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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "HS 374"
COURSE NAME: "Hitler and Mussolini: the Fascist and National Socialist Movements and Regimes"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring Semester 2012
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: De Caprariis Luca
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 17:30-18:45
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Co-requisites: EN 110; Recommended: Junior Standing, One previous history course
OFFICE HOURS: M,W 11:30-12:30; T, Th 16:00-17:00

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will provide a thorough survey of the Fascist and National Socialist Movements and Regimes. Main emphasis will be on the breakdown of the Italian and German Democracies, the emergence of Fascism and National Socialism, their ideology and goals, the nature and structure of Mussolini’s new State and Hitler’s Third Reich. The course will also provide a survey of the major interpretations of the Fascist phenomenon.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
There will be two lectures per week, followed by questions and discussion. Attendance is mandatory. Lectures will be followed by questions and discussion. Student should come to class prepared, completing the assigned readings before each class meeting. 
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
This course will attempt to teach students to understand the nature, history and ideology of Italian Fascism and German National Socialism through an in depth analysis of primary and secondary source material.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
The Hitler MythI. KershawOxford9780192802064     
Italian FascismA. De GrandUniversity of Nebraska9780803266223     
Hitler's National CommunityL. PineBloomsbury Academic9780340888469     
Hitler's GermanyR. StackelbergRoutledge9780415373319     
A History of FascismS. PayneRoutledge9781857285956     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Midtern ExaminationEssay Exam: students will answer two essay questions25%
Final ExaminationEssay Exam: students will answer two essay questions35%
Final PaperAll students will submit a 12-15 page paper35%
In class participation 5%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:


Strength and coherence of analysis, command of material and originality of thought will determine students' grade.

Assessment Guidelines for assigning main letter grades: A, B, C,D, and F.

A:  Work of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensiveknowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.

B:  This is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.

There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.

C:  This is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.

D:  This level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.

Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.

F: This work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.


-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance is mandatory. Students should keep their mobile phones turned off during lectures. You may use your laptop to take notes, but you are not allowed to surf the web during class. Should students fail to follow these rules I will ban laptop from classroom altogether.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

SCHEDULE OF TOPICS


January


17  Introduction and Overview.
The Cultural Transformation of the Fin De Siècle. I
Payne: 23-68; Sta: 45-56.

19 The Cultural Transformation of the Fin De Siècle. II
Payne: 23-68; DG 5-21; Sta 45-56.

24 World War I.
Payne: 71-79; Sta: 35-44, 57-67.

26 The Post War Crises I. Weimar Germany
Payne: 147-157; Sta 67-84.

31 Hitler: from Linz to Munich, via Vienna.
Payne: 147-157; Sta: 67-84.


February


2 The Post-War Crises II. The Breakdown of Liberal Italy.
Revolutionary Agitation and Mussolini’s "Fasci di Combattimento." 
DG: 21-30; Payne: 80-94.

7 Growth and Transformation of Fascism. The "March on Rome"
DG: 31-37; Payne: 94-110.

9 1922-1925: Mussolini as Semi-Constitutional Prime Minister.
DG: 41-54; Payne: 110-115.

14 Italy 1925-1929: Mussolini’s "New State."
DG: 54-77; P: 115-128.

16 Weimar Stabilization. The Main Kampf and the Rebuilding of the Nazi Party.
Payne: 157-164; Sta: 84-88.

21   The Great Depression and the Collapse of Democracy in Germany.
Payne: 164-81; Sta 89-112.

23 The Nazi Seizure of Power.
Payne: 164-181; Sta 89-112.

28 The Gleichschaltung of Germany.
Payne: 164-179; Sta: 113-134.


March


1
  Mussolini’s Regime in the early 1930’s. The Age of Consensus. I
The Organization of Consensus.
DG: 77-91; Payne: 212-226.

6 The Age of Consensus. II 
The Duce’s’s Totalitarian Project.
DG: 77-91;  Payne: 212-226.

Mid-Term Exam.

13 Fascist Foreign Policy. Ethiopia.
DG: 92-102; P: 227-238.

15 The Nazi State: Society and Economy.
Payne: 179-194; Pine 17-98; Sta 135-158.

27 The Nazi State: Building a Volksgemeinschaft. I.
Payne: 194-211; Pine 101-165; Sta; 159-175.

29 The Nazi State: Building a Volksgemeinschaft. II.
Sta 176-187; Pine: 169-225.

April

3 Paper Presentation.

5 Hitler’s Foreign Policy: The Road to War.
Sta: 188-213.

10
Mussolini’s Regime after Ethiopia: Semi-Nazification and the Racial Laws.
DG: 103-116; Payne: 238-244.

12 World War II. The National Socialist New Order.
DG: 117-123; Payne: 355-380; Sta: 214-233.

17  The Holocaust.
Payne: 380-382; Sta: 254-274.

19 Mussolini’s Parallel War.
DG: 123-129; Payne: 382-391.

24 Defeat and Destruction of Fascism.
DG: 130-137; Payne: 411-41

26 Interpretations of Fascism and National-Socialism.
Payne: 441-486.