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Karine Varley

@karinevarley.bsky.social
300 followers 230 following 108 posts

Historian at University of Strathclyde, Franco-Prussian War, Second World War, Vichy France, Corsica. Author of Vichy's Double Bind: www.cambridge.org/core/books/vichys…

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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
One I hadn't seen before: Franco-Prussian War memorial in Nantes. Inaugurated in 1897, then hidden away to prevent it being melted down in the Second World War, then forgotten about until 1981, before finally being put back on a new pedestal in 1987.
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Had a productive trip to the Archives Nationales d'Outre Mer (Aix) last week, looking at the US bombing of French Indochina in the Second World War. Next stop: the Archives Diplomatiques at Nantes to look at the bombing of Tunisia in 1942-43.
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Now Eric Ciotti has decided to add his voice to the demands for the return of Napoleon III's ashes to France. www.lejdd.fr/politique/re...
lejdd.fr
Éric Ciotti (UDR) propose de ramener les cendres de Napoléon III en France
Après Jordan Bardella, Éric Ciotti relance le débat sur le retour en France des cendres de Napoléon III. Dans une tribune publiée par « Le Figaro » avec le député UDR Maxime Michelet, le maire de Nic...
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
En route to Aix via Marseille to spend a few days at the archives.
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Dónal Hassett @donalh.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
The human remains of two Algerian tirailleurs who died in the Franco-Prussian War and were displayed in the anatomical collections of the University of Freiburg have been identified as 'Abdallah Ben Lein' and 'Abdel-Kadn-Ben-Ladsche'. www.france24.com/fr/europe/20...
france24.com
"Ces tirailleurs se sont sacrifiés" : les restes de deux "turcos" algériens retrouvés en Allemagne
Plus de 150 ans après leur mort à la suite de la bataille de Reichshoffen en Alsace durant la guerre de 1870, les restes de deux tirailleurs algériens ont été découverts dans les collections anatomiqu...
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Since I'm in the area, I was intrigued to see where the French Delegation to the German Armistice Commission was based in the Second World War. Wiesbaden must have seemed like home from home for Vichy's officials. There’s even a hot spring opposite the building, now the Hessian State Chancellory.
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Apparently even Napoleon III could be sent back to France under a Nigel Farage government. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Part one of the De Gaulle film did not disappoint. It was particularly interesting to see how de Gaulle's responses to Mers-el-Kébir and Dakar were portrayed. Unusual to see Admiral Darlan portrayed as well. Very much looking forward to part two.
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Have to admit, I'd expected this file marked 'Complaints by General de Gaulle' to be much thicker.
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
TheDreyfus statue will be placed opposite the Cour de cassation. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
theguardian.com
Alfred Dreyfus statue to finally receive permanent home in central Paris
Sculpture of Jewish army officer wrongly accused of treason has been moved around the city for decades
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
CFP: Protect civilians from air warfare. Civil defence in France and Europe during the Second World War/ Protéger les civils de la guerre aérienne. Les défenses passives en France et en Europe pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale Deadline 31 July 2026 calenda.org/1383614
calenda.org
Protéger les civils de la guerre aérienne. Les défenses passives en...
Depuis les années 1920, les frontières entre le front et l’arrière s’estompent jusqu’à ce que les civils deviennent les premières victimes de la guerre aérienne pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale. ...
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Since today marks the 86th anniversary, here's the original manuscript of General de Gaulle's 18 June 1940 'appel' on BBC radio, exhibited last year at the Archives Nationales (Paris).
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
I’m delighted to learn that my edited volume on the Franco-Prussian War is now available in cheaper paperback edition. www.routledge.com/The-Franco-P...
routledge.com
The Franco-Prussian War: Turning-Points in European Experiences and Perceptions of Military Conflict
The Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71 has traditionally been seen as a limited conflict between French and German forces. This edited volume challenges this view and shows that it was a war of ideas, val...
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Steven Wilson @profstevenwilson.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
Please sign the petition below in support of colleagues at Nottingham, where courses in the highly respected Dept of Modern Languages & Cultures have been earmarked for suspension.
c.org
We Can Make an Impact.
Stop the removal of Modern Languages courses at the University of Nottingham!
