Germany, Czech Republic, Poland: Holocaust Memories in Berlin, Prague, and Poland
Course Description:
Faculty Leader
This course will study the Holocaust by visiting relevant sites in Germany, the Czech Republic, and Poland. It will begin in Berlin, where we will visit the Jewish Holocaust Memorial, the Jewish Museum, the Topography of Terror (where prisoners were held by the SS), the nearby concentration camp of Sachsenhausen, the Wannsee House (where the Wannsee Conference planned the murder of the Jews), and marked sites throughout Berlin where Holocaust events occurred. Then we will travel to Prague, where we will visit the old Jewish quarter, with its multiple synagogues and cemeteries. We will also visit the nearby concentration camp, Theresienstadt (Terezin). Our travels in Poland will include a tour of major cities and death camps, including Warsaw, Treblinka, Lublin, Maidenek, Sobibor, Krakow, the Oscar Schindler Museum, and Auschwitz.
This is an upper division history course, focused on memories of the Holocaust still be be found in Germany, the Czech Republic, and Poland. Students will read three books: Between Dignity and Despair: Jewish Life in Nazi Germany, by Marlin Caplan; Survival in Auschwitz, by Primo Levi; and The Forger: An Extraordinary Story of Survival in War-time Berlin, by Cioma Schoenhaus.
Students will visit concentration camps, death camps, and memorials and museums, not only for the chance to "be there" where the crimes took place, but also for the additional information to be found. Course requirements will include keeping a journal and writing an essay or research paper, plus participation in discussions and class activities.
Course Highlights:
- Visit Berlin, Germany, and sites such as the Jewish Museum, Sachsenhausen (a nearby concentration camp), and the Holocaust Memorial Museum.
- Travel to Prague and various cities in Poland to visit the Jewish Quarters, tour the old city centers, the Oscar Schlinder Museum and Auschwitz.
Course Objective:
- To be exposed to important places where the Holocaust was planned and implemented.
- To experience three European nations, languages, and cultures.
- To read and write on the topic of the Holocaust, combining the knowledge one gains from books with the experience of visiting and analyzing places where crimes occurred.
- For some history majors, to gain access to a topic and to sources that might prove useful as the inspiration and foundation for a senior capstone paper.
Course Credit:
HIST 388: GUR and department credit.
Program Fee:
$5,000. Includes airfare, lodging, program related transportation, and supplemental study abroad insurance. PLU reserves the right to add a surcharge in response to unanticipated price increase.
These estimated additional costs indicated below are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses may vary according to student interests, individual needs, and spending habits:
- Passport (new) = $110 / Passport (renewal) = $135
- Visa fees (required for some non-US passport holders) = varies
- Pre-travel evaluation at the PLU Health Center = $45 *All students are required to visit either the PLU Health Center or a personal healthcare provider to achieve the proper medical clearance. Be aware that other medical providers may charge additional fees that may result in a higher cost than the PLU Health Center.
- Immunizations = $0 to several hundred dollars **Vaccination needs vary on destination and individual medical history, and may be costly.
- Airline baggage fees = approximately $25 for each checked bag
- Books, supplies, course materials = varies
- Cell phone and cell usage = varies
- Personal Expenses = approximately $600. Check with your faculty leader for an accurate estimate for your destination.
Application Deadline:
April 13, 2012. A non-refundable deposit of $50.00 is required with the application. A $250.00 non-refundable program payment to confirm participation in the course is due within 10 days of notification of acceptance. Maximum of 18 students.