History Courses For Dr. Christopher C. Lovett
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History Courses For Dr. Christopher C. Lovett |
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Updated as of 2 October 05 Today in History: On October 2, 1780, Major John André, a British spy associated with Benedict Arnold, was executed on this day in history. Quote of the Day: "In my view we are much worse off now than when we went into Iraq. This is not a partisan position. I voted for these guys." A senior figure at a military-sponsored think tank as told to James Fallows in "Bush's Lost Year" in The Atlantic Monthly (Oct. 2004) Take the Ann Coulter Quiz Where are you politically? Take the Neocon Quiz and find out. "History is Far too Important to be left to History Professors" Teaching isn't such a novel idea
Bibliography:
History of Disease Contemporary Terrorist Organizations Map of Islamic Terrorist Cells in the U.S.A.
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World War I and Industrial KillingHolocaustFall 2008General Overview• The Great War shattered the Europe view of armed conflict.• Especially a view that chivalry was the order of the day.• Instead whole classes were nearly wiped out.• It was earth shattering for men to discover that their whole ideal concept of war was a mistake.• The stagnation on the Western reinforced that observation.The Industrialization of War• The extensive use of the machine gun.• Repeating artillery.• The use of a trench system.• That could also serve as mass graves.• The only thing that was lacking was the order.• Which came with the order to advance.The Officer Before the War• Before the war they claimed that they were endowed by natural leadership skills.• They felt that they were the moral backbone of the Army.• But that changed as a consequence of the modern battlefield.• Soldiers had to be steeled to withstand the rigors of war.• Yet, soldiers were driven by patriotism and other social mores.What Drove The Troops into the Valley Death?The Horror of the Front• Some soldiers became fascinated with war’s extreme feature.• Especially death.• This was true of Ernst Junger, the author of Storm of Steel.Fascination with Death• Omar Bartov, an Israeli historian, felt this had a profound impact on the European psyche.• It led to the death of the European view of military romanticism.• The dignity of the battlefield was sheer suicidal.• Romantic images of war could not fit into the current realties of war.• This was true for the Somme and Verdun.The Fate of the Newfound BnImpact of the New Realities• This led to a harsh and bitter disillusionment with the war.• Part of the problem was that the generals were completely out of touch with the new weapon systems.• Some soldiers retreated from the horrors of the Front into the “reinvigorated myth.”• When English Tommies were rescued by English longbow men.The Home Front vs The War Front• Erich Maria Remarque wrote about this in All Quiet on the Western Front.• The civilians had a distorted view of war.• This helped contribute to the rise of National Socialism that glorified war and armed conflict.• How can anyone communicate the idea of a soldier’s baptism of fire.• Now, war reflected a distorted reality of what had happened.Glorification of War and the Rise of Modern Fascism• Soon an elitist view of war emerged.• Combining ancient notions of heroism and chivalry with modern technology.• Soon war and the image of war changes to become irrational.• Especially when it is linked with outright nihilism and sensual passion.• Out of this milieu emerges modern fascism.The Situation for Jews in Germany before and during World War I• It appeared that Anti-Semitism was in decline by 1912.• Soon, “The Socialism of Fools” was on the rise.• Especially with the course of the war• Soon Jews were being blamed for the failure of German arms.Why did the Germans turn on the Jews in 1916?• Limited Military victories.• Increased food shortages.• Growing number of Killed in Action.German Claims about German Jewry• Jews were not fighting for Germany.• Jews in the army had easy jobs in the rear.• Jews were war profiteers.The German High Command Looks into Anti-Semitic Claims• The High Command conducted a religious census in the Army and Navy.• The Anti-Semitic fringe was calling for such a thing.• The findings should that Jews served in the same proportion as the rest of Germany.• But the charges continued for the next two years.• And continued after the war.Hitler’s CommentsThe Early Weimar Republic• German Jews were now given complete civil and political equality with other Germans.• But with this, came a rise in Anti-Semitism.• German Jews had the right to hold high political offices.• At time when the Jews were being blamed for the lose of the war.• Supporting the Munich Soviet.• To the extreme right, Jews were the enemy within.The Rise of the Anti-Semitic Right• The Constitution of the NSDAP on Feb. 24, 1920, claimed that the Jews could never be part of the German Volk nor citizens of the German State.• During the period of the Weimar Republic, 430 Anti-Semitic groups emerged in Germany.• Before the end of 1920, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion first made their appearance in Germany.• Lucy Dawidowicz claimed that “National Socialism was the culmination towards which [all anti-Semitic] movements had strove for the last 150 years.”Hitler’s Parentage• He was born in Austria in 1889 in Braunau.• He was the first child of his father’s third marriage.• His mother was Klara Polzl.• She was his father’s niece and the daughter of his father’s half-sister.• Hitler never wanted people to dwell too deeply into his past.• Hitler’s half bother, Alois, married an Irish woman, Bridget Dowling and had a son named Patrick.Hitler’s Niece• Hitler’s half-sister Angela married Leo Raubal.• Their daughter, Geli, would eventually worked for Hitler.• Hitler may have had romantic feelings for her.• He was, at the least, very fond of her.• She committed suicide in 1931.Hitler’s Childhood• He had a normal childhood of his age.• He was loved and spoiled by his mother.• Especially after his two brothers and sister died in a span of two years.• He was father was stern and went by the title: “Herr Senior Official Hitler.”• Young Hitler was as hot tempered as his father.Hitler as a Student• He was a difficult student at times, particularly after his late grammar school years.• This was amplified following his father’s death.• Soon he dreams of being a great painter or architect.• He was fond of the opera too, and went to many of them with his school chum, August Kubizek.• This happened following his mother’s move to Linz.• When his mother died, he tried to enter the Vienna Art Academy in 1907.• His mother died of breast cancer.Hitler’s Vienna Years• At first he lived a rather debonair life-style.• He attempted to get into the Academy of Fine Art.• He soon exhausted his inheritance.• He had to move into the Massenquartiere, a philanthropic organization that received donations from Viennese Jews.• In the hostel, he developed a friendship with Reinhold Hanish to hawk his pictures.• Soon they fell out because Hitler felt he was being cheated.His Move to Munich• In May 1913, Hitler moved to Munich to avoid his induction into the Austrian Army.• He was arrested in Jan. 1914 for draft evasion and failed his physical.• With the outbreak of the war, he volunteered to serve with the Bavarians in the German Army.• He served with the 16th Bavarian Infantry Regiment (the List Regiment).• Soon the Army became a surrogate family.Hitler’s War Record• He rose to the rank of Corporal.• He was a runner.• Wounded and received the Iron Cross First Class and Iron Cross Second Class.• He was selected by the Army for training in public speaking and agitation.• Attends Army Political Course at the University of Munich.• He spies on the German Worker’s Party and soon joins.
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