HIST 290: Normandy Academy 2014
Great Debates of the Greatest Invasion in History
“Will You Tell Me How We Did This?”
New Orleans & Normandy / June 21 - 30
“Will you tell me how we did this?” asked Colonel James Rudder as he gazed up at the 100-foot
cliffs of Pointe-du-Hoc on the Normandy coastline ten years after leading his Ranger force to
victory on that deadly D-Day mission.
We could ask Col. Rudder’s same question about countless accomplishments on D-Day and
about America’s ultimate triumph in WWII. The Allied victory in World War II is the ultimate
example of triumphing over adversity, overcoming immense challenges, doing what needs to
be done in the face of tremendous odds. It is also one of history’s finest examples of
leadership, decision-making, and problem solving—from presidents, prime ministers, and
generals to citizen soldiers and civilians. D-Day brings it all together like no other event in
history.
The Normandy Academy is the ideal trip for any student looking to expand his or her historical
knowledge, sharpen research and debate skills, gain leadership skills, and experience intensive
international travel with a diverse group of students from across the country.
It’s your turn to make history…
The Normandy Academy starts in the exhibits, archives, and warehouses of The National WWII
Museum and ends in the historic American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach, Normandy.
Students learn not only what happened on June 6, 1944, but how it came to happen that way
and how it could have all turned out very differently.
In the active pursuit of history, the Normandy Academy gives students the knowledge they
need and puts them in the place of historical actors in the D-Day story. But what decisions they
make and what leadership strategies they choose will spell the difference between victory and
defeat. Students will be challenged academically, strategically, morally, individually and as a
group as they retrace the build-up, training, supplying, and fighting for one of the most
momentous days in human history. The goal is not for students to learn how to attack a
defended beach, but to recognize how the leadership and decisions of individuals—good or
bad, right or wrong, or somewhere in between—can affect a single life or the whole world.
Ultimately, students will recognize that they are the leaders, decision makers, and problem
solvers of their futures.
What Would You Do? Research, Debate, Decision
In preparation for the trip to New Orleans and Normandy, Seminar Students work throughout
the spring with Museum historians, educators, and curators, delving into our world-class
collections of digitized, online WWII archives and oral histories. With the knowledge and
insight gained from these explorations, students develop their arguments—pro and con—for a
variety of decisions made across the Normandy battlefield from generals to privates.
At various battle sites in Normandy, students, in teams of three, offer point and counterpoint to
those vital decisions that had to be made 70 years ago. Will the strongest arguments and best
research win the day? Following a group debate and vote, the final team member provides a
“what really happened” briefing. Students, in essence, become their own historians while
gaining insights into leadership and character development. Evening debriefs of the day’s
debates center on how students can apply the lessons learned to their lives today.
Academic Benefits
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College credit
Exploration of leadership, decision-making, and problem-solving principles
International study abroad program
Academically rigorous study of WWII history
Interaction with the Museum’s historians, curators, and educators
Historical role-playing , debate prep and presentation
Normandy Academy Certificate of Completion sponsored by The National WWII
Museum, The Memorial de Caen and the Université de Caen
Immersion into French culture
Creation of a leadership portfolio suitable for college applications
Program Features
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Two days/three nights at The National WWII Museum in New Orleans and five days/six
nights in Normandy, France at 3 star hotels throughout
Special access to the Museum’s archival holdings & digitized collections
Behind- the –scenes tours of the Museum’s collection vault, restoration pavilion,
armored vehicle and airplane warehouse
Special access to historical sites in Normandy, including Pointe-du-Hoc, Ste. Mere Eglise,
Pegasus Bridge, Omaha and Utah Beaches, and the American Cemetery at Coleville-surMer
10-1 student to chaperone ratio throughout the program
Exploration of careers in museums and public history
Camaraderie, fun, international travel
Objectives
Students will:
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Identify and make connections to leadership traits integral to the Battle of Normandy
that are relevant to college and career paths
Learn and develop leadership skills
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Develop their research skills through both primary and secondary source research
Write clear and concise content for a specific audience of peers and museum
professionals
Improve presentation and debate skills as they present to both their peers and museum
professionals
Identify the major components of the Battle of Normandy (Beach landing, Airborne
Operations, Logistics, Fighting in Hedgerows, Breakout)
Learn through the personal stories of those who were there
More than just a trip to France, students will spend three months preparing for their journey.
All participants who seek college credit through Nicholls State University will complete required
reading and assignments. Nicholls faculty and World War II Museum Research Mentors will
guide students through this process which includes selections from books on D-Day, access to
documents, artifacts and oral histories from the extensive collection of The National WWII
Museum.
Students will visit the Museum in New Orleans for a hands-on, behind-the-scenes experience
before traveling to France to visit the historic sites in Normandy.
Normandy Academy will take you from the pages of history books, to the sites where heroes
were made, and ultimately, to the place where some of those heroes rest.