Europe between the Wars, 1919-1939

Overview

This class proposes a fresh perspective on the history of Europe between the First and Second World

Wars. For many of us, Europe between the Wars is dominated by the rise of Stalin and Hitler, but this

module will move well beyond this story of duelling dictators… of men with moustaches. Instead, you can

be assured that this class will deepen your understanding of interwar Europe, not least because it will be:

- thematic, not chronological, in structure, though it clearly has a first part focused on the 1920s,

and a second on the 1930s

- geographically de-centred – we are as likely to discuss Italy and Spain, as Germany and Russia

- organised in a way that suggests the Spanish Civil War was both the central epic of our period but

also the culmination of interwar social, political and cultural struggles

- quite often focused on social and cultural aspects of the period, as much as political and

economic – we are as likely to discuss gender and art, fashion and food, music, cinema, literature,

as well as the political history of communism and fascism

- based on wide-ranging and in-depth reading, including fictional works and films read as texts, in

addition to primary documents that will be work-shopped in tutorials

- aimed at those who want to go beyond conventional narratives of modern Europe, who enjoy the

unusual and the quirky and like to go off the beaten track in their history studies.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you should be able to demonstrate:

- a good knowledge of the political regimes and their ideologies which were established in Europe

during this period

- an understanding of the economic forces at work between 1919 and 1939 and their implications

for various European societies

- an understanding of the outlook and experiences of various sectors of European society, including

ethnic minorities and women

- familiarity with primary sources from this period and with relevant secondary materials and historiographical debates.

Skills

the ability to identify and select information relevant to the topic area from a variety of sources

- the ability to analyse and evaluate evidence and argument

- the ability to present your own arguments in essays, using appropriate evidence to support your

views

- the ability to work effectively within a group, making appropriate contributions to discussions, debates and tasks, as well as contributing and presenting a group presentation.

Assessment