Unit information: History of Germany and Austria, 1918-34 in 2012/13

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Unit name History of Germany and Austria, 1918-34
Unit code GERM20028
Credit points 20
Level of study I/5
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director Dr. Allinson
Open unit status Open
Pre-requisites

N/A
Co-requisites

N/A
School/department Department of German
Faculty Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

The development of both the Weimar and the First Austrian Republics was crucial to European development in the first half of the 20th century. Born of defeat in the First World War, both states had to construct new political systems, redefine their national identities and to deal with repeated financial and economic crises, as well as the challenges of political extremism. Both states collapsed into authoritarian rule and then Nazism within 20 years. The unit explores the political, economic and social history of interwar Germany and Austria, with a particular focus on the issues surrounding the preservation of democracy which remains highly relevant in the early 21st century. The experience of these two states is particularly significant in understanding the contours of European development after 1945. The unit consists of informal lectures and seminar work, discussion of primary documents and secondary reading, and student presentations

  • to develop students’ knowledge and understanding of the political, economic and social history of Germany and Austria in the period 1918-1934;
  • to develop students’ understanding of the interplay of political, economic and social forces;
  • to develop students’ ability to work with primary and secondary historical sources, as preparation for more advanced work at final year level;
  • to develop students’ awareness of historiographical and wider scholarly debates;
  • to develop students’ ability to engage with complex questions and produce structured, logical responses which are founded in systematic research and couched in an appropriate written style.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students will:

  • have advanced knowledge and understanding of the political, economic and social history of the Weimar and First Austrian republics;
  • have developed their skills of research from a variety of written media;
  • have developed their skills of written and oral presentation;

have developed skills of collaboration through the student presentations

Teaching Information

A mixture of informal lectures and seminar discussions, the latter to include student presentations in small groups.

A range of materials to support the unit will be made available on a Blackboard site.

Assessment Information

Summative: 2 x 2000 word essays (50% each)

Formative: Students will be required to give one or more short presentations, normally as part of a small group

All assessments require students to demonstrate good subject knowledge of the field drawing in detail on primary and appropriate secondary material. Essays require students to research independently and present their findings in a structured manner. Similar skills are assessed through the presentation where skills of oral communication are developed.

Reading and References

Paul Bookbinder, The Weimar Republic. The republic of the reasonable Eberhard Kolb, The Weimar Republic Mary Fulbrook, A History of Germany 1918-2008. The Divided Nation Barbara Jelavich, Modern Austria. Empire and republic, 1815-1986

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