The International Conference on World War II is the premier adult educational event bringing together the best and brightest scholars, authors, historians, and witnesses to history from around the globe to discuss key battles, personalities, strategies, issues, and controversies of the war that changed the world. Joining the featured speakers are hundreds of attendees who travel from all over the world to learn and connect with each other through engaging discussions, question-and-answer periods, book signings, and receptions throughout the weekend.
Pre-order your copies of new and notable books from the experts who will be featured at the Conference! Click here to shop.
In-person registration is sold out. To join the wait list for in-person attendance, email conferences@nationalww2museum.org or call 504-528-1944 x 257.
Pre-Conference Symposium
The Battle of the Bulge Revisited: 80 Years On
*All programming is listed in Central time.
Thursday, November 21, 2024
- 8:00 a.m. – 8:05 a.m. | Welcome
- 8:05 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. | Opening Keynote: “The Battle of the Bulge”
- Anthony Tucker-Jones
- 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. | Break and book signing
- 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Intelligence in the Ardennes
- Greg Fontenot in conversation with Bradley Hart
- 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Break and book signing
- 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | Untold Heroism of the Bulge
- John McManus
- 12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. | Break and lunch
- 1:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Air War over the Ardennes
- Chair: Sean Scanlon
- John Curatola
- Brian Laslie
- 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Break and book signing
- 3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. | Counterattack in the North: Monty and Simpson
- Nigel Hamilton
- Michael Bell
- 4:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Closing Remarks
2024 International Conference
*All programming is listed in Central time.
Thursday, November 21, 2024
- 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Conference Opening Reception
- 6:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. | Welcome Remarks and Keynote Introduction
- Stephen J. Watson
- Allan Millett
- 6:15 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | Opening Keynote: “The Agony of Victory: The Final, Costly Year of World War II”
- Robert M. Citino
Friday, November 22, 2024
- 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. | Strangling the Home Islands
- Chair: Jonathan Parshall
- John Kuehn
- James Scott
- 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. | Break and book signing
- 9:30 a.m. – 10:40 a.m. | Civilians in the Crossfire
- Chair: Steph Hinnershitz
- Peter Schrijvers
- Robert Matzen
- 10:40 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. | Break and book signing
- 11:10 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. | Operation Varsity: The Jump Across the Rhine
- Chair: Robert M. Citino
- James Fenelon
- Saul David
- 12:20 p.m. – 1:20 p.m. | Break and lunch
- 1:20 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Preparing for the Final Battle
- Chair: Gordon H. “Nick” Mueller
- Patrick O’Donnell
- D.M. Giangreco
- 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Break and book signing
- 3:00 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. | Who Will Write Our History?: Rediscovering a Hidden Archive from the Warsaw Ghetto
- Samuel Kassow in conversation with Jennifer Putnam
- 3:55 p.m. – 4:25 p.m. | Break and book signing
- 4:25 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Fighting for the Right to Fight: African American Experiences in World War II Special Exhibition Panel Discussion
- Chair: John Morrow
- Cory Graff
- Krewasky Salter
- Traci Parker
- 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. | Museum Open House and Reception; Frog Fathers Film Screening
Saturday, November 23, 2024
- 9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. | The Divine Wind: A Roundtable Discussion
- Chair: John Curatola
- Mark Stille
- Jonathan Parshall
- 10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. | Break and book signing
- 10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. | Return to the Philippines
- James Scott in conversation with Marie Vallejo
- 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. | Break, book signing, and lunch
- 12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. | Just Beneath the Soil: WWII Historic Sites
- Clint Smith in conversation with Nick Mueller
- 1:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. | Break and lunch
- 2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | The Uncertainty of Surrender: POWs in Captivity
- Chair: Günter Bischof
- Rich Frank
- Jason Dawsey
- 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Break and book signing
- 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | The Collapse of the Reich
- Prit Buttar in conversation with Alexandra Richie
Closing Banquet and Presentation
- 6:00 p.m. | Doors Open
- 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | Dinner
- 7:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. | The George P. Shultz Forum on World Affairs: “Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from WWII to Ukraine”
- Chair: Conrad Crane
- General David Petraeus