HIST 540: Dir Read Europe:
Hitler and Stalin
Dr. Jerry W. Jones
254-519-5446
jerry.jones@ct.tamus.edu
Office Hours By Appointment
Founder’s Hall, Rm 217R
Course Description
This course examines the lives of Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin. It traces the rise of the
totalitarian regimes in Germany and the Soviet Union to the Second World War. Topics will
include the nature of charismatic leadership, the role of ideology, and the consolidation of power.
Course Objectives:
1.
Analyze the social and political origins of both Nazi and Soviet totalitarianism
2.
Describe and compare the early influences and forces that shaped the worldviews of both
Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin
3.
Discover the methods each used to gain and consolidate power.
4.
Recognize the major events and personalities dominant in both regimes.
5.
Compare and appraise the leading historical works on Hitler and Stalin.
6.
Apply the principles of academic writing and analysis appropriate in a graduate readings
course in the discipline of history.
Required Textbooks
―A student of this institution is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from a
university-affiliated bookstore
Any editions of the following are acceptable:
Alan Bullock, Hitler and Stalin: Parallel Lives, New York: Vintage Books, 1993.
Joachim Fest, Hitler, New York: Harcourt, 2002. Other editions fine.
Robert Tucker, Stalin as Revolutionary, New York: WW Norton, 1973.
Ian Kershaw, Hitler: A Biography, New York: WW Norton, 2010
Robert Conquest, Stalin: Breaker of Nations, New York, 1991.
Recommended Textbook
Strunk, W., Jr., & White, E. B. The elements of style (any ed.). New York: McMillan, 1959.
Course Requirements
Through class participation and written exams students should exhibit mastery of the texts.
During class discussions I will ask members of the class questions about the major events, forces,
influences and personalities involved in the reading for that segment of the course. Your
participation grade is based upon the quality of your responses. There will be a midterm and a
final exam. The final is not comprehensive. Both exams will be essay exams. Students should
demonstrate familiarity with both the readings covered for that exam (see course schedule) and
lectures/discussion to that point. The written assignment is a 20 page academic review of the
readings.
Literature Review Guidelines
There is no cover page. Heading is the bibliographical information of the book. Text is doublespaced with one-inch margins and 12-point type, usually the default on your word processor.
There should be no sub-headings. Your name and “Texas A&M University – Central Texas”
Texas” should be at the end of your review. I cannot accept papers in formats other than
Microsoft Word.
Papers must be submitted in Microsoft Word format as a Turnitin assignment in Blackboard
Good style and grammar are expected. Papers should follow the standards in Strunk and
White Elements of Style..
The objective of the review is critical analysis of the merits of the books. You must address the
basic questions of author’s thesis, purpose, and objectivity. Further, you should compare and
contrast how the books treat the subject, or how they complement one another.
Be specific and support your conclusions. Appraise the author’s style and extent of research,
including an evaluation of sources. As a rule avoid quotes, especially lengthy ones. Further
guidance for writing reviews is linked from our department webpage by permission from:
http://www.bowdoin.edu/writing-guides/
The grading rubric for papers is as follows:
Format
Style and
Missing or
late Work –
D or Failing
Citation is
incorrect or
missing.
Appropriate
length
Needs
Improvement
“C”
Incomplete
Citation.
Too Brief
Meets
Expectations
“B”
Meets length
expectations.
Complete
Citation
Missing or
Serious
No major
Exceeds
Expectations
“A”
More than
adequate
length with
no problems
with
citation
Excellent
Mechanics
Not readable style and
grammar
flaws.
Poor word
choice.
style and
grammar
problems or
major wordchoice errors
style and
grammar.
Excellent
word-choice
Content
Missing, not
on approved
material,
late, or
plagiarized.
Good insights
with
supported
conclusions.
Adequate
vocabulary
Great
insight,
depth.
Higher
thinking and
vocabulary.
Excellent
support for
conclusions
Few
insights,
poorly
supported.
Inadequate
vocabulary
Criteria for awarding participation credit
Participation credit for the course is a reflection of student performance in the discussions on
particular book, and includes student familiarity with the readings, ability to analyze the strengths
and weaknesses of the books (Style, depth of research, strength of thesis, objectivity), and ability
to appreciate the book’s contribution to the literature of the period. Although the format of
discussions is casual, you are being evaluated on the depth of knowledge you display and your
mastery of the reading. Simply expressing unsupported opinions will not meet the requirement.
Drop Policy
If you discover that you need to drop this class, you must go to the Records Office and ask for the
necessary paperwork. Professors cannot drop students; this is always the responsibility of the
student. The record’s office will give a deadline for which the form must be returned, completely
signed. Once you return the signed form to the records office and wait 24 hours, you must go into
Duck Trax and confirm that you are no longer enrolled. If you are still enrolled, FOLLOW-UP
with the records office immediately. You are to attend class until the procedure is complete to
avoid penalty for absence. Should you miss the deadline or fail to follow the procedure, you will
receive an F in the course.
