In which John Green teaches you about World War I and how it got started. Crash Course doesn't usually talk much about dates, but the way that things unfolded in July and August of 1914 are kind of important to understanding the Great...

In which John Green teaches you WHY World War I started. Or tries to anyway. With this kind of thing, it's kind of hard to assign blame to any one of the nations involved. Did the fault lie with Austria-Hungary? Germany? Russia? Julius...

At the end of World War II, the nations of Europe were a shambles. Today we'll learn about how the various countries and blocs approached the problem of rebuilding their infrastructure and helping their residents recover. You'll learn...

Book: 'Bad to the Very End': Author Reflects on the Long, Deadly Road to WWII Victory

In which John Green teaches you WHY World War I started. Or tries to anyway. With this kind of thing, it's kind of hard to assign blame to any one of the nations involved. Did the fault lie with Austria-Hungary? Germany? Russia? Julius...

In which John Green teaches you about World War I and how it got started. Crash Course doesn't usually talk much about dates, but the way that things unfolded in July and August of 1914 are kind of important to understanding the Great...

Only a couple of decades after the end of the First World War--which was supposed to be the War that Ended All Wars--another, bigger, farther-flung, more destructive, and deadlier war began. Today, you'll learn about how the war in...

In which John Green teaches you about World War II, and some of the causes behind the war. In a lot of ways, WWII was about resources, and especially about food. The expansionist aggression of both Germany and Japan were in a lot of ways...

At the end of World War II, the nations of Europe were a shambles. Today we'll learn about how the various countries and blocs approached the problem of rebuilding their infrastructure and helping their residents recover. You'll learn...

When he was a child, George Takei and his family were forced into an internment camp for Japanese-Americans, as a "security" measure during World War II. 70 years later, Takei looks back at how the camp shaped his surprising, personal...

Learn the story of the WWII student resistance group, called the White Rose, fighting against Hitler in Nazi Germany. -- In 1943, Allied aircraft rained tens of thousands of leaflets on Nazi Germany below. The leaflets urged readers...

Europe's system of alliances and centuries-old tensions erupted into war in August of 1914. This week on Crash Course Euro, we're talking about the military history of World War I, and taking a look at the broad strokes of how the war...

In which John Green teaches you about World War II, aka The Great Patriotic War, aka The Big One. So how did this war happen? And what does it mean? We've all learned the facts about World War II many times over, thanks to repeated...

In which John Green continues to teach you about Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut. (WARNING: When Slaughterhouse-Five was published, some of the crude language in the book caused controversy. We quote one mildly controversial line in...

Learn about Stanley Milgram's landmark 1961 experiment on obedience to authority. Also known as the electric shock experiment.

German manners are usually very formal, especially when people are meeting for the first time. Consequently, introductions in both business and social settings follow strict norms. Learn more about German preferences for etiquette in...

In Germany, the concept of leisure time, or frei zeit, is a unique one that dates back to the Middle Ages. For Germans, leisure time is synonymous with fulfillment and individual freedom. Germans work the least of all the industrialized...

As with many aspects of German culture and society, popular perceptions about German food tend to be off the mark. While Germans still love their potatoes, meat, and sausage, eating habits have changed enormously over the years. Many...

Germany guarantees its people the freedom to practice the religion of their choice; there is no state religion. Protestant and Catholic churches have enjoyed equal status in Germany for centuries. The Peace of Augsburg in 1555 recognized...

Risk-taking is often necessary when it comes to business matters, but Germans tend to be more cautious about taking risks in the business world. Strategic planning is a must. Learn the importance and value of performing thorough research...

When it comes to work, Germans tend to separate their professional lives from their personal lives. They see work as a functional activity and strive for a healthy balance between work and personal activities. As a result, Germans...

Germans rely very little on body language, although it is still an important part of communication. In general, they consider hand gestures unnecessary. They focus instead on communicating well verbally. Someone who expresses himself or...

Most of the holidays in Germany are religious in nature. Some states also have holidays that are unique to their region. Explore the most popular holiday, Christmas, which features celebrations that bring families together and many...

Everything has its time and place—so the saying goes. In keeping with this expression, Germans expect a certain level of formality in public settings, while private gatherings tend to be far less formal. Germans are big on shaking hands....