UCSB Hist 133Q, Winter 2004
Readings on the Holocaust
HSSB 4201, Wed. 2-4:50
marcuse.faculty.history.ucsb.edu/classes/hist133q

Prof. Marcuse
HSSB 4221, 893-2635
marcuse@history.ucsb.edu
Office hours: Mon 10:30-11:30, Tue noon-1pm

Course Description

This course is designed for students who have taken my Hist 133D or 33D courses, or who have a substantial prior knowledge of Holocaust or German history. Thus all participants should have taken a course in the UCSB Hist 133 series, or the equivalent in another department or at another school. In the latter case, permission of the instructor is required. We will read and discuss important works about the Holocaust in order to examine some of the historical, historiographical, and moral issues it raises. We will also learn and practice some of the skills used in writing history: interpreting primary sources, assessing secondary works, and reporting orally and in writing about our findings. This is an intensive reading course: We will read about one book per week. Each week 2 or 3 students will present their research to the class, while all other students will write short (2 page) essays or prepare a page of questions. Each student will write a research report on one of the weekly topics.

1. Regular, active participation in class discussion, which counts for 32% (!) of the final grade.
   Grading for each meeting is on a 4 point scale, with 1 point for being present and alert, but not contributing. An excused absence will count for 2 points.
2. There are nine discussion meetings during the quarter. Each student will be part of a group that leads the discussion once. During seven of the other eight sessions, students will either submit a short paper (three times), or a set of questions (four times).
   1. The three short papers, about 500 words (2 double-spaced, typed pages) in length, on the weekly questions about the readings (see reverse side), or about a question you choose. Please note that I will be looking more for a coherent and thoughtful engagement with the book than a paper that addresses all aspects of the question(s). You should be sure to argue a thesis using specific examples as evidence to back up your argument. These papers are due on Tuesdays, by 3pm, in the envelope outside my office. Each is worth 4% of your final grade for a total of 12%. [1/15/04: see sample essay on Roseman]
   2. Submission of four sets of 5-10 questions each, about the weekly readings. Some questions may address specific points that you don't understand; others should aim at broader issues raised by the material. These are also due on Tuesdays, by 3pm, in the envelope outside my office. Each question set is worth 4% of the final grade (16% altogether). [2/5/04: see sample questions on Müller]
   3. Leading class discussion. This will be done individually or by teams of two students. An outline of the presentation is due in the instructor's office on Monday by 2pm. Each week's team should meet with the professor beforehand to review their discussion plan. (5% of final grade)
3. A 6-8 page paper (plus annotated bibliography) discussing the topic of your book in a more formal way. A draft is due two weeks after the book is discussed (except for the final presenters). Papers receiving an "A" or "B" grade may be published on the course web site. (35% of final grade)

• There will be no midterm or final examination.

Components of Grade:
discussion: 8x4%=32%; short papers: 3x4%=12%; questions: 4x4%=16%; presentation: 5%; paper: 35%.

Required Books

1. Mark Roseman, A Past in Hiding: Memory and Survival in Nazi Germany (Henry Holt, 2000)
2. Henry Friedlander, The Origins of Nazi Genocide: From Euthanasia to the Final Solution (North Carolina, 1995)
3. Filip Müller, Eyewitness Auschwitz: Three Years in the Gas Chambers (Ivan Dee, 1999)
4. Alicia Appleman-Jurman, Alicia: My Story (Bantam, 1988)
5. Eva Fogelman, Conscience and Courage: Rescuers of Jews During the Holocaust (Anchor, 1995)
6. Michael Shermer, Alex Grobman, Denying History: Who Says the Holocaust Never Happened (UC Press, 2000)
7. Elinor Langer, 100 Little Hitlers: The Death of a Black Man, the Trial of a White Racist, and … (Metropolitan, 2003)

Jan. 7

Introduction. Course theme: Histories and Memories

Discussion leaders:

II

Jan. 14

Jews in Germany, I: Roseman, A Past in Hiding, 1-247
What was exceptional about the Strauss's story? When did they understand that Hitler intended to murder all Jews?

________________
________________

III

Jan 21

Jews in Germany, II: Roseman, Past in Hiding, 248-421
What explains the discrepancies between the various versions of Marianne's story?

________________
________________

IV

Jan. 28

The Path to Genocide: Friedlander, Origins of Nazi Genocide
Why was Friedlander the first one to argue that Nazi "euthanasia" was integral to the process of genocide? (What evidence is there that the "final solution" evolved over time?)

________________
________________
________________

V

Feb. 4

Factories of Death: F. Müller, Eyewitness Auschwitz
Is Müller telling the whole, "unvarnished" truth? In what cases might his memory be changing what actually happened? Why?

________________
________________
________________

VI

Feb. 11

Odyssey of survival: Appleman-Jurman, My Story
Why did Alicia write this book? How did this goal shape her narrative? (Did she leave some things out, emphasizing others?)

________________
________________
________________

VII

Feb. 18

Rescuers: Fogelman, Conscience and Courage
How might our need to find examples of positive behavior during the Holocaust shape how we portray rescuers' stories?

________________
________________
________________

VIII

Feb. 25

Denial I: Shermer, Grobman, Denying History, 123-259
To what extent is history fact, and to what extent interpretation?

________________
________________

IX

Mar. 3

Denial II: Shermer, Grobman, Denying History, 1-119
Why do Holocaust deniers make the claims that they do? What motivates them? What benefits to they gain?

________________
________________

X

Mar. 10

Legacies: Langer, 100 Little Hitlers
Why do the Oregon skinheads glorify Nazi Germany?
How did the prosecutors' strategies help or hinder the town's coming to terms with racism in the community?

________________
________________
________________

Mar. 16

Last paper deadline: Tuesday, 4pm