History
380A: The History of Germany
Fall
Semester 2012
2:00
– 2:50 MWF
Instructor:
Dr. John Moser
Andrews 119
289-5231
Office Hours: 1:00 – 3:00 Tuesdays and Thursdays, or
by appointment
Required Texts:
Peter Wende,
A
History of Germany (Palgrave-Macmillan, 2005), ISBN 0-333-68765-5.
Coursepack (to be distributed
electronically)
Course Description:
This course will examine the history of Germany and
the German people from the Roman era until the present, although it will focus on
the modern period (i.e., 1500 AD to present).
In particular, we will consider why a people that has contributed so
much to western civilization in the form of art, music, literature and science
also nearly destroyed that civilization by plunging Europe into two world
wars. Is there some element in German
history that caused it to deviate from the path of other western European
nations such as France and Britain?
Course Objectives:
1.
To provide the
basic facts about the history of Germany.
2.
To enable students
to use facts as “raw material” in making coherent arguments about the past.
3.
To develop
students’ ability to communicate in written form, through a research paper.
4.
To strengthen
students’ capacity for critical reading, through daily reading assignments of
primary sources.
Course Policies:
The following factors will make up your final grade—
These exams are scheduled for Friday, 21 September, and
Monday, 29 October, and will consist of essay questions and identifications. The essays will require you to marshal facts
to answer questions on broader historical themes. An example might be, “What were the long-term
effects of the Reformation for Germany?” or “Why did the Weimar Republic
fail?” You will be asked to make an
argument; you will not be graded so much on what stand you take, but rather on
your ability back up your position with the pertinent historical evidence. The identifications will require you to
identify and explain the significance of a particular person, place, event, or
concept important to German history.
Final Examination (30%)
The university has scheduled the final for this course
for Monday, 10 December, from 4:00
to 6:00 pm, although this is subject to change.
An alternate exam date will be set in case of medical emergency (with
documentation required). As with the
midterm, the final will be a combination of essay and identification, and
bluebooks will be required.
Writing Assignment (10%)
For this course each student will write a paper of
between 3,500 and 4,500 (that is, between 12 and 15 pages) expanding on one of
the subjects that we will be discussing in class. This will involve choosing a particular day
of class and reading not only the required material, but also the book listed
as optional for that day. Note that
there is a very good chance that Ashland University’s library will not have
these books, so be prepared to use OhioLink—which
means, of course, that you should order it at least a month in advance, so that
you receive it in plenty of time to read it carefully. This paper will be due the day that the
subject in question is being discussed in class. Because I do not want more than one student
to write on any given topic, please let me know in advance which subject you
want.
For example, say that you would like to write your
paper on the 1848 Revolutions. That
paper will be due on October 10 (the day we will cover that subject in class),
and the sources you will be expected to use will be the required readings for
that day (both in the Wende text and the coursepack), plus the book listed as optional reading.
I will be grading your paper(s) not only for content,
but also for things like organization, clarity, spelling, word choice, and
grammar. Style should conform to the
department’s “Guidelines for Writing Scholarly Papers,” available here. Your papers must be typed in a reasonably
sized font (11 or 12), double-spaced and stapled. Late papers will not be accepted.
In addition to submitting your paper to me on or
before the due date, you will be required to upload an electronic version to Turnitin.com. This will involve signing up for an account
(it’s free) and logging into the class.
To do this, follow the directions found here. When asked for the class ID, enter
5312010. For password, enter “Reich”
(without quotes).
Attendance and Participation (20%)
This will be a seminar-style course, based on in-class
discussion of the required readings. It
is the responsibility of every student to participate in those
discussions. Each of you will be asked
to offer your thoughts about what you have read, as well as any larger
implications. If you find something
confusing, these discussions will present an opportunity for you to seek a
clearer understanding. If you find
something particularly interesting, that is the time to try to expand upon it,
or to ask questions about it.
Your attendance in class is expected, and consistent
participation in discussion will be rewarded.
I expect at least occasional input from every member of the class, and I
reserve the right to assign a failing grade to those who are habitually absent
or unprepared to participate in discussion.
Academic Integrity
I strongly advise you to examine the university’s
academic integrity policy, which may be found here. All students are responsible for maintaining
the highest standards of honesty and integrity in every phase of their academic
careers. The penalties for academic
dishonesty are severe, and ignorance is not an acceptable defense.
