Overview
In this The Cold War at Freie Universität Berlin we analyze the Allied occupation of the city following the Nazi defeat, the Berlin blockade and airlift that helped solidify the divisions between East and West. Next, we will examine the workers’ uprising of 1953 that provoked a Soviet military response.
The following sessions will deal with the emigration crisis of the late 1950s that led the Soviets to first threaten a military takeover of the city and eventually to construct the Berlin Wall. Finally, we will look at the fall of the wall and the subsequent reunification of Berlin and Germany.
Field trips to important Cold War sites will permit students to gain a deeper appreciation of how he Cold War changed Berlin, and how events in Berlin influenced the wider international struggle. In order to place the interests and goals of the superpowers in context, we will also discuss the ways in which the Cold War rivalry affected Europe as a whole, as well as Asia and Latin America.
Attention will be given to the role of international organizations such as the United Nations in world affairs, and the changes brought about by the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. In this way, we will examine the roots of contemporary crises. Students will gain an understanding of the recent past, which will help equip them to evaluate the current and emerging international order.
Housing
Wheelchair-accessible housing is available upon request. Please see our website for a full description of the furnished single-occupancy studio apartment and note that the registration deadline for this housing option is one month before the regular registration deadline!
About FUBiS
The Freie Universität Berlin International Summer and Winter University (FUBiS) is an intensive, academic program through which students can earn credits that may be counted towards their degrees at their home institutions. FUBiS sessions run for three to six weeks and take place both in summer and winter.
Courses
Students can choose between subject courses (mostly taught in English) and German language and culture courses. The 50+ subject courses are offered within the fields of Architecture, Art History, Politics, Law, History, Media Studies, Economics, Sustainability, Literature, Philosophy, Film, and Music. German language and culture courses are available for up to five different levels of proficiency.
Field Trips
Field trips are an integral part of all our courses. In addition, FUBiS offers excursions such as to the Berlin Reichstag building (seat of the German Parliament) and a guided tour through the underworlds of Berlin, or a day trip to Potsdam.
Programme Structure
Topics include:
- Origins of the Cold War (ideological, historical, geo-strategic roots of the conflict)
- Cold War 1940s (end of WWII, institutionalization phase, atomic diplomacy, spies, crises in Berlin, Eastern Europe, China etc.)
- Cold War 1950s (Korean War, Eisenhower and the New Look, military-industrial complex, McCarthyism etc.)
- Cold War 1950s (transition from Stalin to Khrushchev, Sino-Soviet split, detente, regional conflicts, "missile gap" etc.)
- Cold War 1950s (revolutionary conflicts in Asia, Africa etc., problems within the Blocs, non-alignment, emergence of China, politics of the Cold War in the USA, Berlin Crisis 1958-1961,U2 affair etc.)
- Cold War Latin America, Cold War 1960s (Kennedy, Cuba, Sino-Soviet split, emergence of the European Economic Community, Berlin Wall etc.)
- Cold War 1960s (detente, Vietnam, Johnson and the Great Society, Brezhnev, Prague Spring, Cultural Revolution etc.)
Audience
Student Testimonials
- "I've obtained new perspectives and insights throughout the course and it's really good for my development!"
- "I’ve learned so much in such a short amount of time and every penny of my money felt well spent on this class."
- "Overall, the professor was fantastic! He was extremely knowledgeable about the subjects and created a very comfortable learning environment."
- "The course was comprehensive, straight-forward, and incredibly well taught and the excursions presented were incredible as well. I'm so grateful to have taken this class."
Lecturers
Instructor: Dr. Robert Teigrob
Key information
Duration
- Full-time
- 28 days
Start dates & application deadlines
- Starting
- Apply before
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Language
Credits
Delivered
Disciplines
History Modern History Political Science View 16 other Short Courses in History in GermanyAcademic requirements
We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.
English requirements
We are not aware of any English requirements for this programme.
Other requirements
General requirements
Students should be able to speak and read English at the upper intermediate level (B2) or higher. No prior knowledge is required but the willingness to think beyond the usual framings on migration.
Required language skills
The language of instruction is English. Language proficiency on an advanced Intermediate level (Mittelstufe II) is a prerequisite for participation. For orientation purposes, you can assess your language skills via the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Tuition Fee
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International
1300 EUR/fullTuition FeeBased on the tuition of 1300 EUR for the full programme during 28 days. -
EU/EEA
1300 EUR/fullTuition FeeBased on the tuition of 1300 EUR for the full programme during 28 days.
Program fee: 300 EUR (250 EUR incl. early bird discount)
Living costs for Berlin
The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.