Women and the Second World War in France, 1939-1948: Choices and Constraints

by Hanna Diamond

Book by Diamond, Hanna

Genres: History

248 pages, Hardcover

Published September 30, 1999

Reviews

[WIlliam Gerrard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book focuses on the role of French women during World War 2 and the immediate aftermath. It is clear that the women of France bore the brunt of dealing with the occupier, very often their men away, detained as prisoners of war or, for example, sequestered to work abroad in the Fatherland, Germany. Women had to cope with running family businesses, looking after the family, acquiring food. They may have chosen to either be collaborationists or to have joined the resistance. I found it particularly interesting hearing of the women who collaborated with the enemy, either seeking roles within Vichy or directly engaging with the German soldiers. The shorn heads of collaborators at Liberation cast powerful images in the reader. Women became, I feel, more valued in society as a result of their wartime activities and although they may have gone back to their roles afterwards as second class citizens within the family and society, they did earn themselves suffrage and I feel moved women as a whole towards parity with their male counterparts. The book is written in feminists tones, though without being to alienist to the male reader. It is factual and interesting and provides a good basis for further study for the university course I anticipate studying on the subject of Women in World War 2 France.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a disappointment. The subject matter promised much of interest, but I just didn't think Diamond went about presenting her information in a very approachable or useful way. I found the information repetitive and weighed down by statistics that weren't fleshed out or analyzed in depth. Her conclusions were predictable and hardly enlightening.