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HIS20820

Academic Year 2026/2027

Nazi Germany (HIS20820)

Subject:
History
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
History
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Mark Jones
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The course provides an overview over some of the most important aspects of Nazi Germany – covering political, cultural, social and military history. The module provides insights into one of the darkest, most disturbing and most formative periods of modern European history.
The module aims to pay particular attention to different and conflicting interpretations of how the Third Reich came into being and why Hitler’s dictatorship proved to be one of the most murderous in history. Particular attention will be paid to racial thinking, the Holocaust and the question of European collaboration with the Nazis. The module aims to improve the students’ capacity to engage with historical interpretations and different methodological approaches.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module, students

- will be able to analyze and evaluate conflicting historical interpretations of Modern German History
- will have acquired basic knowledge and understanding of some of the key historiographical debates about the Third Reich.
-will have familiarized themselves with some of the most important concepts and methodological approaches to the history of totalitarianism and genocide
- will have a fuller understanding of the rich secondary literature on the period.
- will have improved their ability to interpret primary sources

Indicative Module Content:

Lecture 1:
The ‘Twisted Path’ to the Third Reich

Lecture 2:
Establishing the Dictatorship: the ‘Seizure’ of Power: 1932-1934

Lecture 3:
The Persecution of the Jews 1933 - 1939

Lecture 4:
An economy for war

Lecture 5:
Creating the ‘People’s Community’

Lecture 6:
The Origins of the Second World War

Lecture 7:
The Third Reich at War I (Poland and France)

Lecture 8:
The Third Reich at War II (Barbarossa)

Lecture 9:
Holocaust: Plunder, Expulsion, Mass Murder

Lecture 10:
The Nazi Empire: Occupation, Collaboration and Resistance

Lecture 11:
‘The Past that does not pass’: Coming to Terms with the Nazi Past

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

 The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Advanced Beginner

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Advanced Beginner

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Not addressed

Strategic

 The ability to collectively develop and implement innovative actions that further sustainability at the local level and further afield. Advanced Beginner

Integrated Problem Solving

 The overarching ability to apply different problem-solving frameworks to complex sustainability problems and develop viable, inclusive and equitable solution options that promote sustainable development, integrating the competencies in this list. Advanced Beginner

Self-awareness

 The ability to reflect on one’s own role in the local community and (global) society; to continually evaluate and further motivate one’s actions; and to deal with one’s feelings and desires. Advanced Beginner

Normative

 The ability to understand and reflect on the norms and values that underlie one’s actions; and to negotiate values, principles, goals, and targets, in a context of conflicts of interest and trade-offs, uncertain knowledge and contradictions. Advanced Beginner

Anticipatory

 The ability to understand and evaluate multiple scenarios for the future – possible, probable and desirable; to create one’s own visions for the future; to apply the precautionary principle; to assess the consequences of actions; and to deal with risks and changes. Advanced Beginner

Digital Literacy and Judgement

 The ability to access, evaluate, create and communicate information in digital environments; to engage critically, ethically and responsibly with digital technologies and digital information; to understand their opportunities, limitations, risks and impact on individual’s digital identities; and to exercise informed judgement in digital participation and decision-making. Advanced Beginner

AI Literacy & Agency

 The ability to understand, critically evaluate and responsibly engage with artificial intelligence; to recognise how AI systems are shaped by human values; to assess their ethical, social and environmental implications; and to exercise human judgement, agency and accountability in AI-related contexts. Advanced Beginner

Wellbeing

 Wellbeing is having the resources and skills to meet life's challenges, including attributes such as personal development skills, resilience, stress management, strengths, lifestyle skills, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, alcohol/substance use, academic skills, time management, goal setting, interpersonal skills, group work, communication. Advanced Beginner

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


Goal Name Description Coverage

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 1
 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

45
Autonomous Student Learning

45
Lectures

11
Seminar (or Webinar)

11
Total

112

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Learning in this course takes three forms.

1. Weekly lectures - lectures will build your knowledge of key themes in the history of Nazi Germany and help you to contextualize key historical debates.

2. Weekly tutorials - tutorials will give you an opportunity to debate the major themes discussed in the lecture and in selected readings.

3. Reading: you will further your knowledge by reading key secondary and primary literature.

Generative AI is not permitted to be used in this Module.

A proportion of written assignments in each module in the School of History are subject to moderation, meaning they undergo a second layer of review by another grader. This can include oral moderation meetings where the student is invited in for a short meeting with the module coordinator to discuss the assignment. Moderation contributes to better informed marking.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
HIS31150 - The Third Reich


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): Students are required to demonstrate their learning through the completion of a two hour in person written examination. Instructions upon how to prepare are provided in lectures and tutorials. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Graded No
50
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): A mid-term essay of 1,500 words (30%) Week 8 Graded No
30
 No
Participation in Learning Activities: 20% of the final grade is for continuous in class participation throughout the semester, including the completion of one short in-class presentation. Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No
20
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Tutors will provide feedback to students individually. This will consist of returning each student a copy of their essay with written comments. They will also provide spoken feedback on the student's presentation and contribution to class. The course lecturer will also be available to provide further feedback to students and to meet students individually during weekly office hours. Feedback on the end of semester exam will be available by appointment and will take place on a one to one basis. The class will receive collective feedback on the general quality of the mid-semester essays during the second half of the semester.

Key Texts for this course include:

Richard Evans, The Coming of the Third Reich
Richard Evans, The Third Reich in Power
Richard Evans, The Third Reich at War
Ian Kershaw, Hitler 2 Vols.

Name Role
Dr Jenna Byers Tutor
Eoghan Fitzgerald Tutor
Angelika Hansert Tutor
Ioannis Lainas Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 30, 31, 32 Tues 10:00 - 10:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 24, 29, 33 Tues 10:00 - 10:50
Spring Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 11:00 - 11:50
Spring Seminar Offering 2 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 11:00 - 11:50
Spring Seminar Offering 3 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 11:00 - 11:50
Spring Seminar Offering 4 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 12:00 - 12:50
Spring Seminar Offering 5 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 12:00 - 12:50
Spring Seminar Offering 6 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 12:00 - 12:50
Spring Seminar Offering 7 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 10:00 - 10:50
Spring Seminar Offering 8 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 10:00 - 10:50
Spring Seminar Offering 9 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 11:00 - 11:50
Spring Seminar Offering 10 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 11:00 - 11:50
Spring Seminar Offering 11 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
Spring Seminar Offering 12 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
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