Polen in der deutschen Geschichtsforschung 1850–1933. Bemerkungen zum Polenbild in der Historischen Zeitschrift

Abstract

Poland in German Historical Research in the Years 1850–1933: Comments on the Image of Poland in the Journal Historische Zeitschrift This analysis of the articles about Poland in the journal Historische Zeitschrift published from the beginning of the journal to around 1933 reveals facts which are important for the assessment of the achievements and shortages of German historical science. In general, the elite of historians hardly took Poland into consideration. In the years 1850–1860 to 1880, they presented Poland as a culturally handicapped country, entangled in Catholicism, completely incapable of ordering and forming power, as a country which would benefit from further colonization by the Germans. In the years 1880–1918, this pejorative image was selectively improved as some assessments became more varied, and Polish historical science gained some recognition. After 1918, the main criterion in presenting Polish history - the ability or inability to create a state – somewhat receded, but new racist content appeared. Eventually, the fate of Poland ceased to attract the authors’ attention as their interest shifted to Russia. Translated by Agnieszka Chabros