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HIST3445

Guns, Butter and Forced Labour. The Economic Foundations of Nazi Dictatorship

Assessments and mandatory activities may be changed until September 20th.

Credits 7.5
Level Second degree level
Course start Spring 2026
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction English
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement School exam

About

About the course

Course content

In this course Nazi economic policy will be analysed in a historical perspective with a special emphasis on recent debates in the literature. Questions to be addressed are, for instance: Was the significant reduction of German unemployment during the first years of the Nazi rule, which heavily legitimized the Nazi regime in the eyes of the Germans, predominately caused by measures implemented by the new government or was this reduction merely a coincidence with the worldwide economic recovery? How did the Nazi regime transform the German economy from a peace to a war economy - by force, by incentives or by regulations? And how did the Nazis exploit occupied Europe and which impact had the foreign contribution to the German war effort?

Learning outcome

A candidate who passes this course is expected to have the following learning outcome according to the course curriculum, defined as knowledge and skills:

Knowledge

The candidate

  • will acquire an advanced knowledge about Nazi economic policy both in Germany and occupied Europe
  • will acquire a thorough understanding of how the Nazis managed to transform the German economy and to exploit occupied countries
  • will acquire detailed insight into the historiography of this period
  • will acquire the ability to apply theories, perspectives as well as tools common in economic history (such as interpreting historical statistics)

Skills

The candidate

  • should be able to critically interrogate the concepts, theoretical assumptions and established perspectives of the field
  • should be able to write an extended independent, well-structured analytical essay/paper, using the relevant empirical knowledge and theoretical perspectives of the field

Learning methods and activities

Lectures. The obligatory activity from a previous semester can be approved by the department.

Compulsory assignments

  • Compulsory paper

Further on evaluation

Each student who wants to take exams in this course shall write a paper about a specific research article in the field, describing the questions addressed in this article, the methods applied, and the sources used.

Required previous knowledge

BA in history or equivalent.

Course materials

See curriculum published at the start of the semester, and other materials (reading and lecture lists and other relevant information) published on Blackboard.

Subject areas

  • History

Contact information

Course coordinator

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Modern History and Society

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: School exam
Grade: Letter grades

Ordinary examination - Autumn 2025

School exam
Weighting 100/100 Date 2025-11-21 Time 09:00 Duration 6 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment
Place and room for school exam

The specified room can be changed and the final location will be ready no later than 3 days before the exam. You can find your room location on Studentweb.

Sluppenvegen 14
Room SL111 grønn sone
1 candidate

Ordinary examination - Spring 2026

School exam
Weighting 100/100 Duration 6 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment Place and room Not specified yet.