University level Holocaust Studies in South Africa

[Hektor]

This is from the university of Cape Town in South Africa. It got the nickname "Moscow on the Hill" in the past. Today people find this 'normal'.

HST2011S
Convener: Associate Professor A Mendelsohn

Course entry requirements: At least two courses in historical, social science or cultural studies offered by the Faculty of Humanities, or by permission of the Head of Department.

Despite the passage of nearly seven decades since the end of that war, the Holocaust has not passed into “mere history.” It continues to shape our world in a variety of ways: informing our understanding of genocide, moral responsibility, memory, and justice; serving as a touchstone in our culture, and as the subject of endless books and films; and exciting public debate and controversy. Our course has three objectives: First, it will provide an introduction to the development and implementation of Nazi ideology. Why did Germany embark on a program of systematic mass murder? And what did this program of mass murder look like? Second, it will examine a variety of often troubling themes relating to the Holocaust: the psychology of the perpetrators, the (in)actions of bystanders, the role of the church, and the responses of Jews. And finally, we will discuss the aftermath of the Holocaust. How has it been remembered in different societies? Has justice been served on the perpetrators? And why does it occupy such a prominent place in popular culture? At every point along the way our grim goal is to understand the thinking of those who planned, perpetrated, and participated in mass murder, the behaviours of those who witnessed the actions of the Nazis and their allies, as well as the experience and "choiceless choices" of the victims.
https://humanities.uct.ac.za/department ... /holocaust

As we can see what's offered is highly superficial. It's not on "how we found out", but what should be proven is simply assumed. The undergraduate student probably wouldn't even notice this. But believe that 'the experts', the 'big historians' have done thorough research on the matter and would have noticed, if something was wrong. Bear in mind that this is were future academics and teachers will be trained. So the narrative will disseminate further. Now not something they've seen on TV or heard on the radio. Now it's from a 'reputable university'.


The course that is offered by Adam Mendelsohn:
https://humanities.uct.ac.za/department ... mendelsohn
He's the boss of the "Kaplan Centre" as well:
https://humanities.uct.ac.za/kaplan-centre

I haven't seen the course materials yet, but this could be interesting, given that this will be what's disseminated to schools, school books etc.

[cold beer]

Because this post concerns institutes of education I'll grade it. I'm giving it an A+.
After reading yout post I did a search for theses/dissertations that examined any aspect of the holocaust. Nearly every one of the abstracts I read concerned itself with the effectiveness of holocaust courses in achieving the desired emotional effect and beliefs from the students. Along with the arrogant goal of determining if the particular course material and teaching methods instilled in the students the 'proper moral outlook' towards the holocaust and it's victims.
Others were focused on the origins and causes of anti-semitism seeking to answer how it was that so many people were able to commit these unspeakable acts of genecide, including the supposed role of the church and/or their refusal to intervene.

I could not locate a single thesis that examined any alleged historical element of the holocaust from a forensic/scientific
basis.
Just like someone here described it... it's a self-feeding loop. The students that are taught this mental slop become tomorrow's teachers and professors regurgitating it to the next generaton

[Hektor]

Because this post concerns institutes of education I'll grade it. I'm giving it an A+.
After reading yout post I did a search for theses/dissertations that examined any aspect of the holocaust. Nearly every one of the abstracts I read concerned itself with the effectiveness of holocaust courses in achieving the desired emotional effect and beliefs from the students. Along with the arrogant goal of determining if the particular course material and teaching methods instilled in the students the 'proper moral outlook' towards the holocaust and it's victims.

So they're not concerned with investigating some aspects there and whether the proof and arguments given are valid?
I'd be interested in looking into those abstracts. That their main concern is how well the brainwashing works is rather concerning. It's incredible how blunt they are about this.

Others were focused on the origins and causes of anti-semitism seeking to answer how it was that so many people were able to commit these unspeakable acts of genecide, including the supposed role of the church and/or their refusal to intervene.

For the 'anti-semitism' perhaps they should look what happened in the Weimar period.
Nobody knew they were committing genocide. They noticed that the Allies were trying to do this.

I could not locate a single thesis that examined any alleged historical element of the holocaust from a forensic/scientific
basis.
Just like someone here described it... it's a self-feeding loop. The students that are taught this mental slop become tomorrow's teachers and professors regurgitating it to the next generaton

I noticed that the papers usually cite some secondary sources that of course all affirm the Holo to be true. After a while it becomes a citation cartel. Meaning one academic is citing the other one for an article, book or even course material. The whole thing than consists of mutual affirmation without having ever looked into the primary evidence. Nay, they even didn't take the effort to listen carefully to testimony at the trials or looking at the legal arguments there. That's why they are puzzled when you ask for physical evidence. "Wasn't that shown at the trials?" No it wasn't. What was shown was essentially atrocity propaganda. Imagine proving a murder by showing pictures from an accident.

I must see, if I can find out who attended any of the course there and what the experience was. I noticed an article by someone that worked for that institute there. And it is full of problems even from the exterminationist perspective.