Module Information
Module Identifier
HY39520
Module Title
Globalising Post-War Germany(s) 1945-2015
Academic Year
2022/2023
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Other Staff
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Essay 2,500 word essay | 50% |
| Semester Assessment | Open examination 2,500 word open exam | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Essay 2,500 word essay | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Open examination 2,500 word open exam | 50% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Critically engage with a body of historical knowledge of post-war German history and global history of the Cold War.
Demonstrate a critical understanding of why Germany was divided after World War II, how the two German States developed, and what led to the reunification.
Demonstrate a critical understanding of the broader international context and consequences.
Demonstrate familiarity with methods of global and transnational history and an awareness of the challenges involved.
Read, analyse and reflect critically on secondary and primary sources in the context of post-war Germany.
Brief description
Beginning with the end of World War II and stretching through 25 years of German (re)unification, this module will engage with post-war German histories stressing the transnational and international elements.
Since the onset of the Cold War, the ‘German question’ dominated the international scene. The division of the country along ideological lines, not only prompted parallel developments of different German identities, but also parallel approaches to international cooperation and, conversely, immigration.
This module will go through the parallel histories of West and East Germany, analysing their societies, economies, cultures, as well as their international relations. Towards the end, we will engage with the process of German unification, the global repercussions, and the remaining open questions. During the module, there will be occasions for comparative analysis of divided Germany with other processes of division along ideological lines (e.g. Vietnam and Korea).
Since the onset of the Cold War, the ‘German question’ dominated the international scene. The division of the country along ideological lines, not only prompted parallel developments of different German identities, but also parallel approaches to international cooperation and, conversely, immigration.
This module will go through the parallel histories of West and East Germany, analysing their societies, economies, cultures, as well as their international relations. Towards the end, we will engage with the process of German unification, the global repercussions, and the remaining open questions. During the module, there will be occasions for comparative analysis of divided Germany with other processes of division along ideological lines (e.g. Vietnam and Korea).
Content
There will be 18 lectures and six hours of seminars, exploring themes including:
Denazification and reconstruction
The Cold War: the division of the country
Germany, Korea, Vietnam: ideologies as borders
Social market economy vs. the ‘Antifascist State’
The global ’68 and the West-East dialogue
Punks, skins, mods: underground cultures in the GDR
International aid and German-German competition
Diaspora stories: West German Turks and East German Vietnamese
Memories, amnesias, and German identity towards unification
Are we a people? The post-unification struggles
Denazification and reconstruction
The Cold War: the division of the country
Germany, Korea, Vietnam: ideologies as borders
Social market economy vs. the ‘Antifascist State’
The global ’68 and the West-East dialogue
Punks, skins, mods: underground cultures in the GDR
International aid and German-German competition
Diaspora stories: West German Turks and East German Vietnamese
Memories, amnesias, and German identity towards unification
Are we a people? The post-unification struggles
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Co-ordinating with others | Students will be expected to play an active part in group activities (e.g. short group presentations in seminars) and to learn to evaluate their own contribution to such activities. |
| Creative Problem Solving | Students are expected to note and respond to historical problems which arise as part of the study of this subject area and to undertake suitable research for seminars and assignments. |
| Critical and analytical thinking | Students will develop their critical and analytical thinking by reading a range of texts and evaluating their usefulness in preparation for the coursework and the seminars. |
| Digital capability | Students will be encouraged to locate suitable material on the web and to apply it appropriately to their own work. Students will also be expected to word-process their work and make use of Blackboard. These skills will not be formally assessed. |
| Professional communication | Written communication skills will be developed through the coursework; skills in oral presentation will |
| Real world sense | Students will develop a range of transferable skills, including time management and communication skills, which may help them identify their personal strengths as they consider potential career paths. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Students will develop knowledge of post-war German history within the context of the Cold War. They will also gain familiarity with methods of global and transnational history, as well as the use of relevant primary and secondary sources relating to |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6