LFU:online

Introduction to scholarly working methods, the critical use of secondary literature and the capability of presenting the recently acquired knowledge in written or oral form. Introduction to Holocaust Studies.

The development of Holocaust research will be discussed with reference to its specific problems and illustrated by significant examples. Possible topics are as follows: function and limits of historicization, debates on singularity and comparability, images and representation, language in Holocaust Studies, victims and perpetrators, intentionalism vs. functionalism, research on perpetrators, scholarship and the larger public, photos as sources. At the same time, varying developments in different countries will be taken into account. The course is also a problem-oriented introduction to the history of the Holocaust.

Readings, oral presentations with handout, discussions, written paper.

Course with continuous performance assessment: attendance at all sessions, active participation, oral presentation with handout, written paper (12-15 pages).

Ian Kershaw, Der NS-Staat. Geschichtsinterpretationen und Kontroversen im Überblick, Reinbek b. Hamburg 1988. 

Dan Stone, Histories of the Holocaust, Oxford 2010.

Online-enrollment required, starting 2.09.2013!