“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
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.
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).
LC: DD256.49 .O4713 2019
BISAC: EDU040000 EDUCATION/Philosophy, Theory & Social Aspects; HIS054000 HISTORY/Social History; HIS014000 HISTORY/Europe/Germany
BIC: HBTB Social & cultural history; JNF Educational strategies & policy
