Weeks 1-2:                        History, Literature, and WWII: Nazi & Soviet Aggression

Begins to explore the relationship between history and texts; introduces the historical period and the geo-political region. We will consider the rise of Nazi Germany in relation to the Soviet Union in the 1930s and study the race for domination of the Nordic and Baltic regions.
Readings (**indicates selection in course pack) to be read in ADVANCE of lecture:

• Th Jan. 4
  • Byron Nordstrom, “Norden and WWII,” p. 291 – 309**
  • Course goals and requirements/Film Clips                                 
• Tu Jan. 9
  • The “Plot” of the Race for the North
• Martti Häikiö, “The Race for Northern Europe,” pp. 53-97 **
• Hayden White, “The Historical Text as Literary Artifact”**
• Film clips from “The World at War” etc.
• Week 1 Discussion Questions
• Th Jan. 11 
  • Visiting Hitler’s Berlin; Origins of the New Order
  • Karen Blixen, “Letters from a Land at War”  (1940/48), pp. 102 – 124.**
  • Mark Mazower, “The Crisis of Capitalism” and “Hitler’s New Order 1938-1945” from Dark Continent**
  • Selected film clips from Leni Riefenstahl, and “WWII: the Lost Color Archives”
  • Letter #1 due

Weeks 3-4            Finland at War: Literature and National Identity

Considers the difficult position of Finland during the “Winter War” of 1939-40 (between the Soviet Union and Finland) and the “Continuation War of 1941-44,” when Finland was an ally of Nazi Germany.  We will discuss a contemporary novel by Antti Tuuri depicting the Winter War, as well as Väinö Linna’s influential postwar novel, The Unknown Soldier (1954) which depicts the Continuation War.  We will discuss the role of the Finnish wars in shaping national identity. In relation to Finland, we will also consider Sweden’s neutrality during WWII which has come increasingly into the spotlight during the past decade.

• Tu Jan. 16
  • Fred Singleton, “Finland in the Second World War”**           
    
  • Begin Antti Tuuri, The Winter War (2002)
    
  • Film: “Fire and Ice: The Winter War” (2005)
• Th Jan. 18
  • Discussion of Antti Tuuri, The Winter War (2002)
  • Film clips: “The Winter War” (1988), directed by Pekka Parikka
  • 2:30 pm: Guest lecture by Karoliina Kuisma; Finnish history, language, and culture.
  • Tuuri Discussion Questions
• Tu Jan. 23
  • Matti Klinge, “Finland and the Experience of War” in War Experience, p 114 – 129**
  • Väino Linna, The Unknkown Soldier, Chapters I – II**
  • Pekka Tarkka, “Love and War” and Morale Crisis”**
  • Clip from  “The Unknown Solider” (1955), directed by Edwin Lane
  • PowerPoint: Finland's Wars
  • Discussion Questions
• Th Jan. 25
  • Sweden’s postwar legacy in relation to Finland
  • Alf W. Johansson, “Neutrality and Modernity: The Second World War and Sweden’s National Identity” in War Experience, pp. 163-187**
  • Stig Ekman, “Skilful Realpolitik or Unprincipled Opportunism?” in War Experience, pp. 188 – 205**
  • (Visit to class by Nordic Collections librarian)
  • ABSTRACTS assigned; Letter #2 due
  • Abstract Guidelines

Weeks 5-6             Norway: Occupation and Resistance --  Quisling and the Allied Cause

Explores the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany, considering the significant resistance movement as well as the role of Quisling’s party.  We will study Sigrid Undset’s polemic of 1942, originally published in the US, as well as John Steinbeck’s influential The Moon is Down (1942), a work which enjoyed a wide underground readership in occupied western Europe.    Finally, we will also consider the case against Nobel Laureate Knut Hamsun in the context of Norway’s postwar crimes trials.
            See exhibit on display at Odegaard Library: Fighting the Fires of Hate – America and the Nazi Book Burnings (Jan 1 – Feb 28, 2007).

