"Study the historian before you study the facts." Über ein Forschungsseminar an der Universität Luxemburg

Article for general public (2021)

L’UEBL et les relations belgo-luxembourgeoises au XXème siècle

Scientific Conference (2021, October 06)

Presenter: Towards the UniGR-CBS Working Group 'Border Temporalities'

Presentation (2021, May 21)

Perspectives from the French-Luxembourgish and the Belgian-German Borders

Presentation (2021, April 15)

When six European nations embarked on the integration process in the wake of World War II, there was no blueprint. Of course, the founders had a vision and shared ideals, but European integration has left ... [more ▼]

When six European nations embarked on the integration process in the wake of World War II, there was no blueprint. Of course, the founders had a vision and shared ideals, but European integration has left some citizens afraid of losing their identity and cultural heritage and an influx of immigrants has fuelled these fears. Building on this topic, this panel brings together researchers who focus on different aspects of what happens to history and heritage in multicultural European societies and particularly those in the border regions over time. New technologies are being used in innovated ways to communicate histories and memories to the public and with the goal to boost social and cultural participation. Since these former industrial regions in France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany have coped with similar challenges including the decline of the mining industry and changing borders, this panel aims to help us understand what opportunities lie in engaging local communities in research and how this can contribute to creating a sense of shared European heritage and identity. [less ▲]

Compte rendu de Jakob Müller, Die importierte Nation

in H-Soz-Kult: Kommunikation und Fachinformation für die Geschichtswissenschaften (2021)

Belgian Judicial Actors and the Establishment of the Punishment of Collaboration with the Enemy in the East Cantons.

in Bost, Mélanie; Vrints, Antoon (Eds.) Doing Justice in Wartime. Multiple Interplays between Justice and Population during the two World Wars (2021)

Belgian historical research concerning the repression of collaboration after the Second World War, has mostly overlooked the East Cantons. This mostly German-speaking region only became a part of Belgium ... [more ▼]

Belgian historical research concerning the repression of collaboration after the Second World War, has mostly overlooked the East Cantons. This mostly German-speaking region only became a part of Belgium in 1920, as a consequence of the treaty of Versailles. The integration of these populations turned out to be a very complicated process. In 1940, Nazi-Germany did not only occupy the East Cantons like the rest of Belgium, but annexed them back into the Third Reich. One of the main conclusions of the regional historiography is to view the repression of the collaboration as another step in the general misunderstanding between the local inhabitants and Belgian State authorities. This is evidenced by the high conviction rate (2.41% of the local population) and by assimilationist discourses which accompanied the workings of the Belgian military courts. In this contribution, we study the role of judicial actors in the actual establishment of the repression of collaboration and the civic purge in a top-down and a bottom-up approach. We analyse the special prosecution policy developed by the military prosecution office during the post-war period for with the enemy. We also show how political and administrative actors reinforced the living sentiments of injustice among the local population. [less ▲]

Face au “Heraus!” Regards allemands sur la Belgique (1918-1920)

in Dumoulin, Michel; Lanneau, Catherine (Eds.) La Belgique et les traités de paix. De Versailles à Sèvres (1919-1920) (2021)

Virtuelle Ausstellung: Zeitschichten. Erkundungen eines Zwischenraums. Ostbelgien 1920-2020

Computer development (2020)

East Belgium 1920-2020 is a virtual exhibition about the History of the region Eupen-Malmedy-Sankt Vith since the change of nationality in 1920. It is the result of a collaboration between the German ... [more ▼]

East Belgium 1920-2020 is a virtual exhibition about the History of the region Eupen-Malmedy-Sankt Vith since the change of nationality in 1920. It is the result of a collaboration between the German-speaking Community of Belgium, the Zentrum für Ostbelgische Geschichte and the Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History (C²DH) at the University of Luxembourg. The website addresses a broad spectrum of users with different expertise. It will be expanded flexibly over the next few years, taking into account the three exploration options offered, i.e. entry, perspectives and exploration. [less ▲]

Radio-Feature "100 Jahre Ostbelgien" Folge 7: "Die letzten Belgier"

Speeches/Talks (2020)

In Episode sieben der Sendereihe "100 Jahre Ostbelgien" behandeln die Historiker Andreas Fickers und Christoph Brüll den Ausbau der Autonomie für die deutschsprachigen Belgier im Zuge der verschiedenen ... [more ▼]

In Episode sieben der Sendereihe "100 Jahre Ostbelgien" behandeln die Historiker Andreas Fickers und Christoph Brüll den Ausbau der Autonomie für die deutschsprachigen Belgier im Zuge der verschiedenen Staatsreformen. Seit den 1970er Jahren bringt der flämisch-wallonische Konflikt stetig neue Staatsreformen hervor. Die Atempausen zwischen den Umbauphasen vom Einheitsstaat zum Bundesstaat wurden dabei immer kürzer. Die Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft hatte und hat auf diese Entwicklungen keinen entscheidenden Einfluss. Sie erweitert ihre Befugnisse „im Windschatten“ der beiden großen Sprachgruppen. Eine Frage hat den Autonomieausbau dabei von Anfang an begleitet: Sind diese Befugnisübertragungen für ein Gebiet mit knapp 80.000 Einwohnern überhaupt verkraftbar? [less ▲]

Radio-feature „100 Jahre Ostbelgien“ Folge 6: Politische Streitkultur von 1970 bis 2000

Speeches/Talks (2020)

Seit 1973 verfügen die deutschsprachigen Belgier über ihre eigene parlamentarische Versammlung. Wahlkämpfe in der deutschen Kulturgemeinschaft wurden so zu zentralen Momenten der politischen ... [more ▼]

Seit 1973 verfügen die deutschsprachigen Belgier über ihre eigene parlamentarische Versammlung. Wahlkämpfe in der deutschen Kulturgemeinschaft wurden so zu zentralen Momenten der politischen Auseinandersetzung und des Parteienstreits. In dieser Folge von „100 Jahre Ostbelgien“ wollen Andreas Fickers und Christoph Brüll diese Wahlkämpfe auf der Grundlage von Wahldebatten beleuchten, die der BHF/BRF in den Jahren 1974 bis 1999 ausgestrahlt hat. [less ▲]