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Matthew Barr, PhD

Fee £100.00 (concession rate £80.00) - fee will amend when you select the appropriate fee rate below.

Autumn 2026

10 weekly sessions on Mondays, 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm, starting 28 September

Why did the Nazis do it? How did Germany fall victim to a group of psychopaths? To reach a deeper understanding of this terrible epoch in Germany's history, we will examine the Nazi regime through individual studies of its leaders, from Hitler, Himmler and Goebbels to ordinary SS men and concentration camp guards. We will focus on one individual per week to try to discover in what sense they were deviant, deranged or degenerate. Were they gangsters and psychopaths or, in fact, 'ordinary men'? Had they failed to integrate into society, or were they, on the contrary, at its heart? Were these figures 'normal' people and, if so, what made them carry out some of the worst atrocities of the twentieth century?

This is a live online course

For further reading: Richard J. Evans, Hitler's People (Penguin, 2025) and Joachim C. Fest, The Face of the Third Reich (Penguin, 1979).

Support Requirements

If as a result of your disability you have support requirements, please complete a support needs form and return it 3 weeks before your class commences. The form is available to download here under the Facilities and Support for Disabled Students section or contact the office on 90 973323.

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