The 17th International Conference on World War II, the leading event for exploring the history of the war that changed the world, wrapped up on November 23, 2024. Hosted at The Higgins Hotel & Conference Center in downtown New Orleans. This year’s conference brought together top scholars, authors, historians, and witnesses to history from around the globe for three days of expert discussions.

The 2024 program featured 18 engaging panels that explored pivotal battles, key figures, critical decisions, and enduring debates about World War II. Attendees included academics, history buffs, and veterans creating a unique space where shared experiences and expertise came to life. Highlights included lively Q&A sessions that connected speakers and audience members for meaningful conversations.

This annual conference, presented by the Jenny Craig Institute for the Study of War and Democracy at The National WWII Museum, is supported by the Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library, with additional backing from The Gen. Raymond E. Mason Jr. Distinguished Lecture Series on World War II Endowment Fund and the George P. Shultz Forum on World Affairs.

If you'd like to explore books from the conference speakers, many of which are signed, visit The National WWII Museum Store. 

You can also catch the entire conference on the YouTube playlist below or browse individual panels through the links provided.

Sessions and Panels:

1. "The Battle of the Bulge" revisits the German perspective on the Ardennes Offensive in its 80th anniversary, featuring renowned British author and military historian Anthony Tucker-Jones.
2. "Intelligence in the Ardennes" examines the critical role of intelligence and command decisions during the Battle of the Bulge, featuring Gregory Fontenot (COL, USA, Ret.) and Bradley W. Hart, PhD.
3. "Untold Heroism of the Bulge" highlights the often-overlooked contributions during the Battle of the Bulge, featuring John C. McManus, PhD, and Michael S. Bell, PhD (COL. USA, Ret.)
4. "Air War Over the Ardennes" explores the role of air power during the Battle of the Bulge, featuring Brian D. Laslie, PhD, and John Curatola, PhD (LtCol, USMC, Ret.) and chaired by Sean Scanlon, PhD
5. "Counterattack in the North: Monty and the Americans" examines Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery’s leadership during the Battle of the Bulge and his critical northern counteroffensive, featuring Nigel Hamilton and Michael S. Bell, PhD (COL, USA, Ret.) 
6. "The Agony of Victory: The Final Costly Year of World War II" explores the intense and destructive nature of the war's concluding months in 1945, featuring Robert M. Citino, PhD.
7. "Strangling the Home Islands" explores the final year of the Pacific War and the Allied strategy to force Japan's surrender, featuring John T. Kuehn, PhD, and James M. Scott, chaired by Jonathan Parshall.
8. "Civilians in the Crossfire" examines the often-overlooked experiences of civilians during World War II, featuring Peter Schrijvers, PhD, and Robert Matzen, chaired by Stephanie Hinnershitz, PhD.
9. "Operation Varsity: The Jump Across the Rhine" explores the largest airborne operation of World War II, featuring James Fenelon, Saul David, PhD, and chaired by Robert M. Citino, PhD.
10. "Preparing for the Final Battle" explores the last year of World War II, focusing on the decisive campaigns and little-known intelligence operations that hastened the Allied victory, featuring Patrick K. O’Donnell and D. M. Giangreco.
11. "Who Will Write Our History? Rediscovering a Hidden Archive from the Warsaw Ghetto" examines the creation and legacy of the Ringelblum Archive, a secret collection of documents preserved in the Warsaw Ghetto, featuring Samuel Kassow, PhD and Jennifer Putnam, PhD.
12. "Fighting for the Right to Fight: African American Experiences in World War II" examines the newly reimagined exhibit showcasing personal stories, rare artifacts, and the broader impact of African Americans in both military and civilian roles, featuring John H. Morrow, PhD, Cory Graff, and Krewasky Salter, PhD.
13. “The Divine Wind: A Roundtable Discussion” explores the tactical evolution of Japan's kamikaze tactics during World War II, particularly in the Battle of Leyte Gulf and the later Okinawa campaign, featuring Mark Stille (CDR, USN, Ret.), Jonathan Parshall, and John Curatola, PhD (LtCol, USMC, Ret.)
14. “Return to the Philippines” explores the critical role of Filipino infantry regiments in the Allied campaign to reclaim the Philippines from Japanese occupation, featuring Marie Silva Vallejo and James M. Scott.
15. “Just Beneath the Soil: WWII Historic Sites” follows Clint Smith's journey across various countries to examine how they remember and memorialize significant historical events, focusing on World War II, slavery, and the Holocaust.
16. "The Uncertainty of Surrender: POWs in Captivity" explores the harrowing experiences of prisoners of war during World War II. Featuring Richard B. Frank and Jason Dawsey, PhD, chaired by Günter Bischof, PhD.
17. "The Collapse of the Third Reich" explores the strategic and human dimensions of Germany's defeat on the Eastern Front, emphasizing the Soviet Union's pivotal role in World War II's outcome. Featuring Prit Buttar and chaired by Alexandra Richie, DPhil.
18. "Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from World War II to Ukraine" examines the pivotal moments and strategies shaping modern warfare through the lens of strategic leadership, featuring David H. Petraeus (GEN, USA, Ret.) and Conrad C. Crane, PhD.