HI290-15 History of Germany from Bismarck to the Berlin Republic
Introductory description
n/a
Module aims
Today we are used to thinking of Germany as a peaceful, prosperous and stable democracy, at the heart of Europe politically and economically as well as geographically. But for much of its modern history the picture was very different. A comparative latecomer to statehood, in the 170 years of its existence as a nation-state Germany experienced a dramatic transformation from a maverick to a model state which took in war, dictatorship, occupation and division, as well as rapid industrial development (twice), a dynamic civil society and intense cultural and intellectual experimentation.
This optional second year undergraduate module examines the history of Germany from Unification in 1871 to the Berlin Republic of Angela Merkel. Students will consider the political, social and cultural history of modern Germany from a variety of historical perspectives in order to understand why in Germany the past is so important to an understanding of the present. We will look at the rise and fall of political ideas and regimes, economic developments, issues of citizenship and ethnicity, attitudes towards gender and sexuality, and how all these affected the lives of ordinary Germans. Along the way, students will have the opportunity to conduct their own research and write a piece of Germany's history.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
Introduction and Themes
Bismarck and Germany
Wilhelmine Germany
Foreign Policy and Empire
Total War, 1914-1918
Doomed Experiment or Militant Democracy? Politics in the Weimar Republic
Modernity and its Discontents: Society and Culture in the Weimar Republic
Weimar and the Wider World
The Rise of Extremism and the Collapse of Weimar Democracy
Gleichschaltung: The Making of the Third Reich
Folk Community
Conformity and Resistance
War and Genocide
Defeat, Occupation, and Division
West Germany: The 'Miracle Years', 1949-63
East Germany: The Antifascist state?
From the Frankfurt Trial to Reunification: The Two Germanies 1963-89
1989, Reunification, and the Berlin Republic
Revision
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- A basic understanding of the trajectory of modern German history.
- Familiarity with a range of sources relating to modern German history.
- The ability to engage critically with different historiographical perspectives on modern German history.
- Experience of conducting your own research on an aspect of modern German history.
- The ability to construct and communicate your own ideas about modern German history through seminar discussions and essay writing.
Subject specific skills
No subject specific skills defined for this module.
Transferable skills
No transferable skills defined for this module.
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 9 sessions of 1 hour (6%) |
| Seminars | 9 sessions of 1 hour (6%) |
| Tutorials | 1 session of 1 hour (1%) |
| Private study | 131 hours (87%) |
| Total | 150 hours |
Private study description
No private study requirements defined for this module.
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group A1
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
Assessment component |
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| 1000 word essay plan (V1L8 students) | 40% | Yes (extension) | |
Reassessment component is the same |
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Assessment component |
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| 3000 word essay (V1L8 students) | 50% | Yes (extension) | |
Reassessment component is the same |
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Assessment component |
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| Oral Participation | 10% | ||
Reassessment component is the same |
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Feedback on assessment
- written feedback on essay and exam cover sheets\r\n- student/tutor dialogues in one-to-one tutorials\r\n
There is currently no information about the courses for which this module is core or optional.