Germany’s "coming to terms with the past" has been described and debated in historical writing and novels, in panel discussions and movies. With amazing uniformity, it has centred on the memories, fears, and wishes of those who had - voluntarily or not - belonged to the former German Volksgemeinschaft (People’s Community), while neglecting those groups who had been its victims. In her talk, Professor Stefanie Schüler-Springorum explores the post-war experiences and perspectives of these groups and asks what their stories might mean for the overall narrative of democratization and liberalization in the history of the Federal Republic.
The Visiting Professorship is a joint project of the German Historical Institute London (GHIL) and the International History Department of The London School of Economics and Political Science and is funded by the Gerda Henkel Foundation.