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
It can often be difficult to get reviews of edited volumes. I'm therefore very grateful to Michael Epkenhans for this thoughtful review of my edited volume, The Franco-Prussian War. Turning-Points in European Experiences and Perceptions of Military Conflict. www.hsozkult.de/publicationr...
hsozkult.de
Rezension zu: K. Varley (Hrsg.): The Franco-Prussian War
Rezension zu / Review of: Varley, Karine: The Franco-Prussian War. Turning-Points in European Experiences and Perceptions of Military Conflict
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
Interesting graphic on the longevity of France's Prime Ministers under the Fifth Republic. Pompidou comes out top at 2279 days!
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
On 13 September, I'll be speaking about the Allied bombing of France and its colonial empire during the Second World War as part of this year's Royal Society of Edinburgh Curious Festival. rse.org.uk/event/the-mo...
rse.org.uk
The moral cost of victory during WWII
Explore how Allied bombing in WWII caused civilian deaths in France and colonies – and how leaders justified these moral and ethical dilemmas.
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
According to a poll for Le Figaro, 83% of the French population oppose the government's plans to allow the Corsican Assembly to pass legislation. www.corsenetinfos.corsica/Le-Figaro-so...
corsenetinfos.corsica
Le Figaro sonde ses lecteurs sur l’autonomie corse : plus de 83 % contre le pouvoir législatif
Alors que le projet de révision constitutionnelle sur l’autonomie de la Corse a été adopté en Conseil des ministres, un sondage en ligne lancé par Le Figaro révèle une large majorité d'opinions défavo...
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
Batholdi's Lion de Belfort at place Denfert-Rochereau in Paris looks like it would benefit from being cleaned.
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
Registration for 'Resist' French History conference, Paris. Already good.
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 14/07/2025
As an added bonus, I also saw Louis XVI's famous 'rien' diary entry for 14 July 1789.
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 14/07/2025
Since the archives in Paris were closed today, I went to the Musée des Archives Nationales to see the original manuscript of de Gaulle's 'appel' of 18 June 1940. Fascinating to see the revisions.
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 13/07/2025
Macron announces annual commemoration for Alfred Dreyfus on 12 July. www.elysee.fr/emmanuel-mac...
elysee.fr
Une journée de commémoration nationale pour Alfred Dreyfus, pour la victoire de la justice et de la vérité contre la haine et l’antisémitisme.
Lire la déclaration du Président de la République.
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 13/07/2025
Waiting for my delayed flight and already bumped into another French historian heading to the Paris conference
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 08/07/2025
Is Macron planning to 'go on and on'? www.politico.eu/article/macr...
politico.eu
Macron in 2032? French leader floats future in national politics after term ends
The French president is constitutionally barred from serving a third consecutive term but could return in a later election.
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
I thoroughly enjoyed attending 'The Global Mediterranean and the Long Second World War' conference in Naples. Excellent papers combined with an amazing setting, finished off with pizza. Lots of new approaches to the Mediterranean to think over.
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
Today's views from the conference
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
As conference locations go, this is pretty good...
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Looking forward to discussing the Mediterranean dimensions of the Second World War in Naples over the next couple of days.
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
Just caught this interesting new exhibition at the Imperial War Museum.
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
Interesting discussion about the periodisation of the Second World War at the National Army Museum last night. Looking forward to the rest of the conference.
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
'Promoting Alfred Dreyfus to the rank of brigadier general would constitute an act of reparation, a recognition of his merits, and a tribute to his commitment to the republic.' www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
theguardian.com
France finally acts to deliver justice in infamous Dreyfus case
More than century on, wronged officer is in line for posthumous promotion
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
L’Assemblée nationale vote à l’unanimité l’élévation d’Alfred Dreyfus au grade de « général de brigade »
lemonde.fr
L’Assemblée nationale vote à l’unanimité l’élévation d’Alfred Dreyfus au grade de « général de brigade »
Condamné à partir de fausses accusations montées sur fond d’antisémitisme, le capitaine avait demandé à voir sa carrière revalorisée dès son innocence reconnue, en 1906, sans obtenir gain de cause. Le...
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
Good to hear about the work of the Cross-Party Group on Europe and the European Movement in Scotland at yesterday's European Diversity Month reception at the Scottish Parliament.
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
The French government has withdrawn an AI-generated film celebrating the French Resistance after it was pointed out that it featured a German soldier, rather than a French one.
liberation.fr
Nazi fêtant la libération de Paris : le gouvernement foire son hommage à la Résistance avec une vidéo générée par IA
L’exécutif a publié, mardi 28 mai, une vidéo aberrante générée par intelligence artificielle avant de la supprimer face au tollé. Au-delà des questions éthiques, la vidéo contient de grossières erreur...