Course Schedule, with Reading
Assignments:
|
August |
20 |
Course Introduction |
|
|
22 |
The Origins of Germany Wende,
pp. 1-6 Coursepack,
pp. 1-11 Optional: Christopher B. Krebs, A Most Dangerous Book: Tacitus's Germania from the Roman Empire to
the Third Reich (2012) |
|
|
24 |
The First German Empire Wende,
pp. 7-12 Coursepack,
pp. 12-22 Optional: Rosamond McKitterick, Charlemagne: The Formation of a European
Identity (2008) |
|
|
27 |
The Empire and the Church Wende,
pp. 12-16 Coursepack,
pp. 23-39 Optional: Uta-Renate Blumenthal, The Investiture Controversy: Church and
Monarchy from the Ninth to the Twelfth Century (1991) |
|
|
29 |
The Emperor and the Princes Wende,
pp. 16-20 Coursepack,
pp.40-52 Optional: Benjamin Arnold, Princes and Territories in Medieval Germany (2004) |
|
|
31 |
Rural and Urban Life in Medieval
Germany Wende,
pp. 20-26 Coursepack,
pp. 53-67 Optional: Benjamin Arnold, Power and Property in Medieval Germany: Economic and Social Change
(2004) |
|
September |
3 |
LABOR DAY—NO CLASS |
|
|
5 |
Late Medieval Germany Wende,
pp. 26-29 Coursepack,
pp. 68-80 Optional: Tom Scott, Society
and Economy in Germany, 1300-1600 (2002) |
|
|
7 |
The Origins of the Reformation Wende,
pp. 30-34 Coursepack,
pp. 81-93 Optional: Alister E. McGrath, The Intellectual Origins of the European
Reformation (2003) |
|
|
10 |
The Lutheran Reformation Wende,
pp. 34-37 Coursepack,
pp. 94-105 Optional: Roland H. Bainton, Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther
(1950) Philip Schaffer |
|
|
12 |
The Spread of Reformation Wende,
pp. 37-40 Coursepack,
pp. 106-123 Optional: C. Scott Dixon, The
Reformation in Germany (2002) |
|
|
14 |
The Confessional Era Wende,
pp. 41-43 Coursepack,
pp. 124-139 Optional: Jeffrey Chipps Smith, Sensuous Worship: Jesuits and the Art of
the Early Catholic Reformation in Germany (2002) |
|
|
17 |
The Wars of Religion Wende,
pp. 43-48 Courepack,
pp. 140-151 Optional: Ronald G. Asch, The
Thirty Years War: The Holy Roman Empire and Europe, 1618-48 (1997) |
|
|
19 |
The Peace of Westphalia Wende,
pp. 48-54 Coursepack,
pp. 152-168 Optional: Derek Croxton, Peacemaking in Early Modern Europe:
Cardinal Mazarin and the Congress of Westphalia, 1643-1648 (1999) |
|
|
21 |
First Examination |
|
|
24 |
Absolutism and the Empire Wende,
pp. 55-59 Coursepack,
pp. 169-185 Optional: Rudolf Vierhaus, Germany in the Age of Absolutism
(1988) |
|
|
26 |
Austria, Bavaria, Saxony and Hanover Wende,
pp. 59-64 Coursepack,
pp. 186-209 Optional: Charles W. Ingrao, The Habsburg Monarchy, 1618-1815
(2000) |
|
|
28 |
The Rise of Prussia Wende,
pp. 64-74 Coursepack,
pp. 210-228 Optional: F.L. Carsten, The Origins of Prussia (1982) |
|
October |
1 |
Germany and the French Revolution Wende,
pp. 75-78 Coursepack,
pp. 229-241 Optional: T.C.W. Blanning, The French Revolution in Germany:
Occupation and Resistance in the Rhineland 1792-1802 (1983) Tyler Ahlers |
|
|
3 |
Napoleon and the Rise of German Nationalism Wende,
pp. 78-82 Coursepack,
pp. 242-256 Optional: Matthew Levinger, Enlightened Nationalism: The
Transformation of Prussian Political Culture, 1806-1848 (2002) Elaine Skraba |
|
|
5 |
The Congress of Vienna Wende,
pp. 82-86 Coursepack,
pp. 257-268 Optional: David King, Vienna,
1814: How the Conquerors of Napoleon Made Love, War, and Peace at the
Congress of Vienna (2009) |
|
|
8 |
Germany in the Age of Restoration Wende,
pp. 86-90 Coursepack,
pp.269-281 Optional: Theodore S. Hamerow, Restoration,
Revolution, Reaction: Economics and Politics in Germany, 1815-1871 (1958) |
|
|
10 |
The 1848 Revolutions Wende,
