This course examines the history of Nazi Germany through three thematic parts. Part I explores the broader context of modern German history, tracing the political, social, economic, and cultural developments that shaped and enabled the emergence of Nazism. Students will examine both long-term continuities and the historical contingencies that influenced Germany’s path toward the Nazi Third Reich.

Part II investigates the rise of the Nazi Party during the Weimar Republic, examining the challenges that undermined Germany’s first democracy, the Nazi seizure of power, and the transformation of Germany into a totalitarian dictatorship. Students will analyze both the institutions and ideology of the Nazi regime as well as the lived experiences of ordinary Germans under totalitarian rule.

Part III focuses on the Third Reich at war, exploring how Nazi Germany achieved unprecedented territorial expansion, transformed European society through occupation and racial policies, implemented genocide, and ultimately collapsed in total defeat. Students will examine the intersection of military history and political ideology, and they will learn about how and why ordinary people became complicit in mass atrocities.

Nearly all the required materials for assignments in this course will be provided free of charge in the corresponding modules.

One exception: 3-part film-series Generation War (2013).

• Currently available for free with Amazon Prime Membership
• Otherwise for purchase around $10 at various streaming services

1. Explain the historical origins of Nazism by analyzing the political, social, economic, and cultural developments of modern German history and distinguishing between long-term continuities and historical contingencies.
2. Analyze the collapse of the Weimar Republic and the rise of the Nazi Party, evaluating the roles of political institutions, economic crises, social conflict, political violence, propaganda, and individual decision-making in the destruction of German democracy.
3. Explain the ideology, institutions, and operation of the Nazi dictatorship, including the processes through which the regime consolidated power, reshaped German society, and sought to create a racial Volksgemeinschaft.
4. Interpret primary sources from Nazi Germany in their historical context, including political speeches, propaganda, laws, diaries, memoirs, letters, and other contemporary accounts, while critically evaluating perspective, purpose, audience, and limitations.
5. Analyze the relationship between Nazi ideology, military expansion, occupation, and genocide, explaining how racial and political objectives shaped Germany’s conduct of the Second World War and the transformation of occupied Europe, including the roles played by state institutions, military organizations, perpetrators, collaborators, bystanders, and victims.
6. Analyze the experiences and choices of ordinary people under Nazi rule, evaluating how coercion, conformity, enthusiasm, self-interest, ideological commitment, resistance, and other forms of individual agency contributed to the functioning of the dictatorship.
7. Construct evidence-based historical arguments about Nazi Germany and its legacy, communicating clearly and effectively through written and oral analysis and supporting conclusions with appropriate primary and secondary historical evidence.
   
   

Grade Allocation

Exams – 40% of final grade

Two exams will be administered for this course; one mid-term exam and one final exam. For each exam, a study guide will be made available a week before the exam date. Exams will consist of a mixture of multiple-choice, true/false, and map identification questions.

The exams will be administered in-class. Stay up-to-date with the schedule on CANVAS in the “modules” tab for more information, including specific dates

Each week in this course will consist of a few lectures and corresponding modules as homework. (See below for more information on the module assignments). Students should take careful notes on the lectures, because both exams in this course will be drawn primarily from themes and concepts taught in these lectures.

Assignments – 40% of each term grade

Module reading responses are the most frequent graded assignment with Dr. Klein’s half of the course, each worth 10 points. For these, students will complete historical readings/viewings and submit a so-called “reading response” online to a series of questions posed by the instructor, all of which can be found in CANVAS “modules.” With a few exceptions – most weeks will consist of two assigned modules. (Stay up-to-date with the due dates listed for each module response on CANVAS). Module responses will be graded periodically and entered as scores into the gradebook.

Occasional, in-class “pop-quizzes” will be administered, each worth 3 points. These will be based on concepts and themes from previous lectures. Thus, attendance and note-taking are essential for obtaining good scores. Pop-quizzes will go into the “CANVAS Assignments” portion of a student’s grade. Unless the instructor has been notified in advance requesting accommodation for legitimate extraneous circumstances, pop-quizzes may NOT be made-up if missed.