Disability Support and Access
If you have or believe you have a disability and wish to self-identify, you can do so by providing
documentation to the Disability Support Coordinator. Students are encouraged to seek
information about accommodations to help assure success in their courses. Please contact Gail
Johnson at (254) 519-5831 or visit Founder's Hall 114. Additional information can be found at
www.ct.tamus.edu/AcademicSupport .
Academic Integrity Statement
Texas A&M University - Central Texas expects all students to maintain high standards of
personal and scholarly conduct. Students found responsible of academic dishonesty are subject to
disciplinary action. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an
examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials.
The faculty member is responsible for initiating action for each case of academic dishonesty and
report the incident to the Director of Student Affairs. More information can be found
atwww.ct.tamus.edu/StudentConduct.
Warning: Clear cases of plagiarism result in a failing grade for the course
For general guidance about what constitutes plagiarism or for tips on writing and citation see:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/589/01/
Tutoring
Tutoring is available to all TAMUCT students, both on-campus and online. Subjects tutored
include Accounting, Finance, Statistics, Mathematics, and Writing (APA). Tutors are available at
the Tutoring Center in Founder's Hall, Room 204, and also in the Library in the North Building.
Visit www.ct.tamus.edu/AcademicSupport and click "Tutoring Support" for tutor schedules and
contact info. If you have questions or if you're interested in becoming a tutor, contact Academic
Support Programs at 254-519-5830 or by emailing gnichols@ct.tamus.edu.
General Conduct
All students are expected to behave in a courteous manner toward the instructor and other
students at all times. Disruptive or disrespectful behavior will be grounds for dismissal from the
class.
Punctuality is expected.
Tape recorders are permitted in class, if accompanied by their owners
It is inappropriate and unprofessional to listen to an iPod, mp3 player, or any other such device
in the classroom; this also includes Bluetooth headsets.
Reading or doing homework for other classes during class-time is inappropriate.
INFORMATION LITERACY focuses on research skills that prepare individuals to live and
work in an information-centered society. Librarians will work with students in the development
of critical reasoning, ethical use of information, and the appropriate use of secondary research
techniques including: exploring information resources such as library collections and services,
Identify sources such as subject databases and scholarly journals, executing effective search
strategies, retrieving, recording, and citing relevant results correctly, and interpreting search
results and deciding whether to expand the search. Library Resources are outlined and accessed
through the web page. http://www.tarleton.edu/centraltexas/departments/library/
Communication and feedback
I return graded papers a week after the submission date. I am not available 24/7. I respond to
email within 24 hours Monday to Friday. Unless I am out-of-town, I check phone messages
during office hours Monday to Thursday. I send blanket email messages for the class to your
student email account. If you do not use your student email you will miss important messages
about the course. Use of student email is mandatory for the class. You can forward your student
email to a private account if you choose. I will not use the mail function in Blackboard.
Late Policy:
Any assignment submitted after the due date/time will be subject to a penalty of 10 percent per
24 hour period late. Nothing can be accepted after the last class day listed in the syllabus.
Attendance Policy:
Full attendance and active participation are keys to having meaningful and productive class
activities and discussions. Students are expected to attend every class and be prepared to discuss
the assigned readings for the day.
Make-up Work
Make-up work may only be done for valid and verifiable reasons such as illness, death in the
immediate family, legal proceedings, participation in University-sponsored activities, and
military deployment. If possible, notification should be in advance and the make-up should be
taken as close to the exam date as practical. Make-up exams may be in a different format, such
as writing an extra essay. No Make-up exams will be given during finals week, No late work
accepted during finals week.
Evaluation
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Participation
Lit Review
100
100
100
200
500 possible points for the class
B. Your final grade is based on a traditional letter number system.
A = 450-500 points = 90-100%
B = 400-449 points = 80-89%
C = 350-399 points = 70-79%
D = 300-349 points = 60-69%
F = Below 300 = under 60%
Important Dates
27 Aug
3 Sept
Introduction
Lecture on Life of Hitler
10 Sept
17 Sept
24 Sept
1 Oct
8 Oct
15 Oct
22 Oct
29 Oct
5 Nov
12 Nov
19 Nov
26 Nov
3 Dec
10 Dec
Life of Hitler
Life of Stalin
Discuss Bullock Chpt. 1-10
Discuss Bullock Chpt. 11-20
Discuss Tucker
Midterm Exam
Discuss Fest, Part I-III
Discuss Fest, Part IV-VI
Discuss Conquest
Discuss Kershaw chpt 1-14
Discuss Kershaw chapt 15-28
Thanksgiving Holiday
Triumph of the Will
Final Exam. Lit Review due by 11:59:59