Interpreting German History 1814-1914 module (HY31034)

The shadow of Hitler and the Third Reich looms large over the interpretation of 19th century German history as German historians have wrestled with the thorny questions of long-term continuities:

• Was the descent into a genocidal dictatorship a complete aberration from the culture of Goethe, von Humboldt and Heine?
• Or was Nazism the logical consequence of continued authoritarian rule by traditional elites, keeping "the people" marginalised from politics?
• Was the militarism that permeated all civilian life responsible for extreme nationalism and discrimination of ethnic and religious minorities?

During seminars we will discuss some of the major changes since 1945 in the interpretations of 19th Century German History. Historians who experienced the Third Reich struggled to make sense of the "German Catastrophe" and tended to draw a sharp line between the period before 1918 and what came after. In the 1960s, a younger generation of historians began to challenge the view of the Third Reich as an aberration, seeing the political culture and social structures of nineteenth century Germany as the precondition for extremism of the Third Reich.

What you will learn

In this module, you will:

• learn about major developments in German history 1814-1914
• debate about the nature of Prussian society and politics and possible long-term continuities between nineteenth-century German culture and the rise of Nazism

 By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• think critically about historical interpretations
• independently select and critically analyse primary sources and historical interpretations  
• research and make an oral presentation, whether in-person or recorded     
• develop a well-presented podcast with supporting visual material, links, and transcript. The aim is for your podcast project to be presentable to future employers

Assignments / assessment

• Essay (3000 words) - 40%
• Podcast Project - 20%
• Final written exam - 40%

Teaching methods / timetable

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Tutorials

Students are provided with academic support for their learning through class discussion, feedback on assessed work, and individual consultations via office hours, appointments, and emails.