Language:
German
Year of publication:
1988
Titel der Quelle:
Vierteljahrshefte für Zeitgeschichte
Angaben zur Quelle:
36,2 (1988) 339-372
Keywords:
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Influence
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Historiography
;
National socialism Historiography
Abstract:
Presents a correspondence between Martin Broszat, head of the Institut für Zeitgeschichte in Munich, and the Israeli historian Saul Friedländer which took place between September-December 1987. The discussion, prompted by Broszat's article in "Merkur" (May 1985), and by Friedländer's criticism of his proposal for historicization of Nazi Germany, focuses on the question of the uniqueness of the Nazi regime and the influence of a researcher's origins or background on his work, as Broszat opposes the "mythical memory" of survivors to the "objective" findings of historians. Broszat denies that he intended to bring about the relativization of the Holocaust or to evade moral judgment. He defends the study of "everyday life" in Nazi Germany carried on by his Institute, which helps to break down stereotypes and generalizations about the complicity of ordinary people. Friedländer reiterates his concern that these trends may obscure the criminal nature of Nazism and the widespread knowledge at the time about the Final Solution, and that "understanding" of Nazis may lead to empathy.
Note:
Appeared also in his "Nachdenken über den Holocaust" (2007) 78-124.
,
Appeared in English as "A controversy about the historicization of National Socialism" in "Yad Vashem Studies" 19 (1988) 1-47; "New German Critique" 44 (1988) 85-126; "Reworking the Past" (1990) 102-134; and "The Holocaust; a Reader" (2005).
,
In Hebrew:
,
"יד ושם; קובץ מחקרים" יט (תשמט) 1-33
URL:
Locate this publication in Israeli libraries
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