History 4365 G. Shanafelt — Old Main 304C Spring 2017 Phone: 793-3863; home: 677-6959 E-mail: [email protected] Home page: www.mcm.edu/~shanafeg Office hours: MWF, 1:00-3:30; TTh 11-12, 2:30-3:30 Modern Germany

Reading Assignments

Sam A. Mustafa, Germany in the Modern World , 2nd ed. A.J.P. Taylor, Bismarck, The Man and the Statesman Andreas Hillgruber, Germany and the Two World Wars Sebastian Haffner, Defying Hitler: A Memoir

Course Requirements

This course deals with German history in the last two centuries. Its main focus is what has been known to historians as the “German Problem,” the extent to which Germany does or does not belong to the mainstream of Western Civilization and how Germany has been integrated (or failed to be integrated) into the political fabric of the rest of Europe. Many of these questions seemed to be laid to rest in 1945 with the end of the Third and the division of Germany. Yet today a reunified Germany is once again the lynchpin of Eur- ope, or at least of the European Union, with an ongoing debate about how it should exercise its political and economic power with its neighbors.

It goes without saying that you are expected to come to class having completed the weekly reading assign- ments. Though the course is mainly lecture in format, everything will make more sense if you keep up with the work. Your grade in this course will be computed as follows: 25% on each of two noncomprehensive tests during the semester, 25% on the final examination, and 25% on a 6-8 page typed, double-spaced paper examining a selected issue in German history in greater depth than it is covered in the course. If the pro- fessor believes that students are not preparing adequately for class, he reserves the right to give short quizzes unscheduled on the syllabus (but which will be announced one class meeting in advance).

Note that to get credit for this course in your major, as with all courses in all majors, you’ll need a final grade of a C or better. A final grade of C- is not considered adequate for this course to count toward your major requirements.

When the course is over, the successful student will be able to 1. Refine and discuss the main themes of German history before the 19th century; 2. Explain the nature of the German political and social system of the Reich created by Bismarck in 1871; 3. Explain the interaction of the personal and structural factors that brought Hitler to power in 1933; 4. Understand similarities and differences between and World War II; 5. Explain the similarities and differences in the respective development of the BRD and DDR and the eventual process of reunification.

The headings on this syllabus are printed in a traditional German typeface called Fraktur . At the end of the Middle Ages, West European nations standardized their alphabets with Roman/Latin letters, but Germans continued to use Medieval Gothic or black letters in tandem with Roman letters. They also used a unique form of cursive or Kurrentschrift handwriting, which looked like this . Americans learning German thus had to learn a new alphabet as well as a new language, even though Germany was a supposedly “western” Euro- pean country like France or Italy or Spain. Fraktur type disappeared from common usage in Germany only during World War II. Today it is rarely seen except in Bibles and on signs outside tourist-oriented beer halls.

Students with Disabilities

McMurry University abides by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which stipulates that no otherwise qualified student shall be denied the benefits of an education “solely by reason of a handicap.” If you have a documented disability that may impact your performance in this class and for which you may be requesting accommodation, you must be registered with and provide documentation of your disability to the Disability Services Office, located in Old Main Room 102. Arrangements will be made for students needing special accommodations.

State Board of Educator Certification Standards for Teacher Education Candidates

If you plan to minor in Curriculum and Instruction, with a teaching concentration in History 8-12 , or in Social Studies 8-12 , this course provides partial fulfillment of the following standard of the TEKS competencies: Standard IV. History: The social studies teacher applies knowledge of significant historical events and developments, as well as of multiple historical interpretations and ideas, in order to facilitate student under- standing of relationships between the past, the present, and the future. Proposed Class and Reading Schedule

Jan. 17 The German Problem Jan. 19 From Arminius to Charlemagne Mustafa, xv-xxi, 1-17 Jan. 24 The Holy Roman Empire Mustafa, 19-54 Jan. 26 The World of the Habsburgs Jan. 31 The Rise of Mustafa, 55-114 Feb. 2 Liberalism and Nationalism Taylor, 9-52 Feb. 7 1848 Mustafa, 115-140 Feb. 9 Blood and Iron Taylor, 53-157 Feb. 14 Bismarck’s Reich Taylor, 158-230 Feb. 16 The Industrial Revolution Comes to Germany Feb. 21 FIRST TEST Feb. 23 Wilhelm II and Weltpolitik Taylor, 231-274 Hillgruber, 1-21 Feb. 28 The War to End War Mustafa, 141-149 Mar. 2 The Failed Revolution, 1918 Hillgruber, 22-48 Mar. 7 Weimar: The Search for Stability Mustafa, 149-163 Mar. 9 Germans and Jews Haffner, 1-94 Mar. 13-17 Spring Break Mar. 21 Fascism and the Rise of the Nazis Mustafa, 163-173 Mar. 23 The Nazi Seizure of Power Hillgruber, 49-55 Haffner, 95-178 Mar. 28 SECOND TEST Mar. 30 : “The German Revolution”? Mustafa, 185-196 Haffner, 179-309 Apr. 4 The Road to Großdeutschland Mustafa, 175-185 Apr. 6 Hitler’s Europe Hillgruber, 56-98 Apr. 11 The Final Solution Mustafa, 196-214 Apr. 13 1945: End of the German Problem? Apr. 18 Germany Divided: The BRD Mustafa, 214-247 Apr. 20 Germany Divided: The DDR Apr. 25 PAPER DUE Apr. 25 Film: “The Lives of Others” Apr. 27 Finish “The Lives of Others” May 2 Die Wende Mustafa, 247-279 May 4 ...And the Morning After May 9 FINAL EXAM (10:30-12:30)