ALG2100: Special Topics in German Culture
Winter 2008
The Third Reich and Contemporary German Culture
Instructor: Dr. Joerg Esleben
Department of Modern Languages and Cultures
Office: ART 106
Tel: 562-5800 ext. 2549
E-mail: jesleben@uottawa.ca
Office hours: Wed 11-12 or by appointment
Central information hub: course website in Virtual Campus
Course Description:
The course will explore the roles that the Third Reich and the Holocaust play in contemporary German culture through examining
how the National Socialist past is represented in recent debates, memorials, media events, and cultural productions. The focus of
the course is on current reflections and refractions of the past in German culture and identities since reunification in 1990, but of
course this will also necessitate attention to the history of the Third Reich and of the two post-war Germanys up to reunification.
Course Materials:
The required text for the course is Bill Niven, Facing the Nazi Past: United Germany and the Legacy of the Third Reich, London:
Routledge, 2002, which is available at Agora Bookstore, 145 Besserer St. (http://www.sfuo.ca/Businesses/Agora/). Readings from
this book are marked with “Niven” and page numbers in the course calendar below. They will be supplemented with assigned
reading or research tasks online or in the library. There will be a number of reserved books for the course in Morriset library and
links to suggested readings on the course website.
Grading Scheme:
Written discussion contributions
Midterm Take-home Exam (short-answer and essay questions)
Final Take-home Exam (short-answer and essay questions)
30%
35%
35%
Written Discussion Contributions
The preferred venue for written discussion contributions is the discussion forum in the Virtual Campus course website, but they
can be submitted to the instructor by e-mail or in hard copy as well. Each eligible contribution will be given one point or two
points, depending on their relevance, complexity, and originality, and every 3 weeks (with deadlines on Feb. 1, Feb. 29, March 21.
and April 11), your points will be totalled and you will receive a discussion contribution mark for that 3-week period according to
the following scale:
10 or more points = A+, 9 points = A, 8 points = A-, 7 points = B+, 6 points = B, 5 points = C+, 4 points = C, 3 points = D+, 2
points = D, 1 point = E, 0 points = F (10 points will account for an A+ with 90%; each point above 10 will count for a further
percentage point, i.e. 11 points = 91% etc.). The weakest of the four marks will be dropped, so the average of the three best
written contribution marks received will account for the written discussion contribution portion (30%) of your course grade.
In order to be eligible for points, a contribution must offer, in your own words, new information or a new argument or a
question conducive to discussion. Here are the specific eligibility criteria:
Eligible for 1 or 2 Points
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a new argument of your own
related to a topic under discussion
new outside information or
outside arguments relevant to a
topic under discussion, presented in
your own words and with citation of
source
a question relevant to a topic under
discussion that asks about definite
issues and is conducive to
discussion, i.e. a question that is not
rhetorical or easily answered by
referring to information sources or
simply solicits information or
opinion from course participants in
an open-ended manner
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Not eligible for a point,
but conditionally welcome
postings that repeat or double
information or an argument already
presented
agreements or disagreements with
previous postings that do not offer new
perspectives, questions, or arguments
value judgments and subjective
opinions without supporting arguments
materials copied from outside sources
if source is cited properly (i.e. cited in
a way that the source can be clearly
and easily identified and sought out)
simple information questions or
questions that simply solicit
information or opinion from course
participants in an open-ended manner
Information, questions, or arguments
about issues not related to a topic
under discussion in the course


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Not eligible for a point
and unwelcome
personal attacks directed at other
course participants
remarks of a clearly and
intentionally racist, sexist or
otherwise offensive nature
materials copied from outside
sources without properly citing the
source – In extreme cases, this
may constitute the serious offense
of plagiarism.1
Plagiarism refers to the act of submitting someone else’s work or ideas as one’s own. It constitutes a serious academic offense
and can be subject to severe sanctions. Please consult the University of Ottawa’s document entitled "BEWARE OF
PLAGIARISM" available on paper and on the Web (http://www.uottawa.ca/plagiarism.pdf).
1
Course Calendar
Wednesday
Friday
January 11
Introduction / Historical Overview
Niven 1-9
January 16
January 18
Historical Overview / Anniversaries
Historical Overview / Anniversaries
Niven x-xxii and 95-118
Niven x-xxii and 95-118
January 23
January 25
Concentration Camp Memorial Sites
Concentration Camp Memorial Sites
Niven 10-40 + 41-61
Niven 10-40 + 41-61
January 30
February 1
Goldhagen and Klemperer
Goldhagen and Klemperer
Niven 119-142
Niven 119-142
Deadline for Discussion Contribution Mark 1
February 6
February 8
Historians’ Debate and Walser-Bubis-Debate
Historians’ Debate and Walser-Bubis-Debate
Niven 175-193
Niven 175-193
Midterm Take-home Exam handed out
February 13
February 15
Holocaust Memorial
Holocaust Memorial
Niven 194-232
Niven 194-232
Midterm Take-home Exam due
February 18-22: Study Break
February 27
February 29
Wehrmacht exhibition
Wehrmacht exhibition
Niven 143-174
Niven 143-174
Deadline for Discussion Contribution Mark 2
March 5
March 7
Resistance
Resistance
Niven 62-94
Niven 62-94
March 12
March 14
The Bomb War
The Bomb War
March 19
March 21
Literature and the Past
Literature and the Past
Deadline for Discussion Contribution Mark 3
March 26
March 28
Vergangenheitsbewältigung in Film and Television
Vergangenheitsbewältigung in Film and Television
April 2
April 4
Hitler in Film: Fascination and Controversies
Hitler in Film: Fascination and Controversies
April 9
April 11
Open Topic
Open Topic
Final Take-home Exam handed out
Deadline for Discussion Contribution Mark 4
Final Take-home Exam due on Friday, April 18, 4:00 pm, Arts 106 (hand in or push under door)
January 9
Introduction
Free services available to students:
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The Mentoring Centre of the Faculty of Arts is located in
room 125B, Simard Building. Student-mentors share with
students their University experience (community life, rules and
regulations, learning strategies.).
The SASS (Student Academic Success Service), established
by the University, provides many services
(http://web.sass.uottawa.ca/). One of them is the Academic
Writing Help Center (AWHC/CARTU)
(http://www.sass.uottawa.ca/writing/) located at 110,
University. The SASS regularly publishes a list of academic
and social activities taking place on campus on its University
101 Web portal. (http://web.sass.uottawa.ca/university101/)
The Access Service - formerly called Special Services - helps
students with a physical handicap or learning disability. It is
part of the SASS. (http://www.sass.uottawa.ca/access/)
Services offerts aux étudiants:
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le Centre de mentorat de la Faculté des arts, situé à la
pièce 125B du Pavillon Simard. Les étudiants-mentors
partagent avec les étudiants leur expérience universitaire
(connaissance du milieu universitaire, règlements,
méthodes et stratégies d’apprentissage).
le SASS (Service d’appui au succès scolaire) de
l’Université offre une multitude de services
(http://web.sass.uottawa.ca). Il abrite le Centre d’aide à
la rédaction des travaux universitaires (CARTU),
(http://web.sass.uottawa.ca/redaction), situé au 110, rue
Université. Le SASS a conçu le portail Université 101,
qui publie régulièrement la liste des activités scolaires et
sociales qui ont lieu sur le campus.
(http://web.sass.uottawa.ca/universite101)
le Service d’accès - autrefois le Centre des services
spéciaux - dispense des services individualisés pour aider
les étudiants ayant un handicap ou un trouble
d’apprentissage. Il relève aussi du SASS,
(http://www.sass.uottawa.ca/bienvenue.php)