Learning and Teaching – FB 07 – Historisches Seminar

Übung (for incomings): Modern German History: From the Weimar Republic to Reunification and Beyond

Instructors: Charlotte Pissors
Shortname: German History
Course Type: Übung

Requirements / organisational issues

Grading

Credit points
2 ECTS active participation in class + class assignment, no exam
5 ECTS active participation in class + class assignment + Oral exam (15 minutes)

The number of ECTS can be adjusted individually depending on the requirements of the home university.

Anwesenheitspflicht

Participation and Engagement
Participants
- All incoming students from all academic fields are welcome
- History students from abroad are also invited to join the team
- No specific requirements, just interest in the overall topic and historical work
- Ability to read scientific texts in English

Engagement
- Regular attendance
- Preparation reading and active participation in seminar discussions
- Two homeworks in writing (upload in Moodle prior to the session)
- One classroom presentation to kick-off seminar discussion

This is a special course bringing together students who do not study history to get to know Germany better from a historical perspective. It is not a lecture. In fact, good discussions and results will largely depend on active participation and sharing of different views. Preparing the sessions properly and getting a good grasp of the reading materials will be key.

Recommended reading list

The course is based on selected sections of the following books:
- Mary Fulbrook, A History of Germany 1918–2014: The Divided Nation, Fifth Edition. Chichester 2021.
- Peter C. Caldwell/Karrin Hanshew, Germany Since 1945. Politics, Culture, and society: London et alt. 2018.
- Helmut Walser Smith (ed.): Oxford Handbook of Modern German History, Oxford et al. 2011.

Since 1918, Germany has gone through various political disruptions and transitions: from monarchic rule to parliamentary democracy, from Nazi dictatorship to complete military defeat, from two separate states to one reunified country.

The seminar provides an introductory historical overview. It is open to incoming students from all academic disciplines and levels. Together we will look at major phases of German history: Why was the democratic system of the Weimar Republic so unstable? How did the Nazis establish their regime of terror? What were the main reasons for Germany to split into two antagonistic states and how did they reunite after 40 years of separation? In addition to major political developments, we will also look at underlying social and cultural changes and how the lives of German people changed during this period.

Outline of Study Program
The Weimar Republic (1919 – 1933)
The Nazi State (1933 – 1945)
“Hour Zero” (1945 – 1949)
“Two New States” (1949 – 1961)
“Consolidation and cohabitation”: Two Germany side by side (1961 – 1989)
German unification (1989 – 1990)
Germany in a uniting Europe
“New challenges”: Continuing transformation in a changing World

Additional information

“Excursion”
There will be a historical Walk in Mainz on 8th of July.

Dates