pp. 90-97 Coursepack,
pp. 282-294 Optional: Wolfram Siemann, The German Revolution of 1848-49
(1998) |
|
|
12 |
The Unification of Germany Wende,
pp. 97-100 Coursepack,
pp.295-312 Optional: Theodore S. Hamerow, Restoration,
Revolution, Reaction: Economics and Politics in Germany, 1815-1871 (1958) |
|
|
15 |
Economy and Society in 19th
Century Germany Wende,
pp. 101-107 Coursepack,
pp. 313-329 Optional: Tony Pierenkemper and
Richard Tilly, The German Economy
During the Nineteenth Century (2004) |
|
|
17 |
Bismarckian Germany Wende,
pp. 108-111 Coursepack,
pp. 330-349 Optional: Erich Eyck, Bismarck
and the German Empire (1964) |
|
|
19 |
CLASS CANCELED |
|
|
22 |
FALL BREAK—NO CLASS |
|
|
24 |
Politics in the Kaiserreich Wende,
pp. 111-117 Coursepack,
pp. 350-363 Optional: Volker R. Berghahn, Imperial Germany, 1871-1918: Economy,
Society, Culture, And Politics (2005) |
|
|
26 |
From Weltpolitik to War Wende,
pp. 117-121 Coursepack,
pp. 364-379 Optional: Holger Herwig, The First World War: Germany and
Austria-Hungary 1914-1918 (2009) |
|
|
29 |
Second Examination |
|
|
31 |
The Birth of the Weimar Republic Wende,
pp. 122-126 Coursepack,
pp. 380-402 Optional: Eberhard Kolb, The
Weimar Republic (1988) |
|
November |
2 |
The Treaty of Versailles Wende,
pp. 126-129 Coursepack,
pp. 402-415 Optional: David A. Andelman, A Shattered Peace: Versailles 1919 and the
Price We Pay Today (2007) Wade Kaido |
|
|
5 |
Economy and Culture in the Weimar
Republic Wende,
pp. 129-134 Coursepack,
pp. 416-429 Optional: Theo Balderston, Economics and Politics in the Weimar
Republic (2002) |
|
|
7 |
The Fall of Weimar Wende,
pp. 134-138 Coursepack,
pp. 430-441 Optional: Richard J. Evans, The Coming of the Third Reich (2005) |
|
|
9 |
The Ideology of National Socialism Wende,
pp. 138-142 Coursepack,
pp. 442-456 Optional: George L. Mosse, The Crisis of German Ideology :
Intellectual Origins of the Third Reich (1999) |
|
|
12 |
Hitler’s Seizure of Power Wende,
pp. 142-147 Coursepack,
pp. 457-469 Optional: Henry Ashby Turner, Jr., Hitler's Thirty Days To Power: January 1933 (1997) Levi Minor |
|
|
14 |
Hitler’s Domestic Policy Wende,
pp. 147-150 Coursepack,
pp. 470-485 Optional: David Schoenbaum, Hitler's Social Revolution: Class and
Status in Nazi Germany, 1933-1939 (1997) Gary Haglund |
|
|
16 |
Hitler’s Foreign Policy Wende,
pp. 150-156 Coursepack,
pp.486-505 Optional: Klaus Hildebrand, The Foreign Policy of the Third Reich (1973) Anna Ingles |
|
|
19 |
Genocide and Defeat Wende,
pp. 156-161 Coursepack,
pp. 506-521 Optional: Saul Friedländer, Nazi Germany and the Jews, 1933-1945:
Abridged Edition (2009) Brennan Ney |
|
|
21 |
THANKSGIVING BREAK—NO CLASS |
|
|
23 |
THANKSGIVING BREAK—NO CLASS |
|
|
26 |
Germany Under Occupation Wende,
pp. 162-166 Coursepack,
pp. 522-537 Optional: Frederick Taylor, Exorcising Hitler: The Occupation and Denazification
of Germany (2011) |
|
|
28 |
Politics in West Germany Wende,
pp. 166-170 Coursepack,
pp. 538-550 Optional: Charles Williams, Konrad Adenauer: The Father of the New Germany (2001) |
|
|
30 |
The West German Wirtschaftswunder Wende,
pp. 170-173 Coursepack,
pp. 551-566 Optional: Alfred C. Mierzejewski, Ludwig Erhard: A Biography (2006) |
|
December |
3 |
East Germany Wende,
pp. 173-177 Coursepack,
pp. 567-585 Optional: Mary Fulbrook, The People's State: East German Society
from Hitler to Honecker (2008) |
|
|
5 |
Toward Reunification Wende,
pp. 177-182 Coursepack,
pp. 586-600 Optional: Konrad H. Jarausch, The Rush
to German Unity (1994) |
|
|
10 |
Final Examination, 4:00 – 6:00 pm |