Reading Assignments

William Carr, A History of Germany, 1815-1990
A.J.P. Taylor, Bismarck, The Man and the Statesman
Alan Bullock, Hitler: A Study in Tyranny, abr. ed.
Anna Funder, Stasiland: Stories From Behind the Berlin Wall

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 Reich and the division of Germany. How much they are, in fact, dead issues now that Germany is reunified will be explored explicitly in the last part of the semester, but obviously that issue will be present implicitly throughout the course.

It goes without saying that you are expected to come to class having completed the weekly reading assignments. 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. Late papers will have their grades decreased two percentage points for every day they are late, including weekends. If the professor believes that students are not preparing adequately for class, he reserves the right to give unscheduled quizzes (which will be announced one class meeting in advance).

When the course is over, the successful student will be able to

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.

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 understanding of relationships between the past, the present, and the future.