Bertram M. Gordon

Bertram M. Gordon is a historian and professor emeritus at Mills College in Oakland, California, where he taught European history for over four decades. His research focuses primarily on modern French history, tourism studies, and the cultural history of World War II. Gordon's most notable work includes "Collaborationism in France during the Second World War," which examines the complex relationships between French citizens and German occupiers during WWII. His research on war tourism and battlefield visits has contributed significantly to understanding how historical sites are experienced and remembered. The intersection of tourism and historical memory is a recurring theme in Gordon's scholarship, as demonstrated in his book "War Tourism: Second World War France from Defeat and Occupation to the Creation of Heritage." His work explores how wartime experiences transformed into tourist attractions and sites of remembrance. Gordon serves on several academic boards and has contributed to numerous scholarly publications in both English and French. His research methodology combines traditional historical analysis with cultural studies approaches, particularly in examining how societies process and memorialize traumatic events.

Readers describe Gordon's works as detail-rich but dense academic texts that require focused attention. History scholars and researchers cite his thorough documentation and extensive use of primary sources. Readers appreciated: - Comprehensive analysis of French wartime tourism development - Integration of cultural and social perspectives with military history - Careful examination of historical records and archival materials - Clear chronological organization of complex historical events Main critiques: - Writing style can be dry and overly academic - Some passages get bogged down in minutiae - Limited appeal outside academic circles - High price point of academic press editions Review data aggregation: - Goodreads: Limited data (under 10 ratings for most works) - Amazon: Average 4.0/5 stars across titles, but small sample size - Academic journal reviews cite strong scholarship but note dense prose - Several French-language reviewers note valuable contributions to WWII historiography but criticize translation quality in French editions A history professor's review noted: "Gordon's meticulous research provides crucial insights into wartime France, though the presentation may challenge undergraduate readers."

Collaborationism in France during the Second World War A comprehensive historical analysis examining the nature and extent of French collaboration with Nazi Germany during the occupation period from 1940-1944, covering political, economic, and social dimensions of cooperation between French citizens and German authorities.

War Tourism: Second World War France from Defeat and Occupation to the Creation of Heritage A detailed study exploring how World War II battlefields and occupation sites in France transformed from locations of conflict into tourist destinations and memorial spaces, tracing this evolution from the war years through the post-war period.

Tony Judt combines analysis of European intellectual history with political developments in modern France and broader European transformations. His work on post-war Europe parallels Gordon's interest in how societies process historical trauma and construct memory.

Caroline Moorehead focuses on French resistance networks and civilian life during WWII occupation through detailed archival research. She explores themes of collaboration and resistance that complement Gordon's work on wartime France.

Richard Ivan Jobs examines youth culture and mobility in post-war Europe, including tourism and travel patterns. His research intersects with Gordon's interest in how Europeans moved through and experienced spaces after WWII.

Joshua Cole specializes in modern French history with emphasis on social and cultural developments in the twentieth century. His work on memory and identity in France builds on similar methodological approaches to those used by Gordon.

Jennifer Iles studies battlefield tourism and commemorative practices at war sites. Her research on how people interact with places of conflict connects directly to Gordon's work on war tourism and memory.