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The Holocaust: The Destruction of European Jewry

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Course Summary

Learn about the history and impact of the Holocaust in this comprehensive course. Explore lesser-known aspects of the event and gain a deeper understanding of its significance.

Key Learning Points

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the Holocaust and its historical significance
Explore lesser-known aspects of the Holocaust, including the experiences of non-Jewish victims and the role of bystanders
Understand the impact of the Holocaust on contemporary society and its relevance today

Learning Outcomes

Develop a comprehensive understanding of the Holocaust
Gain insight into lesser-known aspects of the event
Understand the impact of the Holocaust on contemporary society

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

No prior knowledge of the Holocaust required
Ability to read and understand English

Course Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Course Format

Self-paced
Online

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Description

The Holocaust: The Destruction of European Jewry is an adaptation of an on-campus course that has been co-taught by Murray Baumgarten, Distinguished Professor of English and Comparative Literature (Literature Department), and Peter Kenez, Professor Emeritus (History Department), for over 20 years at UC Santa Cruz.

In this course, you will explore the Holocaust from the overlapping perspectives of literature and history—through memoirs, historical documents, poetry, documentary footage, filmic representations, and novels. You will expand your knowledge of the literature of the Holocaust, Eastern and Western European Jewish communities, the origins and development of antisemitism, the establishment of labor and extermination camps, resistance movements, and the Holocaust as a problem for world history. There is more than one way to take this course: You can complete all of the activities (and earn a Verified Certificate) or only the activities that are most interesting to you. Whatever you choose to do, we encourage you to find a havruta (a study partner) in your community or in the Coursera community so that you can experience the course in a more interactive and meaningful way.

Outline

Who were the Jews?
1.1.1 Introductions
1.1.2 Who were the Jews?
1.1.3 Why do we study the Holocaust?
1.1.4 Poetry and perspectives
1.2.1 Western European Jewry in the 19th century
1.2.2 Jewish success and European antisemitism
1.2.3 Jews in French society
1.2.4 Roots of modern antisemitism
1.2.5 Theodor Herzl
1.3.1 Expectations of reality
1.3.2 Hier ist kein warum
1.3.3 Yiddish culture
1.3.4 On Account of a Hat
Description
Books and films
Writing assignments
Acknowledgements
1.0.1 Topics, readings, and films
1.1.5 Written in Pencil in the Sealed Railway-Car (English translation)
1.3.5 On Account of a Hat (English translation)

Prelude to the Holocaust
2.1.1 Eastern Europe in the 20th century
2.1.2 Poland, part 1
2.1.3 Poland, part 2
2.1.4 Hungary, part 1
2.1.5 Hungary, part 2
2.1.6 Fear and hatred
2.2.1 Liberal European culture
2.2.2 Night, part 1
2.2.3 Night, part 2
2.2.4 Life in the Arbeitslager
2.3.1 Jewry of the Russian Empire
2.3.2 The Russian state
2.3.3 Changing demographics
2.3.4 Pogroms in the Russian Empire and the USSR
2.3.5 Jewish identity
2.4.1 The Bildungsroman, part 1
2.4.2 The Bildungsroman, part 2
2.4.3 The Bildungsroman, part 3
2.4.4 The Bildungsroman, part 4
2.0.1 Topics, readings, and films

Rise of the Nazis
3.1.1 Fascism
3.1.2 Hitler and the Jews
3.1.3 Germans and the Jews
3.1.4 The rise of the Nazis
3.1.5 Nazism in German culture
3.2.1 Poetry and evil, part 1
3.2.2 Poetry and evil, part 2
3.2.3 Poetry and evil, part 3
3.2.4 Todesfugue (Death Fugue)
3.3.1 Intentionalism and functionalism
3.3.2 What do we do with the Jews?
3.3.3 Why didn't they leave?
3.3.4 The Anschluß and German pogroms
3.3.5 Passing and not passing
3.0.1 Topics, readings, and films
3.2.5 Kaddish
3.2.6 Nightsong (English translation)
3.2.7 Death Fugue (English translation)
3.2.8 Todesfuge (German)
3.2.9 Memento Mori (English translation)
3.2.10 Memento Mori (Yiddish)