Critical thinking: Module assignments will regularly invite students to think critically about history and develop/share opinions about the past and present. Our goal is to ponder the significance of the past beyond mere facts, dates, and data. As such, each module will include various challenging questions of ethics/morality, interpretation, and significance for the present. Be prepared to develop and share these opinions in each assignment.

Essays – 20% of final grade

Students will complete two short argumentative essays, each worth 10% of their final grade.

Mid-term essay: students will view the German-language film “Generation War” and write a short analytical and argumentative essay examining controversies surrounding how to appropriately portray ordinary Germans during the Second World War.

Final essay: an analytical and argumentative essay that examines a specific instance of recent political violence in the modern world that students find unacceptable. Students will compare and contrast the justifications for this modern-day political violence to historical justifications we studied in the first half of the semester. More details available in a corresponding “module” on CANVAS.

Extra Credit:

Students may complete two extra credit assignments, one for each exam (Midterm and Final). Each extra credit assignment is worth up to 5 points (or roughly 10% towards an exam). These assignments can be found in the “modules” tab on CANVAS following each exam module. They must be completed before the exam is taken.

Dr. Klein’s exams have a reputation for being challenging. It is STRONGLY recommended that students complete these extra credit opportunities (!)

Grade Scale

Grades are determined by a percentage of points earned out of points possible. The final grade for the course will be rounded up to the nearest percentage point. Grades will not be based “on the curve.” Students are responsible for tracking their individual grade and must alert the instructor immediately of any errors or questions.

A = 93-100% A- = 90-93% B+ = 87-89% B = 83-86% B- = 80-82% C+ = 77-79%

C= 73-76% C- = 70-72% D+ = 67-69% D = 63-67% D- = 60-62% F = 0-59%

Grade Guidelines

A - Superior

Scholarship - Strong, exceeding requirements of instructor.

Initiative - Contributions exceeding the assignment, showing independent resourcefulness.

Attitude - Positive benefit to class.

Cooperation - Forwarding all group activities, constant and spontaneous.

Individual Improvement - Increased development.

B - Above Average

Scholarship - Accurate and complete, meeting all requirements of instructor.

Initiative - Good when stimulated by some desirable achievement.

Attitude - Proper and beneficial to group.

Cooperation - Good in group work.

Individual Improvement - Showing progress and responding to stimulation.

C - Average

Scholarship - Merely meeting assignments and showing evidence of need for encouragement.

Initiative - Variable, uncertain and apparent only at times.

Attitude - Generally neutral but not objective.

Cooperation - Not positive nor very effective and irregular.

Individual Improvement - Very ordinary.

D - Below Average

Scholarship - Not meeting all assignments and requirements of instructor.

Initiative - Deficient.

Attitude - Indifferent.

Cooperation - Fair at times and deficient at other times.

Individual Improvement - Not noticeable.

F - Failing

Work does not meet requirements

Late work policy: Because students will have access to these modules in advance*, all late-work will be penalized* unless the instructor has been notified in advance about extraneous circumstances. Extremely late submissions (assignments completed for the first half of the course but submitted after the mid-term exam) will not be graded.

Occasional, in-class “pop-quizzes” will be administered, each worth 3 points. These will be based on concepts and themes from previous lectures. Thus, attendance and note-taking are essential for obtaining good scores. Pop-quizzes will go into the “CANVAS Assignments” portion of a student’s grade. Unless the instructor has been notified in advance requesting accommodation for legitimate extraneous circumstances, pop-quizzes may NOT be made-up if missed.

Attendance policy:

Regular attendance is required at all class meetings. Occasional graded pop-quizzes will be administered. You are required to notify the instructor if extraneous circumstances may necessitate an accommodation. In the case of a missed pop-quiz – and only for extraneous or school approved circumstances – students will be allowed to take the pop quiz in the instructor’s office during office hours.

Attendance policy:

Regular attendance is required at all class meetings. You are required to notify the instructor if extraneous circumstances may necessitate an accommodation.

One exception: 3-part film-series Generation War (2013).

• Currently available for free with Amazon Prime Membership
• Otherwise for purchase around $10 at various streaming services