On October 6th, 2025, the UC Berkeley Institute of European Studies, along with the German Historical Institute, UC Berkeley History Department, UC Berkeley German Department, Center for Right Wing Studies, and Center for German Studies welcomed Professor Michael Wildt, emeritus Professor of Modern German History at Humboldt University in Berlin to present a lecture entitled “The Complex Legacies of Nazism: Current Perspectives on the History and Memory of National Socialism.” This lecture addressed the question of how the rise of National Socialism and its unprecedented crimes against humanity occurred, and how it should be remembered.
Professor Mia Fuller, Director of the Institute of European Studies, introduced Professor Wildt, who then took the floor to begin the lecture. He structured the lecture by first elaborating on the evolution of Nazi Socialism post-1945 and their subsequent reintegration into Europe, and then focusing on the years following the collapse of communism, especially in the context of East and West Germany and Berlin. The lecture was supported with Professor Wildt’s own research, which featured a range of topics such as consumer society in the 1950s, the concept of “people’s community” (Volksgemeinschaft) in National Socialism and its historical resonance, and the social dynamics of dictatorship and violence. He specifically highlighted the concept of memory and remembrance, as well as aspects of colonialism within history.
Professor Wildt then spoke on the transformation of European society, and how collective memories of Nazism interacted with immigrant stories and history. Lastly, he reflected on the varying perspectives on Nazism and the Holocaust in the modern day, and how comparison can be seen as a tool of Holocaust research. He concluded by explaining thekey lessons that can be taken away from looking at Germany in this context, such as the value of the separation of powers, rule of law, and an independent judiciary. Wildt noted that there are always opportunities for intervention and opposition, especially with the rise of right-wing populism. Following the lecture, Isabel Richter of the German Historical Institute Washington moderated an audience Q&A, in which questions addressing the singularity of the Holocaust being inconsistently used, comparisons between colonialism and Eastern Europe, and the alternatives to Nazi Germany and the options at the time were insightfully responded to by Wildt.
The lecture was held in person in the Alumni House at UC Berkeley from 5:00 to 8:00pm. At the conclusion of the two-hour lecture and question period, the one-hundred guests present were invited to join a light reception.
