader. 3:15 p.m. Virtual field trip. Historian Ruth Polling will lead us virtually through the streets of Westminster to explore the impact of the war on the city by the time of the D-Day landings and the new bombing campaign unleashed against London in 1944. In Britain’s center of monarchy and political power, we will learn about the role of the royal family, where key decisions were made, and the experiences ordinary Londoners had lived through since the outbreak of war. Among the highlights we will see are Buckingham Palace; Guards’ Chapel; Queen Anne’s Gate; Churchill War Rooms; Horse Guards Parade; the Women at War Memorial; Parliament Square; the Palace of Westminster; and Westminster Abbey. We’ll also have Q&A. 4:45 p.m. Wrap-up and notes for tomorrow. 4:50 p.m. Today’s session will end.

DAY
2
German Planning, D-Day & Normandy Beaches
From the comfort of your own home.

Activity note: Today’s session will start at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time and end at 4:30 p.m.

Afternoon: 1:00 p.m. Lecture. Dr. Spencer Jones will address German planning to resist D-Day. From 1942 onwards, the Germans had considered how to defend occupied Europe from an Allied seaborne invasion. This resulted in the construction of Hitler’s vaunted “Atlantic Wall” that ringed the coast of France, and the deployment of mobile forces to resist any landings. Yet German preparations were hampered by infighting and Hitler’s frequent interference. Dr. Jones will examine the strengths and weaknesses of German defenses on the eve of D-Day. The lecture will be followed by Q&A. 2:30 p.m. Break. 2:45 p.m. Virtual field trip. Nettah Yoeli-Rimmer will lead our experience of D-Day and the Normandy Beaches. The D-Day landings were the greatest seaborne invasion in history, in a location that was the “least worst” option, but far from ideal. We will look at the geography of the Normandy beaches and surrounding countryside, examine strategic sites such as Pegasus Bridge, and discuss the logistics of the operation in greater detail. We’ll also explore the consequences of D-Day for the landscape and “visit” some of the monuments to that heroic day. We’ll also have Q&A. 4:15 p.m. Wrap-up and notes for tomorrow. 4:30 p.m. Today’s session will end.

DAY
3
Battle for Normandy, Liberation of Paris, Group Discussion
From the comfort of your own home.

Activity note: Today’s session will start at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time and end at 4:30 p.m.

Afternoon: 1:00 p.m. Virtual field trip. Nettah Yoeli-Rimmer will lead our experience of the Battle for Normandy and the liberation of Paris. D-Day itself was merely the beginning of a much larger and decisive operation. Three months after the landings, Allied forces marched into Paris and liberated the city from German control. We will learn about these events and the path to Paris. We’ll also examine the divisive yet heroic figure of Charles de Gaulle and see some key sites in Paris that still bear the memory of August 1944. With Q&A. 2:30 p.m. Break. 2:45 p.m. Interactive discussion on wartime Britain and the Normandy landings with Spencer Jones, Ruth Polling, and Nettah Yoeli-Rimmer. Our discussion will end with Q&A. 4:15 p.m. Wrap-up and farewells. 4:30 p.m. This concludes our program.






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