Berlin and the Berlin Wall: self-guided short course

Introduction

The Berlin Wall became a symbol of a time in history, and a physical defining point in an otherwise covert series of battles. To study and explore the Berlin Wall is to explore how the Cold War manifested itself in Central Europe and the impact it had on one nation in particular. In this self-guided course participants are invited to learn about the wider context of the Cold War as experienced in Europe and specifically to understand how the wall and events in Germany influenced European politics and international relations. How the German people continued to be a focal point of history throughout the twentieth century is another theme alongside how an historic city survived to be once more the capital of a nation. 

This course brings together films, podcasts, articles, and specially filmed webinars to take you through the history of the Berlin Wall. There is a mixture of broad-brush pieces and the interrogation of specific questions and issues. The recorded sessions offer stimulation to anyone now approaching the subject and will help anyone new to the course to see how others have explored the topic and wrestled with the questions of why Berlin, how important was the Wall as a physical structure and what impact did it have for those across Europe? The legacy of the wall in a new and invigorated Germany for Germans and the future of the EU are also touched upon.  

The course was originally run live as a live event in the months following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 and the contemporary messages this had for Europe are also discussed in some of the recorded sessions, providing an insight as to how the study of history continues to have new meaning for each generation. 

How is the course structured? 

This self-guided short course is 100% online. The resources are structured but can be dipped into at any time, so you can work through them at your own pace and convenience. Through this unit you can access:

• A recorded introductory lecture setting out the themes, the resources and concepts for the course 
• Access to and a guide for using the HA’s curated resource unit 
• A recorded workshop and discussion session
• Two closing recorded workshops: one bringing the course to a close through discussion, and one including a guest lecturer who specialises in the topic 

These materials were originally compiled and produced as part of our live short course on Berlin and the Berlin Wall which took place between June and October 2022. 

Film series: Power and authority in Germany, 1871-1991

For wider context, you can also view our new series of films bringing together some of the UK’s leading historians on modern Germany to address the different ways its actions, history and impact can be explored, evaluated and interpreted. View the film series here (Historian members) or through the Student Zone here (Corporate secondary members).