Jürgen Zimmerer
Professor of Global History and head of the research center 'Hamburg’s (post-)colonial legacy' at the University of Hamburg; scholar of German colonialism and genocide studies and editor/author of Erinnerungskämpfe: Neues deutsches Geschichtsbewusstsein, the book discussed in this episode.
Best podcasts with Jürgen Zimmerer
Ranked by the Snipd community
Jan 9, 2026 • 1h 2min
Jürgen Zimmerer, "Memory Wars: New German Historical Consciousness" (Reclam Verlag, 2023)
Jürgen Zimmerer, a Professor of Global History and head of Hamburg’s post-colonial legacy research center, discusses pivotal themes from his book on German memory culture. He challenges the notion of 'ownership' in historical narratives, advocating for diverse perspectives. Zimmerer connects German memory debates to global conservative backlash, reflects on identity shifts post-unification, and emphasizes including migrant histories. He warns against the risks of Staatsräson on free expression and calls for opening public debate by acknowledging shared suffering.
Nov 29, 2023 • 1h 2min
Jürgen Zimmerer, "Memory Wars: New German Historical Consciousness" (Reclam Verlag, 2023)
Jürgen Zimmerer, editor of a provocative volume on German memory, discusses the diverse landscape of German memory, the shift in Germany's historical consciousness after unification, the need for a new German historical consciousness that includes migrant experiences, the concept of Stadts-Rison and its impact on public discourse, and the tensions surrounding historical consciousness and anti-Semitism in Germany.
