DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY TRENT UNIVERSITY History 4600Y: The Soviet Union and the Second World War 20012-­‐‑13 FW Professor O. Andriewsky Lady Eaton College North 118 748-­‐‑1011 ext. 1235 E-­‐‑mail: [email protected] Secretary: Christine Quigley LEC South 101.3 748-­‐‑1011, ext. 7706 E-­‐‑mail: [email protected]
Office Hours: First Term, Tues. 2-­‐‑3 p.m. TC-­‐‑WH 127 (or by appointment) Second Term, Weds. 3:30-­‐‑5 p.m. in LEC N118 (or (or by appointment) B etween 1941 and 1945, nearly 400 Red Army and German divisions clashed over a front that extended for more than 1,000 miles. An estimated 27 million Soviet citizens lost their lives in what is now considered the largest conflict in history. This course will focus on the recent scholarship on the Soviet experience in the Second World War. For many years, Western accounts, beginning with Winston Churchill’s chronicle of the Second World War, tended to emphasize the war on the Western front (the air war against Germany, the North African campaigns, D-­‐‑Day, etc.) and to minimize this pivotal theater of the war. Denied access to Soviet archives, Western historians viewed the war on the Eastern Front through the prism of German records and German memoirs. Until the late 1980s, Soviet historians also encountered obstacles, and were unable to research and write about the many aspects of the conflict that the Soviet state regarded to be embarrassing. The end of the Cold War opened up the possibility, for the first time, to examine many of previously inaccessible documents relating to the war on the Eastern front and to explore more fully what happened on this territory during the Second World War. What were Soviet intentions and capabilities between 1939 and 1941? How successful were Soviet wartime economic mobilization and planning efforts, especially after 1941? What role did Stalin play in the Soviet victory? To what degree can this be considered “A People’s War”? To what degree was it a murderous war HISTORY 4600 Page |2
against certain groups of people? How was the war in the East won? Why were the losses so terribly high? How was the memory of the war shaped and constructed? This course will concentrate on the Soviet dimension of the Second World War, beginning with 1939 and the signing of the Treaty of Non-­‐‑Aggression between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. We will discuss Nazi strategy, policies and practice in passing, but the focus will remain on the Soviet experience. Specifically, we will explore three broad themes: Stalin’s wartime leadership, the performance of the Soviet military, and the experience of “ordinary people”. Along the way, we will consider the nature of historical explanation by looking at the scholarship that has emerged since the late 1980s. We will think about how this new research has affected earlier assumptions about the conduct and the dynamics of the Second World War. General Expectations and Outcomes History 4600 is course on historical interpretation. It is designed to familiarize students with the existing scholarship on the Soviet Union and the Second World War and, more generally, to advance their understanding of historiography. Students will be encouraged to think critically about the nature of historical interpretation, about the use of evidence and the value and limitations of primary and secondary sources, about the variety of historical approaches and methodologies. Through essays and seminar discussions, students will learn to read extensively and intensively and will further refine their ability to communicate ideas clearly, accurately, and effectively. By the end of the course, students should appreciate the dynamic nature of historical knowledge and scholarship, recognize the importance of personal initiative and accountability, and understand the rules of academic integrity and professionalism. Course Requirements and Grading HIST 4600 is an intensive reading, writing, and discussion seminar. The class will meet fortnightly for three hours. (Please check http://www.trentu.ca/admin/mytrent/AcademicTimetable.htm to confirm the location.) The focus of the course is on interpretation and historiography. You will be reading entire books, approximately 125-­‐‑150 pages per week (i.e, 300 pages or so for every seminar). Full and regular preparation and participation are mandatory—
