Modern Germany

Research Paper # 109507

History > European - 20th Century
History > European - World Wars
Holocaust Studies

Modern Germany

Examines extensively a variety of sources to gain an understanding of the history of modern Germany.

5,325 words () | 9 sources | MLA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that modern Germany's past is extremely complex and hotly contested so that a national identity does not exist at the present time. To gain a more accurate portrayal of the historical phenomenon that is modern Germany and to understand if there is a unified national identity, the author examines several sources, such as historian Mark Roseman's book "A Past in Hiding, Memory and Survival in Nazi Germany", disputed sequences of German history especially regarding the Holocaust and German history as depicted in popular culture and mass media.. This paper concludes that, despite the long divisions by factions and competing interests, Germany is now in a position where potential for assuaging the divided characteristics of the past could occur; however, there is no singular answer.

Table of Contents:
A Past in Hiding, Memory and Survival in Nazi Germany
A Disputed History
German History and Popular Culture/Mass Media
An Exploration of National Identity
Conclusions

From the Paper:

"While the Holocaust denial scenario is one in which the debatable nature of German's history can be illustrated, it is far from the only one. In another hotly debated perceptual outlook, the Cold War communist/democratic push pull between East and West Germany is another construct in which much debate and ambiguity exists. Like the Holocaust denial movement, this topic too is heavily debated and portrayed in media absolutes that lose sight of many critical concepts that endure beyond "good" and "evil" and into more critically sound historical interpretation."

Sample of Sources Used:

Chomsky, Noam. Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media. Dir. Mark Archer. 1992.
Fulbrook, Mary. German National Identity After the Holocaust. New York: Polity, 1999.
Good Bye Lenin. Dir. Wolfgang Becker. Germany. 2003.
Lukacs, John. The Hitler of History. New York, Vintage, 1997.
Max. Alliance Pictures: Lionsgate. U.S. 2002.