From Wandervogel to Fridays for Future―German Youth and Student Movements From 1800 To Today

Undergraduate

This course takes a look at youth and student culture, movements and organizations from the early 1800s to today. We begin by looking at the development of the first fraternities ( Urburschenschaften) at the beginning of the 19th century, and then discuss the Wandervogel movement of the late 19th century, the Bündische Jugend and a variety of other youth and student organizations during the Weimar Republic. We then discuss the different types of youth groups during the Third Reich including the official groups as well as as student opposition groups such as Die Weiße Rose , Edelweißpiraten , and Swing Jugend . Next, we learn more about youth organizations in former East Germany―the official Freie Deutsche Jugend but also counter-groups such as Blueser, Tramper and Punks ―and groups in West Germany, such as the Deutsche Waldjugend . We discuss the 68er student movement, and several more recent youth organizations and finally movements of today including Fridays for Future . In this course we analyze youth culture from a variety of perspectives exploring their attempts at defining their own holistic values and ideals, their agendas and characteristics, as well as problems they were (and are) facing. Prerequisite: A previous L5 course or instructor permission. L5 , HU TTh 11:35am-12:50pm