When Will We Talk About Hitler?: German Students and the Nazi Past(1 Worlds of Memory)

For more than half a century, discourses on the Nazi past have powerfully shaped German social and cultural policy. Specifically, an institutional determination not to forget has expressed a “duty of remembrance” through commemorative activities and educational curricula. But as the horrors of the Third Reich retreat ever further from living memory, what do new generations of Germans actually think about this past? Combining observation, interviews, and archival research, this book provides a rich survey of the perspectives and experiences of German adolescents from diverse backgrounds, revealing the extent to which social, economic, and cultural factors have conditioned how they view representations of Germany’s complex history.

Table of Contents:
List of Figures and Tables Preface Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations Introduction Chapter 1. Education in the Service of Democracy Chapter 2. Talking about the Nazi Past in Class and Succeeding at School Chapter 3. Gender, Family and the Nazi Past(s) Chapter 4. The Nazi Past as an Everyday Resource for Adolescents Chapter 5. The Social and Cultural Limits to Appropriations of the Nazi Past Chapter 6. Peer-group Dynamics and Playful Uses of the Past Conclusion: From Memory to Appropriation(s) Appendix 1: The German School System Appendix 2: Structure of Interviews with Students Appendix 3: Summary Table of Teachers and List of Teachers Interviewed Appendix 4: List of Students Interviewed References Index

About the Author :
Alexandra Oeser is currently Professor of Sociology at Paris Nanterre University. Her most recent publication is Collectif du 9 août: Quand ils ont fermé l’usine (2017).

Review :
“The book is a thought-provoking read. It certainly offers plenty of stimulations for self-reflection, especially for anyone active or interested in teaching the history of National Socialism – be that in schools, universities, memorial museums or youth work.” • H-Soz-Kult “How do young Germans engage with the Nazi era? … [Oeser] reveals a wide range of views on this solemn history, illuminating educators’ concerns and pedagogical strategies as well as students’ perceptions.” • Le Monde “Oeser’s book is destined to become a reference point in memory studies in terms of both its methodology and its nuanced conclusions.” • Critique internationale “A model of social inquiry thanks to its intellectual honesty and its careful analysis of language, the book is also indispensable for understanding contemporary Germany, and the implications of its memory politics, while contributing to the history of education.” • Vingtième siècle: Revue d’histoire