• Tu Jan. 30
  • Selection from Andenæs & Skodvin, Norway and The Second World War, pp. 41 – 135**
  • Ole Kristian Grimnes, “Occupation and Collective Memory in Norway”**
  • Flim clips/Invasion of Norway
  • Clip from documentary “Quisling” directed by Svein Rune Nyland (2005)
  • Discussion Questions
• Thu Feb. 1
  • Sigrid Undset, excerpt from Return to the Future (1942), pp. 3 - 81**
  • TBA: “Norway” in Resistance in Western Europe
  • Film clip from “The Heroes of Telemark”
• Tu Feb. 6            Humanizing the Enemy
  • John Steinbeck, The Moon is Down (1942) [entire work]
  • Clips from documentary “Quisling” directed by Svein Rune Nyland (2005)]
• Thu Feb. 8
  • Continue discussion of Steinbeck’s The Moon is Down
  • Excerpt from Knut Hamsun, On Overgrown Paths (1948)**
  • Clip  from Jan Troell’s motion picture Hamsun (1997)
  • MIDTERM (30 min.)/ Letter #3 due

Weeks 7-8:            Denmark: Collaboration, Resistance and Rescue

Investigates the occupation of Denmark by Nazi Germany; the Danish government “policy of negotiation” with the Wehrmacht, and the role of the resistance movement.We will also consider Emmy Werner’s recent work about the historic 1943-rescue of Denmark’s Jewish population as well as selected text by resistance fighter Kim Malthe-Bruun.

• Tu Feb. 13            Collaboration
  • Henrik Nissen, “Adjusting to German Domination,” 111 – 126**
  • Henrik Dethlefsen, “Cooperation, Negotiation or Collaboration?,” pp. 193 – 196.
  • Film:  “Denmark: Living with the Enemy”  (30 min)
• Thu Feb. 15            Resistance/ Possible Guest Lecture
  • Henning Poulsen, “Denmark at War? The Occupation as History”, 98 – 113**
  • Hans Kirchhoff, “Denmark” in Resistance, pp. 93-124**
  • From Kim Malthe-Bruun’s letters, “Resistance and Prison,”(1945) pp. 137 – 175**
  • ABSTRACTS DUE/return Midterms
• Tu Feb. 20            Resistance and Rescue
  • Documentary Films: “The Danish Solution” (2005) narrated by Garrison Keillor; and “The Power of Conscience” (ca. 1990)
• Thu Feb. 22
  • Emmy Werner, A Conspiracy of Decency [entire work]
  • Discussion of films “The Danish Solution” and “The Power of Conscience”
    
  • Tove Ditlevsen, “Oranges” (1948)**
  • ABSTRACTS returned
  • Letter #4 due

Weeks 9 – 10             Lithuania and the Baltic States -- Tragedy, Memory, and Buried History

The Baltic states faced two brutal occupying powers during WWII.  We will survey the fates of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, occupied by Soviet troops in 1940, attacked and occupied by Germany in 1941, and re-occupied by the Soviets in 1944. During the final class meeting, we will evaluate the course findings by presenting individual research papers in a “conference” organized into topic-specific sections.

• Tu Feb. 27
  • David Kirkeby, “The Tragic Years,” pp. 349-378**
  • Additional text: TBA
  • Film Clips: “The Kovno Ghetto”
• Th March 1
  • Personal Testimony of Soviet gulag survior, Mrs. Donata Svagzdys, with simultaneous translation by Irena Blekys
  • Dalia Grinkeviciute, “Memories: By the Laptev Sea,” pp. 653 – 665**
• Tu March 6
• PEER-EDITING WORKSHOP (bring complete draft of research paper)
• John Keegan, “Do We Need a New History of the Second World War?”**

Th March 8            Fifth-Annual UW Conference on War and Occupation in the North

During the final meeting, we will evaluate the course findings by presenting individual research papers in a “conference” organized into topic-specific sections.

Mon. March 12            Research Papers and Final “letter”  DUE (305U Raitt Hall)