Critical Social Inquiry 0240 - Shoah: The Holocaust as History

The "Shoah" (Hebrew: catastrophe, devastation) or "Holocaust"--the Nazi attempt to exterminate the Jews of Europe--has entered popular consciousness and the curriculum. Museums and monuments are commonplace. And yet, knowledge is neither widespread nor deep. In 2020, a majority of Americans aged 18-39 did not know how many Jews were killed; nearly half could not name a concentration camp. Although many people find religious, philosophical, or political meaning in the genocide, it in fact contains no intrinsic, much less, consoling message. Because this course is anchored in the discipline of history, it proceeds from the belief that the losses cannot be understood unless we examine the world that was lost. It addresses the roles of victims, perpetrators, and bystanders. It locates the Shoah in the spectrum of interethnic relations without portraying it as inevitable. It explains the uniqueness of the Jewish tragedy, while examining similar cases and universal implications. Keywords:history, European studies, German studies, Jewish studies

In/Justice Students should expect to spend 6-8 hours weekly on work and preparation outside of class time Books: Title: War and Genocide: A Concise History of the Holocaust, Fourth Edition Author:Doris L. Bergen ISBN:978-1-5381-7806-5 Cost:$42.00