Hans Rothfels

Hans Rothfels was a German historian born in 1891, whose early views aligned with the concept of a strong, authoritarian German state and the country's dominance over Europe. His perspective also reflected a degree of hostility towards Germany's eastern neighbors. However, his personal circumstances would drastically alter his trajectory. As a historian of Jewish ancestry, Rothfels faced significant challenges, particularly with the rise of the Nazi regime and its increasingly aggressive persecution of Jewish people.

The rejection of his applications for honorary Aryan status due to his Jewish heritage forced Rothfels into exile, first in the United Kingdom and then in the United States, during the Second World War. This period abroad marked a significant shift in his political stance, as he became an outspoken opponent of the Nazi regime. Following the war, Rothfels returned to West Germany, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the country's historical scholarship. He emerged as a influential figure among West German scholars, contributing to the development of history teaching in the region until his death in 1976.