Road to war: the rise of Hitler and Appeasement 1918-1939 ADED11276

  • Academic Session: 2023-24
  • School: Short Courses
  • Credits: 10
  • Level: Level 1 (SCQF level 7)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 1
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes

Short Description

From defeat at the end of World War One, how did Adolf Hitler transform the German state into a one-party dictatorship with renewed military ambitions? How did Neville Chamberlain arrive at appeasement as a foreign policy and why did it fail so spectacularly? This course offers students a comprehensive account of the unfolding international crisis of the inter-war years, from the fall of the Weimar republic and the rise of the Nazis to the failure of appeasement. Guided by talks from our expert tutor and discussions with classmates, students will be given the opportunity to examine the main figures and events, explore original materials and compare differing historical perspectives to gain a better understanding of the road leading to the Second World War.

Timetable

Block 1

2 hours per week for 10 weeks

Wednesday, 19.00-21.00

Requirements of Entry

None

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Assessments one:

One 1,500 word essay concerning figures, events and processes covered by the course and referring to primary sources and historical interpretations (75% of the final grade)

 

Assessment two:

A 7 min presentation (recorded in advance or as delivered) or 750-word scripted commentary summarising and evaluating at least one historical perspective of an event covered by the course (25% of the final grade)

Course Aims

The course aims to:

■ Explain the key figures and events shaping Germany 1918-1939 and the UK's policy of Appeasement from 1933-1939

■ Introduce the key political, social, economic and military processes that shaped these events.

■ Provide an opportunity for students to engage with both contemporary primary source materials and secondary historical interpretations relevant to these events

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

Students will be able to:

■ Identify some of the key figures and events shaping Germany 1918-1939 and the UK's policy of Appeasement from 1933-1939

■ Explain some of the key political, social, economic and military processes that shaped these events.

■ Analyse and evaluate primary source materials and secondary historical interpretations relevant to these events.

 

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.