discussion and the exchange of ideas are a crucial part of the learning experience in the course. Unexcused absences will result in deductions from the participation mark.) There are no formal lectures in the course and participation constitutes 25% of the final mark. HISTORY 4600 Page |3
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Analyses. Writing requirements for History 4600 include seven analytical essays (5-­‐‑6 pp. and 7% each, four in the first term). Each assignment will be based on one or more course readings and will focus on issues of interpretation, approach, methodology, etc. Specific instructions for each assignment will be posted on WebCT. Due dates for each assignment are listed below. All deadlines are firm and late assignments will be marked down by 3 points per day. In the second term, students have the option of writing a historiographic essay (15 pp.) worth 21% (instead of three analyses). The essay must include three books on a coherent theme, i.e, the Siege of Leningrad, Stalin’s Wartime Leadership, etc. (Only one of the three books can be a required reading in the course). The theme of the essay and a list of three books must be submitted for approval by Reading Week in the Winter Term. The essay itself will be due on the last day of the term. Failure to meet deadlines will result in a 3 point per day penalty on the essay. Book Presentation and Summary. Once during the year, each student in HIST 4600 will give a ten minute presentation on one additional (non-­‐‑
required) book chosen from a supplementary list provided by the instructor. As part of the assignment, you are required to submit a written 4 page summary of your analysis of the book on the day after your presentation. (There is a special Drop Box on WebCT for this purpose.) Detailed instructions of how to prepare the book summary and analysis are posted on the LearningSystem site. Leading Discussion. Once during the year, each student will also lead seminar discussion. You will prepare a set of 4-­‐‑5 questions on the assigned reading for that week, post the questions two days in advance of the seminar on the LearningSystem site, and guide the discussion during the seminar. Take-­‐‑Home Exam. HIST 4600 includes a final take-­‐‑home exam (10-­‐‑12 pp.) worth 20%. The purpose of the exam is to provide students with an opportunity to reflect on the larger trends and debates in the historiography on the War. Students will choose one question out of several available choices. The questions will be formulated by the class in advance of the exam. HISTORY 4600 Page |4
Grading in History 4604 will be divided as follows: Seminar Participation Book Presentation Analyses/Essay Final Exam 25 5 50 20 % (includes leading discussion) % % % Academic Integrity Academic dishonesty, which includes plagiarism and cheating, is an extremely serious academic offence and carries penalties varying from a 0 grade on an assignment to expulsion from the University. Definitions, penalties, and procedures for dealing with plagiarism and cheating are set out in Trent University’s Academic Integrity Policy. All History 4600 students have a responsibility to educate themselves – unfamiliarity with the policy is not an excuse. You are strongly encouraged to visit Trent’s Academic Integrity website to learn more: www.trentu.ca/academicintegrity. Access to Instruction It is Trent University’s intent to create an inclusive learning environment. If a student has a disability and/or health consideration and feels that he/she may need accommodations to succeed in this course, the student should contact the Disability Services Office (Blackburn Hall 132, 748-­‐‑1281, [email protected]) as soon as possible. Complete text can be found under Access to Instruction in the Academic Calendar. WebCT and The Green Initiative Making and recycling paper are energy intensive processes. In an effort to conserve energy, I will be using as little paper as possible in HIST 4600 and will be relying on the LearningSystem (formerly WebCT) instead. All documents relevant to the course, including the syllabus and writing assignments will be posted on the LearningSystem site. You can access the site through MyTrent. Students should familiarize themselves with the course site as early in the fall as possible and continue to check in regularly. Course announcements will be posted on the site. You will be submitting all written work, including book presentation summaries, through LearningSystem. A special Drop Box will be set up for each assignment. Your assignment will then be graded and returned to you through the Drop Box. If you have difficulty submitting your assignment in this form, please let me know and we will find a solution or work out an alternative arrangement. HISTORY 4600 Page |5
