Die unerforschte Geschichte der deutschen Südosteuropa-Forschung
The Unexplored History of German Southeast Europe Research

Notes on an Editorial Project

Summary/Abstract: The history of the German historical Southeast Europe research continues to be a white spot as a subject matter for inquiry. A clear indication is given by the study “Untersuchungen zur Anfangsphase der deutschen Südosteuropahistoriographie” (Studies on the early stages of the German historiography on Southeast Europe) by Dorothea Willkomm. Originally planned as a dissertation at the University of Hamburg, the academic contribution was only accepted as a master thesis at the Technical University of Hannover in 1979. Apart from pioneering results revealed by the study, especially in the field of German Southeast Europe research during the interwar period and the NS era, the genesis of the study – which was never published – offers a profound insight into the recent history of the subject area. This is the topic of a research project in Tübingen, Germany. It combines an edition of the academic paper by Ms Willkomm with a history of the German Southeast Europe research. The genesis of her research and the missed reception of her inquiry represent a formidable scientific as well as historical illumination.

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