The Cold War

The Cold War is a course offered through the FUBIS programme at Freie Universität Berlin that uses the city of Berlin as an analytical case study for examining the origins, nature, and conclusion of the Cold War between 1945 and 1991. Topics covered include the Allied occupation of Berlin following World War II, the Berlin Blockade and airlift, the workers' uprising of 1953 and the Soviet military response, the emigration crisis of the late 1950s, the construction of the Berlin Wall, and the wall's fall and German reunification. The course also situates Berlin's experience within the broader international context, examining how the Cold War rivalry shaped Europe, Asia, and Latin America, and considering the role of organisations such as the United Nations. Field trips to Cold War sites in Berlin are part of the course experience. Students come away with a grounded understanding of postwar international history and the contemporary consequences of that period. The course is offered at Freie Universität Berlin in Berlin, Germany.