Beginnings of war
4.1.1 Questions for the Jews
4.1.2 Direct acts of violence
4.1.3 Fight for what?
4.1.4 Eroticization of violence
4.1.5 Resistance and agency
4.2.1 Beginnings of war
4.2.2 German war aims
4.2.3 Ghettoes
4.2.4 Jewish leadership
4.2.5 What did the neighbors say?
4.3.1 Language of trauma
4.3.2 Banality of evil
4.3.3 Schindler's List, part 1
4.3.4 Schindler's List, part 2
4.3.5 Guilt and responsibility
4.0.1 Topics, readings, and films

Witness to trauma
5.1.1 Wartime lunacy
5.1.2 Einsatzgruppen, part 1
5.1.3 Einsatzgruppen, part 2
5.1.4 Pogroms in the east
5.1.5 Forms of resistance
5.2.1 Witness to trauma, part 1
5.2.2 Witness to trauma, part 2
5.2.3 Witness to trauma, part 3
5.2.4 Witness to trauma, part 4
5.3.1 Dora Sorell, part 1
5.3.2 Dora Sorell, part 2
5.3.3 Dora Sorell, part 3
5.3.4 Dora Sorell, part 4
5.3.5 Dora Sorell, part 5
5.3.6 Dora Sorell, part 6
5.3.7 Dora Sorell, part 7
5.0.1 Topics, readings, and films

Establishment of the camps
6.1.1 The heart of the matter
6.1.2 From labor to extermination
6.1.3 Bełżec, Sobibór and Treblinka
6.1.4 The task of killing
6.1.5 Auschwitz
6.1.6 Who knew about the murders?
6.2.1 This Way for the Gas, part 1
6.2.2 This Way for the Gas, part 2
6.2.3 This Way for the Gas, part 3
6.2.4 This Way for the Gas, part 4
6.2.5 Memorials and understanding
6.0.1 Topics, readings, and films

Deportation and extermination
7.1.1 The Wansee Conference
7.1.2 Denmark and Norway
7.1.3 Belgium and Holland
7.1.4 France and Italy
7.1.5 Nazi looting
7.2.1 Fatelessness, part 1
7.2.2 Fatelessness, part 2
7.2.3 Fatelessness, part 3
7.2.4 Fatelessness, part 4
7.2.5 Fatelessness, part 5
7.3.1 Deportation and extermination
7.3.2 Antisemitic laws
7.3.3 Germany and Hungary
7.3.4 Separate peace
7.3.5 Ambiguities
7.4.1 A Scrap of Time, part 1
7.4.2 A Scrap of Time, part 2
7.4.3 A Scrap of Time, part 3
7.4.4 A Scrap of Time, part 4
7.4.5 A Scrap of Time, part 5
7.0.1 Topics, readings, and films
7.2.6 Never Say/Partisan Song (English translation)
7.2.7 Zog Nit Keyn Mol/Partizaner Lid (Yiddish)

The perpetrators, the neighbors, and the outside world
8.1.1 Romania, part 1
8.1.2 Romania, part 2
8.1.3 Romania, part 3
8.1.4 Romania, part 4
8.1.5 A gigantic biological and social experiment
8.2.1 The perpetrators
8.2.2 Other types of madness
8.2.3 The surrounding population
8.2.4 The outside world
8.2.5 Isolation
8.2.6 Last testament
8.0.1 Topics, readings, and films
8.2.7 My Political Testament

Summary of User Reviews

Discover the history of the Holocaust in this comprehensive course. Many users found the course to be informative and eye-opening, with a deep dive into the events and circumstances surrounding this tragedy.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

In-depth coverage of the events and circumstances of the Holocaust

Pros from User Reviews

Informative and eye-opening course
Comprehensive coverage of Holocaust history
Engaging and well-structured lectures
Access to valuable resources such as interviews and documentaries
Expert instructors with deep knowledge of the subject

Cons from User Reviews

Some users found the course emotionally challenging
The course may not be suitable for those with a weak stomach
The course may be too detailed for those with a basic knowledge of the Holocaust
The course may be too academic for those looking for a more general overview
Some users found the course to be too depressing

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