Textbooks The following textbooks will be used in the course and can be purchased in the bookstore: •
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Geoffrey Roberts, Stalin'ʹs Wars: From World War to Cold War, 1939-­‐‑1953 Timothy Snyder, Bloodlands Constantine Pleshakov, Stalin'ʹs Folly Evan Mawdsley, Thunder in the East Catherine Merridale, Ivan'ʹs War: Life and Death in the Red Army, 1939-­‐‑1945 Rodric Braithwaite, Moscow 1941: A City and Its People at War Karel C. Berkhoff, Harvest of Despair: Life and Death in Ukraine under Nazi Rule Anna Reid, Leningrad: The Epic Siege of World War II, 1941-­‐‑1944 Michael Jones, Stalingrad SEMINAR SCHEDULE Sept. 11/12 Studying the Soviet Union & the Second World War Sept. 25/26 Stalin’s War? Reading: Geoffrey Roberts, Stalin'ʹs Wars: From World War to Cold War, 1939-­‐‑
1953, chap. 1-­‐‑8, Conclusion Sept. 28 Book Analysis #1 due in WebCT Drop Box by midnight Oct. 9/10 The War “Before” the War Reading: Timothy Snyder, Bloodlands, (Preface, Introduction, chapters 1-­‐‑4) Recommended (not required): “1939: Soviet Territorial Annexations” at www.soviethistory.org Oct. 12 Book Analysis #2 due in WebCT Drop Box by midnight Oct. 22-­‐‑26 Reading Week HISTORY 4600 Page |6
Oct. 30/31 1941 Reading: Constantine Pleshakov, Stalin'ʹs Folly; Evan Mawdsley, Thunder in the East, chapter 3 Nov. 2 Book Analysis #3 due in WebCT Drop Box by midnight Nov. 13/14 The View from Below Reading: Catherine Merridale, Ivan'ʹs War: Life and Death in the Red Army, 1939-­‐‑1945, to page 158 Nov. 16 Book Analysis #4 due in WebCT Drop Box by midnight Dec. 4/5 The Battle of Moscow Reading: Rodric Braithwaite, Moscow 1941: A City and Its People at War; Recommended (not required): “1943: Wartime Evacuations” at www.soviethistory.org WINTER TERM Jan. 8/9 Life and Death in the Occupation Zone Reading: Karel C. Berkhoff, Harvest of Despair: Life and Death in Ukraine under Nazi Rule; Timothy Snyder, Bloodlands, chapter 7 Recommended (not required): “1943: Holocaust” at www.soviethistory.org Jan. 22/23 The Siege of Leningrad Reading: Anna Reid, Leningrad: The Epic Siege of World War II, 1941-­‐‑1944 Recommended (not required): “1943: 900 Days” at www.soviethistory.org Jan. 25 Book Analysis #5 due in WebCT Drop Box by midnight HISTORY 4600 Page |7
Jan. 25 Students electing to do the Historiography Essay (Option #2) must notify the instructor by email by midnight Feb. 5/6 Stalingrad Reading: Michael Jones, Stalingrad Recommended (not required): “1943: The Nazi Tide Stops” at www.soviethistory.org Feb. 8 Book Analysis #6 due in WebCT Drop Box by midnight Feb. 18-­‐‑22 Reading Week Feb. 26/27 The Turning Tide Reading: Evan Mawdsley, Thunder in the East, ch. 7-­‐‑10; Merridale, Ivan'ʹs War, ch. 6-­‐‑8 Recommended (not required): www.soviethistory.org March 1 March 1 “1943: Battle of Kursk” at Book Analysis #7 due in WebCT Drop Box by midnight A list of books/theme for students opting for historiography essay due in DropBox by midnight March 12/13 The Long and Winding Road to Berlin Reading: Evan Mawdsley, Thunder in the East, ch. 12-­‐‑14; Merridale, Ivan'ʹs War, ch. 9-­‐‑10; Timothy Snyder, Bloodlands, chapter 10 Recommended (not required): “1943: Deportation of Minorities” at www.soviethistory.org March 26/27 Remembering and Forgetting Reading: Scott W. Palmer, “How Memory was Made: The Construction of the Memorial to the Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad,” The Russian Review 68 HISTORY 4600 Page |8
(July 2009): 373–407 (linked through LearningSystem); also review the conclusions in Merridale, Ivan'ʹs War and Snyder, Bloodlands Recommended (not required): “1943: Women in War Films” at www.soviethistory.org April 5 Historiography Essay (Option #2) due in WebCT Drop Box by midnight