Seduction and Terror: Hitler's Germany

This course examines how Hitler and the Nazi Party came to power, maintained control, and carried out the systematic destruction they wrought between 1933 and 1945, asking in particular how a regime that terrorised so many also secured the active support and involvement of most Germans. The course begins with the nineteenth-century background, looking at the political currents, agitators, and demagogues who fuelled widespread dissatisfaction, as well as the popular literature that Hitler and many of his supporters absorbed. It then traces the rise and workings of the Nazi state before turning to the end of the war, the so-called zero hour in Germany, and how Germany has since confronted the legacy of Nazi rule. Study in Berlin is an integral part of the experience. The class includes visits to local museums, historical sites, and locations that directly illuminate the workings of Nazi rule in the city where much of it unfolded. These visits are described in the course materials as a key element of the course. The course is offered through the FUBIS programme at Freie Universität Berlin. Freie Universität Berlin is located in Berlin, Germany.