1. Discuss the role of Hitler’s ideology in consolidating his power.

2. Hitler: historiography

3. On Thursday November 9th there will be a meeting of historians to discuss Hitler’s rise to power.
Each historian belongs to a particular school of thought or historiographical perspective.
You will be assigned a historian to research. Your job is to familiarize yourself with their perspective on Hitler’s rise to power with enough in-depth evidence and analysis to discuss and defend your approach in a small group.
You will work with a partner who represents another historian from the same school of thought to coordinate a defense of your view and construct questions to pose to the other groups.
Your thorough preparation will be imperative.

4. Structured Academic Controversy
Step 1: Partners A explain the arguments for viewpoint 1.
Step 2: Partners B and C ask clarifying question if there are any.
Partners A answer.
Step 3: Partners B explain the arguments for viewpoint 2.
Step 4: Partners A and C ask clarifying question if there are any.
Partners B answer.
Step 5: Partners C explain the arguments for viewpoint 3.
Step 6: Partners A and B ask clarifying question if there are any.
Partners C answer.
Step 7: As a group, the issue is discussed to key points in each viewpoints.
Step 8: As a group, it is decided if common ground can be reached between viewpoints.
Step 9: Step back from your argument and evaluate the historiography

5. Historiographical Perspectives
Determinist:
Hitler’s rise to power was inevitable in many ways
He was a product of Germany’s authoritarian history which favored a strong state led by a powerful individual
AJP Taylor William Shirer Hans-Ulrich Wehler    
Structuralist/Functionalist
Hitler was not inevitable
He was propelled to power by historical ‘crisis’ conditions in which Germans were looking for a savior
Ian Kershaw E Anderson
Intentionalist/Chance
Hitler knowingly manipulated the masses and the elite to establish a dictatorship
He was an ‘evil genius’ who took advantage of good luck
Alan Bullock Hitler: A study in Tyranny Hitler Mein Kampf

6. E Anderson: https://ia800304. us. archive
E Anderson: azirevolution001884mbp.pdf
Page 47-49