Women and the French Army During the World Wars, 1914–1940

Andrew Orr is assistant professor of history at Kansas State University and a member of its Security Studies Program. He earned his PhD from the University of Notre Dame and his work focuses on French military and political history from 1870 to 1945. Orr lives in Manhattan, Kansas.

• Introduction1. Weapons of Total War, 1914-19182. The Failure of the Demobilization Purge, 1919-19233. The 1927 and 1928 Army Laws4. War Clouds, 1929-19385. "She remained at her post until the very end:" Women and Second World WarConclusionSelected Bibliography

"This is a fascinating study of intended and unintended consequences, wellresearched, well-written, and a pleasure to read."—H-France Review"Recommended."—Choice"[Orr's] book makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of many diverse subjects and builds on the existing work by other gender historians who have shown us the complexity of gender relations during the interwar period. What is especially noteworthy about Orr's book is not the gender history, however, but the military history. Orr's research provides an excellent reminder that militaries are so much more than their front-facing services. In focusing on the civilian employees of the French army, Orr is able to tease out some of the nuances of this history that would otherwise be obscured. "—French History" Women and the French Army is well researched and provides an engaging read."—Women in French Studies"Orr has successfully made the leap into what we have needed for decades: a truly modern and mainstream study of the complex interplay of women and the military in modern society that also takes into account the complex interplay of race and class."—American Historical Review