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PL10957: Deutschland 1871 bis 1989

[Page last updated: 11 October 2022]

Academic Year: 2022/23
Owning Department/School: Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
Credits: 12 [equivalent to 24 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 240
Level: Certificate (FHEQ level 4)
Period:
Academic Year
Assessment Summary: CW 10%, ES 45%, EX 45%
Assessment Detail:
  • Essay (ES 45%)
  • In-class test (CW 10%)
  • Exam (EX 45%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: By the end of this unit, students will be able to:
* demonstrate a critical understanding of the development of the historical and cultural development of the German nation from its first unification in 1871 to the peaceful revolution in 1989
* to understand the development of the German political system during this period and the challenges which German faced on the road to successful and stable democracy
* to understand the economic development of Germany between the late 19th and late 20th centuries
* to understand the key cultural of Germany between the late 19th and late 20th centuries
* to analyse the social challenges faced by Germans in the period
* to understand Germany's place in Europe and the wider world during this period.

Aims: This unit will consider the development of the German nation between the founding of the German Empire in 1871 and the peaceful revolution of 1989, which brought about the reunification of the two post-war German states. The unit will examine the internal tensions which marked this development, examining both their political and cultural manifestations. It will also consider Germany's relationships with its neighbours.

Skills: Skills in critical analysis, conceptual thinking, precision in the use of written and spoken language, exercise of independent judgement, reasoned argument, effective communication in the target language, teamwork and the planning/conduct/reporting of non-quantitative research are developed and assessed in this unit.

Content: The unit will address the following topics: the emergence of a sense of national identity in nineteenth century Germany; the unification of the country in 1871 and the ensuing political weaknesses of the Wilhelmine period; the culture of the Weimar period; the growth of the National Socialist Party in German; the founding of the Federal Republic; the social, political and economic order of the Federal Republic; the challenges to that order that emerged before unification; the Federal Republic's foreign relations; literature and film of the post-war period.
This unit is taught in German.

Programme availability:

PL10957 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
  • UHPL-AYB44 : BA(Hons) International Politics and Modern Languages (German) with Year Abroad (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AYB31 : BA(Hons) Modern Languages (French and German) with Year Abroad (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AYB31 : BA(Hons) Modern Languages (German and ab initio French) with Year Abroad (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AYB38 : BA(Hons) Modern Languages (German and ab initio Italian) with Year Abroad (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AYB39 : BA(Hons) Modern Languages (German and ab initio Mandarin) with Year Abroad (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AYB37 : BA(Hons) Modern Languages (German and ab initio Russian) with Year Abroad (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AYB36 : BA(Hons) Modern Languages (German and ab initio Spanish) with Year Abroad (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AYB36 : BA(Hons) Modern Languages (German and Spanish) with Year Abroad (Year 1)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2022/23 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2023/24 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2022/23.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.