The second program in the Ike 125 Lecture series commemorating the 125th anniversary of the birth of Dwight David Eisenhower will be presented by Dominique Francis. The French military historian will speak about “Women During World War Ii: Substitutes, Soldiers, or Scapegoats?”

 

Women were essential to the outcome of World War Ii, but little is known about their role. In the U.S.and Britain they volunteered en masse, serving in non-combat roles. Soviet women joined the front-line troops.

Women in the U.S. moved into the workforce. Thousands of women in America and other allied countries enlisted as nurses and served on the front lines.

Francois will present the program both in Abilene and Kansas. The Abilene event will be Wednesday, June 24 at noon as part of the Brown Bag Lunch program at the Eisenhower Presidential Library Visitors Center Auditorium. The Kansas City event will begin with a reception at 6 p.m. and the program at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23 at the Plaza Branch-Kansas City Public Library.