Paths of Continuity: Central European Historiography from the 1930s to the 1950s (Publications of the German Historical Institute)

The defeat of National Socialism in 1945 was a pivotal point in Central European history. For the writing and practice of history, however, the event proved far less decisive. In West Germany and Austria, most historians who had taught under the Nazis retained their positions after 1945. Even those dismissed for their National Socialist sympathies were often able to resume their careers. And an entire generation of younger historians, trained during the Nazi years, was to enter the historical profession after 1945. Paths of Continuity examines the effect of this professional continuity on West German historical scholarship, and the impact of the Third Reich on the way German-language historians practiced their craft. The essays look at ten prominent German and Austrian historians whose lives and work spanned the period before and after 1945: Friedrich Meinecke, Gerhard Ritter, Hans Rothfels, Franz Schnabel, Heinrich Ritter von Srbik, Hans Freyer, Hermann Aubin, Otto Brunner, Werner Conze, and Theodor Schieder. All responded to the Nazi regime in different ways. Some willingly embraced the New Order of National Socialism; others kept their distance from the regime or openly opposed it. Ironically, however, those who were least compromised by Nazi involvements and who emerged after 1945 with the greatest moral and professional authority, often proved the most resistant to change within the discipline. Conversely, much of the impetus for scholarly innovation after 1945 came from historians with earlier ties to the anti-liberal "folk history" of the Nazi era. Exploring these and other paradoxes, this collection of essays provides fresh insight into the development of German historical scholarship since 1945. Contents Preface Contributors Introduction: Continuities in German Historical Scholarship, 1933-1960 1 German Historiography from the 1930s to the 1950s Comment: German Historiography 2 Friedrich Meinecke (1862-1954) Comment: Friedrich Meinecke 3 Change and Continuity in German Historiography from 1933 into the Early 1950s: Gerhard Ritter (1888-1967) Comment: Gerhard Ritter 4 Hans Rothfels (1891-1976) Comment: Hans Rothfels 5 Franz Schnabel (1887-1966) Comment: Franz Schnabel 6 Heinrich Ritter von Srbik (1878-1951) Comment: Heinrich Ritter von Srbik 7 “Historical Social Science” and Political Myth: Hans Freyer (1887-1969) and the Genealogy of Social History in West Germany Comment: Hans Freyer 8 Some Observations on the Work of Hermann Aubin (1885-1969) Comment: Hermann Aubin 9 From Folk History to Structural History: Otto Brunner (1898-1982) and the Radical-Conservative Roots of German Social History Comment: Otto Brunner 10 Werner Conze (1910-1986): The Measure of History and the Historian's Measures Comment: Werner Conze 11 Continuity, Innovation, and Self-Reflection in Late Historicism: Theodor Schieder (1908-1984) Comment: Theodor Schieder Index Paths of Continuity examines the impact of the Third Reich on the German historical profession before and after 1945. The essays look at ten prominent historians whose lives and work spanned the period from the 1930s to the 1960s. Their response to the Nazi regime ranged from open resistance to willing collaboration. Ironically, however, much of the impetus for scholarly innovation after 1945 came from historians with earlier ties to the antiliberal 'folk history' of the Nazi era. All in all, this insightful collection of essays provides fresh insight into the development of West German historical scholarship since 1945 On 25 April 1957 at about 4 p.m., seven German historians convened at the spa hotel of Bad Ems for a conference entitled "The Social History of the Modern World."