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 26/05/2025
Still so much to be gained from watching Le Chagrin et la pitié all these years later. I've seen it so many times and each time I spot something new. www.theguardian.com/film/2025/ma...
theguardian.com
Marcel Ophuls, Oscar-winning film-maker of The Sorrow and the Pity, dies aged 97
The German-French documentarian, who fled the Nazis twice as a child, spent his career exploring wartime atrocities and conflicts
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 16/05/2025
This reminded me how some of the archives I looked at on the Allied bombing of France were only declassified in 2020. Would be interesting to know why.
bbc.co.uk
'Mystery' of Hull Blitz report classified for 100 years
Hull MP Dame Diana Johnson says keeping the document under embargo until 2042 is
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
To mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day and the end of the Second World War, next week I'll be speaking about the Allied bombing and liberation of France at the Alliance Française in Glasgow. www.afglasgow.org.uk/community/ev...
afglasgow.org.uk
Conference - The Allied Bombings and France’s Liberation
Eighty years after France’s Liberation, the Alliance Française de Glasgow invites you to an insightful evening with Dr. Karine Varley, a leading historian from the University of Strathclyde, specialis...
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Richard Hammond @rjhammond215.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
A *handful* (single figures) of the general attendance tickets still remain, so follow the link in the quoted post below to book now, if you want to attend this conference, featuring keynotes addresses from Profs Sheldon Garon and Juliette Pattinson plus papers by speakers from across the globe. 🗃️
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 10/05/2025
France Télévisions is streaming the postwar trials of Klaus Barbie, Paul Touvier and Maurice Papon. www.france.tv/collection/c...
france.tv
Crimes contre l'humanité - Toutes les vidéos en streaming
De 1987 à 1998 la justice française va instruire le procès de trois hommes ayant, chacun à leur niveau, contribués à la mise en place et à la réalisation d’u...
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
To mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day and the end of the Second World War, next week I'll be speaking about the Allied bombing and liberation of France at the Alliance Française in Glasgow. www.afglasgow.org.uk/community/ev...
afglasgow.org.uk
Conference - The Allied Bombings and France’s Liberation
Eighty years after France’s Liberation, the Alliance Française de Glasgow invites you to an insightful evening with Dr. Karine Varley, a leading historian from the University of Strathclyde, specialis...
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
Very much looking forward to this, but no idea how I'll be able to choose which panels to attend...
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
'For hundreds of years, the English and then the British state inflicted extreme violence in pursuit of strategic objectives.' Brendan Simms and David Trim on English and British violence in Europe. www.newstatesman.com/ideas/2025/0...
newstatesman.com
Cruel Britannia
The brutal 500-year history of English violence in Europe.
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
Spotted these tied to lampposts while walking around in Leeds earlier
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
Extraordinary image of the Sacré-Coeur against the backdrop of today's fire in Paris. www.france24.com/fr/info-en-c...
france24.com
Paris : l'incendie du centre de tri pas totalement éteint, mais sans émanations toxiques
L'incendie spectaculaire qui a ravagé lundi soir un centre de tri des déchets dans le nord-ouest de Paris n'était pas totalement éteint mardi, mais son intensité est réduite et n'a entraîné, selon les...
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
Unboxing my paperback copies.
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
BBC news coverage of Marine Le Pen misses Corsica from the map of France...
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 27/03/2025
Delighted to learn that my book, Vichy's Double Bind: French Collaboration between Hitler and Mussolini during the Second World War, is now available in paperback. @strathhumanities.bsky.social www.cambridge.org/gb/universit...
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The Society for the History of War @sochistorywar.bsky.social · 27/03/2025
SHoW's heading to Potsdam! 📢 Call for Papers – SHoW 2025 🗓 27–28 November 2025 📍University of Potsdam 📝 Abstracts due: 30 June How do societies understand, justify, and remember war and violence? And how do cultures resist, represent, or misrepresent it? All details can be found below! ⬇️
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Karine Varley @karinevarley.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
PhD studentships available at Strathclyde in all Humanities subjects, including History and French. Deadline 11 April. www.strath.ac.uk/studywithus/...
strath.ac.uk
Diamond Jubilee Research Scholarships 2025/26 (Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences) | University of Strathclyde
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