The Holocaust — the persecution and murder of approximately six million Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators between 1933 and 1945 — was one of the most heinous events in history. The atrocities committed in the heart of the twentieth-century threw into question the very notion of human progress, and continue to haunt humanity to this day. We have all seen images and films about the Holocaust, or have read literature and diaries from the time, but to many of us, the facts remain obscure. This course will better equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to interpret representations of the Holocaust by grounding you with the factual basis on which these representations are made. It will help you confront the bigger questions that the Holocaust forces us to ask about ourselves and our history. You will learn to interpret some of the most important historical facts about the Holocaust, to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of contending explanations regarding the causes and effects of the Holocaust, and to contextualize the Holocaust.
Course Requirements:
Short essays, attendance, quizzes.
Class Format:
Lecture and discussion sections.