MVZ183 In the Middle of Europe: The Strategic History of Germany from 1648 to Today

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2008
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 7 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Dr. Oliver Benjamin Hemmerle, M.A. (lecturer), PhDr. Petr Suchý, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Petr Suchý, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Timetable
Thu 12:00–13:30 P21
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 40 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/40, only registered: 0/40
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
In this course the student should gain general knowledge about German history (especially related to foreign relations and military/defence/security issues); should gain insights into the historiography and the political science debates related to the topic; and should be empowered to understand current policy debates in a better and more informed way.
Syllabus
  • I. Introduction
  • II. From the peace of Westphalia to Enlightenment
  • III. Germany and the French Revolution
  • IV. Germany under/with/against Napoleon
  • V. Germany between Waterloo and the revolutions of 1848/49
  • VI. Defeating democracy, creating unity – The Germany of Bismarck
  • VII. Expansionism without limits (1): Wilhelm II. and WW I
  • VIII. The unexpected and unaccepted defeat (Weimar Republic)
  • IX. Expansionism without limits (2): Hitler, WW II and genocide
  • X. The undeniable defeat (the two German states 1945/49-1989/90)
  • XI. Settings for a future inside Europe (West Germany 1955-1989/90)
  • XII. (Re-)United, surrounded by friends, end of history?
  • XIII. Written examination
Literature
  • J. Black: Introduction to Global Military History: 1775 to the Present Day (London 2008)
  • P. H. Wilson: German Armies. War and German Politics, 1648-1806 (London 1998)
  • G. A. Craig: The Politics of Prussian Army, 1640-1945 (Oxford 1964)
  • A. J. P. Taylor: The Course of German History. A Survey of the Development of German History Since 1815 (London 2001)
Assessment methods
Requirements:
-regular attendance
-reading assignments
-1 hour written examination at the end of the lecture
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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