History 441: Germany in the 20th Century

Instructor: William Mood

Purpose

History 441 examines Germany in the 20th century, covering a cross section of German life and culture from Germany's defeat in World War I to its reunion at the end of the Cold War. With a broad brush this course traces the development of German ideology to pinpoint both the continuity of its history in the 19th century as well as the discontinuity during the war years of the 20th century. In addition, it analyzes current social and economic problems within the framework of globalization and European politics. Using a combination of primary sources, students will investigate topics that include the birth of the Weimar Republic and rise of the Nazi party, the effects of total war and the emergence of democracy, the tragedy of division and the birth pains of reunion, as well as discussions about birth control and debates about immigration policy. This course is about the many voices in contemporary Germany and their political expression.

 

Image Source: National Archives

Textbooks

  1. Christopher Browning. Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland (Harper Collins 1992).

  2. Mary Fulbrook. Divided Nation: A History of Germany 1918-1990 (New York: OUP 1992).

  3. Volker Berghahn. Modern Germany: Society, Economy and Politics in the 20th Century, 2nd. (Cambridge University Press 1988)

  4. Sebastian Haffner. The Meaning of Hitler (Harvard University Press 1983).

  5. Primary Sources On-line: Internet History Sourcebook: Western Europe since 1945

  6. Celia Applegate, A Nation of Provincials: The German Idea of Heimat (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1990) and Alfred E. Cornebise, "Der Rhein Entlang: The American Occupation Forces in Germany, 1918-1923, A Photo Essay," Military Affairs Vol. 46, No. 4 (Dec., 1982), 183-189. (Available in JSTOR)

Objectives

  • Improve your understanding of 20th century Germany by identifying key events and people associated with a particular historical period. In particular, you will be able to discuss the impact of both world wars on German society, to trace the rise and fall of the Weimar Republic, to analyze the Nazi state and genocide, to outline the problems of German reunification and to clarify Germany's role in the EU.

  • Develop your analytical skills and understanding of the study of history by reading primary sources and by writing a research paper.

  • Evaluate internet sites and secondary resources relevant to the study of German society.

  • Analyze historical debates about nationalism, minority rights and women's issues and their relevance to contemporary German society.

  • Learn how to locate academic articles in the UMUC library databases.

Grading

Class participation/Weekly Assignments (30%) 
Proctored Midterm Exam (20%)
Final Exam (25%)
An 8-10 page research paper, approximately 2000 words (25%) (see grading rubrics & worksheet)

Web Links

 

 

Week

Dates

Tentative Topic/Reading Assignments
Course Dates: (Term 3) 23 January - 13 May 2006

Please note: This schedule does not include the additional reading assignments for each week's conference. These assignments will be posted to WebTycho.

Due Dates

1. JAN 23 - JAN 29 Introduction to Course/The end of an era.

Browning. Ordinary Men, pp. 1-48. (Note: Our examination of the Nüremberg trial will include a discussion of this book. This is just a suggested reading pace.)
Fulbrook. Divided Nation, pp. 1-14.
Berghahn. Modern Germany, pp. 1-37
Haffner. The Meaning of Hitler, pp. 1-23

WWW

Begin reading both Browning and Haffner. Pace yourself by following the suggested reading schedule
2. JAN 30 - FEB 5 Impact of World War I

Browning. Ordinary Men, pp. 49-88
Fulbrook. Divided Nation, pp. 17-43
Berghahn. Modern Germany, pp. 39-81
Haffner. The Meaning of Hitler, pp. 25-45

WWW

 

 
3. FEB 6 - Feb 12 The 1920s

Browning. Ordinary Men, pp. 89-120.
Fulbrook. Divided Nation, pp. 44-65
Berghahn. Modern Germany, pp. 82-115
Haffner. The Meaning of Hitler, pp. 49-71

WWW

 

Paper Topic
4. FEB 13 - FEB 19 The 1930s

Browning. Ordinary Men, pp. 121-158
Fulbrook. Divided Nation, pp. 66-95
Berghahn. Modern Germany, pp. 115-128, 129-138
Haffner. The Meaning of Hitler, pp. 75-95
Program of the NSDAP

WWW

 

 
5. FEB 20 - FEB 26 Germany at War

Browning. Ordinary Men, pp. 159-190.
Fulbrook. Divided Nation, pp. 96-125
Berghahn. Modern Germany, pp. 138-176
Haffner. The Meaning of Hitler, pp. 99-145.

WWW

 

 
6. FEB 27 - MAR 5 Post War Trauma/Nüremberg

Browning. Ordinary Men, pp. 191-223
Fulbrook. Divided Nation, pp. 129-167
Berghahn. Modern Germany, pp. 177-197
Haffner. The Meaning of Hitler, pp. 149-165.

WWW

 
7. MAR 6 - MAR 10 The 1950s

Fulbrook. Divided Nation, pp. 168-188
Berghahn. Modern Germany, pp. 197-216

WWW

Proctored Exam Week
8. MAR 13 -MAR 17 Germany and the Cold War

Berghahn. Modern Germany, pp. 216-225

 

Annotated Bibliography

DUE: 17 MAR

 
9. MAR 18 - MAR 26

BREAK

 
10.             MAR 27 - APR 2 East Germany

Fulbrook. Divided Nation, pp. 188-196; 244-253
Berghahn. Modern Germany, pp. 226-239
To understand U.S. concerns, browse FRUS Volume XV, Germany and Berlin. Also see Germany and the Cold War
 

 
11. APR 3 - APR 9 The 1960s Student Revolts

Fulbrook. Divided Nation, pp. 197-207; 253-264
Berghahn. Modern Germany, pp. 239-258

WWW


 

Paper 1st Draft

 

12. APR 10 - APR 16 The 1970s

Fulbrook. Divided Nation, pp. 207-220; 221-243
Berghahn. Modern Germany, pp. 258-268.
 

 
13. APR 17 - APR 23 The Road to Reunion

Fulbrook. Divided Nation, pp. 265-317; 318-345

Optional: See the first 15 minutes of Teaching Geography Workshop 7. Europe (free to view online but registration required). Click the VoD icon (Video on Demand) for workshop 7.
 

 

 

14. APR 24 - APR 30 Contemporary Germany

Fulbrook. Divided Nation, pp. 349-369

 

Final Paper
15. MAY 1 - MAY 7  Contemporary Germany

WWW

 

Note: Last day to withdraw from class is 5 May.
16. MAY 8 - MAY 13

Final Exam Week

 

Last updated: 12 Jan 2006