University 197 / Hist 2: 
1989/2009: 20 Years after the Fall of the Wall
Herter Hall room 112 – T 11:15 – 12:05 pm

Lecture Schedule:

  

This is the intended series of themes for this course, though I reserve the right to make adjustments, if necessary, as the semester progresses.  Following each lecture topic you will find the pertinent pages in the textbook.  I recommend you do the reading in advance of coming to class for that day as it will help you to better follow the lecture.

 

Schedule:

  

 

Date

Subject

Readings

Sept 8

Overview of the 1980s under Communism in Eastern Europe

Newspaper Report: Protest at Memorial March
Kamnitzer’s Accuses Dissidents of Treason in Neues Deutschland

Sept 15

The May 1989 Elections in East Germany

Dale: Chapter 1
Opposition Charges Election Fraud

Sept 22

Opening the Escape Hatch: Hungary Opens its Borders to Austria

Jarausch, The Rush to German Unity (Chapter 1 – on SPARK)
Hopes of East German Opposition
Stasi Report on Opposition

Sept 29

The Summer of 1989: Honecker Announces “This Wall will stand for another 100 years”

Founding Appeal of New Forum

Dan Hamilton, “Dateline East Germany: The Wall behind the Wall", Foreign Policy, No. 77, Autumn 1989, pp. 176-197.

Oct 6

East Germans Storm the Gates of West German Embassies

Childs: The Fall of the GDR (Chapter 4 – on SPARK)
SED Politburo Discusses Opposition Movement

Oct 13

No Class (Follow Monday Schedule)

Optional: Attend Film and Discussion with Andreas Dresen at Amherst Theater (7pm)

Oct 20

The GDR Turns Forty: Gorbachev Visits East Germany

Childs: The Fall of the GDR (Chapter 5 – on SPARK)
Erik Honecker on the 40th Anniversary of the GDR
A Dissident Describes Police Brutality in Dresden

Oct 27

Monday Demonstrations: Taking it to the streets

Dale: Chapters 2 & 3
Leipzig October 9 Demonstration

Nov 3

The Turn: A New “Reform” Government Tries to Regain Control

Dale: Chapter 4
Egon Krenz’s Government Program

 

Nov 10

The Fall of the Wall

Dale: Chapter 5
Schabowski’s Press Conference
Fall of the Berlin Wall – Reports

Nov 17

The Round Table: Moving Beyond Opposition

Dale: Chapter 6
Goals of the Central Round Table

SED/PDS Resolution for a New GDR

Nov 24

May Elections 1990: Voting with their Feet

Dale: Chapters 7 & 8
Helmut Kohl’s 10 Point Plan

CDU’s Election Promises
Election Victory for the “Alliance”

Dec 1

No Class Meeting

Special Event on Friday, December 4 (4-7pm)

Dec 8

What Remains: Dealing with the East German Past

Dale: Chapters 9, 10, & Conclusion
View Film: Good Bye, Lenin (on reserve)