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Out of the Darkness: The Germans, 1942 to the present

Course dates: Friday 05 March - Saturday 06 March 2027

Class timetable: 2 sessions (View class timetable for Friday 05 March 2027 to Saturday 06 March 2027)

Timetable data for Friday 05 March 2027 to Saturday 06 March 2027

Day of class Date of class Time Venue
Friday 05-Mar-2027 6:00pm - 9:00pm Birkbeck Campus, Central London
Saturday 06-Mar-2027 10:00am - 5:00pm Birkbeck Campus, Central London

Location: Birkbeck Campus, Central London

Fees: £385.00

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Course Overview

The Out of the Darkness: The Germans, 1942 to the Present short course will guide you through the extraordinary transformation of a nation from Nazi rule to the present Federal Republic of Germany. It will introduce you to major themes and controversies and show you how historians work with a variety of sources and voices from the past. You will explore the historian's craft which will prepare you for further study of history, at BA or MA level, or for your own future research. 

You will attend classes in historic Bloomsbury and be taught by the award-winning historian and author of Out of the Darkness: The Germans, 1942-2022Professor Frank Trentmann.

The course will cover major topics such as:

  • perpetrators, complicity, guilt and shame
  • reconstruction and divided Germany in the Cold War
  • the Berlin Wall - life in the German Democratic Republic 
  • migration
  • reunification in 1990 and polarisation to the present.

You will learn through examining a mix of sources (documents, popular voices and a film screening) and a blend of teaching modes such as seminar discussions, in-class exercises and lectures. This course is great for those with historical curiosity. 

There will be required pre-reading of approximately 200 pages, which will be shared in good time. 

As a learner on this course, you will study alongside fellow professionals wishing to enhance their knowledge in the subject area, giving you the opportunity to make connections with like-minded colleagues and network.

You will also receive a Birkbeck certificate of participation upon completion of the course.

This course is non-credit bearing, so carries no credit points.

Fees

Students are charged a tuition fee for each short course on registering. Please view details for this course, including dates, location and fees at the top of this page. Short course fees may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see our Fees Policy.

Discount information

We offer a 20% discount to Birkbeck students, alumni and staff. If you are eligible to claim this discount, please contact the Innovation Support Unit so that we can process your booking.

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Entry Requirements

Most of our short courses have no formal entry requirements and are open to all students.

Approximately 200 pages of pre-reading will be shared. 

As part of the enrolment process, you may be required to submit a copy of a suitable form of ID.

International students who wish to come to the UK to study a short course can apply for a Visitor visa. Please note that it is not possible to obtain a Student visa to study a short course.

How to Register

You can book directly onto the short courses you would like to take, using the Register button above which will direct you to the relevant booking page. Courses are filled on a first-come, first-served basis - so apply early if you're interested.