The course offers an introduction to the international history of secret intelligence from the age of the world wars until the end of the Cold War. Focusing on selected episodes of when secret intelligence played crucial roles in national security decision-making in war, crisis, and peace, the course will offer students an opportunity to explore changes in architectures, functions, missions, and characteristics of secret intelligence in the “short 20th Century”. Special emphasis will be put on intelligence services in Germany, their intelligence activities, and international dimensions of Germany as an intelligence target and battleground. Students will gain a solid understanding of key strands of historical knowledge and will be better able to appreciate remaining uncertainties, unknowns, and unknowables in informed ways.

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