75th Anniversary of the German Democratic Republic

Panelists:
Mary Fulbrook, Professor, Department of History, University College London
Julie Ault, Professor, Department of History, University of Utah
Andrew Port, Professor, Department of History, Wayne State University

Moderator:
Eric Langenbacher, Senior Fellow and Director of the Society, Culture, & Politics Program, AGI

Founded on October 7, 1949, the communist regime in the German Democratic Republic was both a consequence of and contributor to the Cold War confrontation between East and West. Although the Federal Republic of Germany absorbed the country through the reunification process of 1989-1990, a distinct eastern identity had developed and persists into the present. This identity was formed by both the highs (a degree of gender parity, an encompassing welfare state) and lows (the Berlin Wall, environmental degradation) of that political system. The American-German Institute has invited three leading historians to interpret and analyze the complexities of the GDR on the 75th anniversary of its founding for this session on Tuesday, October 7.

Dr. Mary Fulbrook
Professor Mary Fulbrook, FBA, is a renowned scholar in German history at University College London (UCL), where she has significantly contributed to both research and administration. Her work focuses on the Holocaust’s impact and legacy across Europe, including themes of conformity and complicity in Nazi Germany. Dr. Fulbrook studied at Newnham College, Cambridge, and Harvard University, where she earned her PhD. Her career includes notable fellowships, such as the Krupp Fellowship at the Harvard Center for European Studies and a Lady Margaret Research Fellowship at New Hall (now Murray Edwards), Cambridge. At UCL, she has served as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences and Head of the German Department. Beyond UCL, Fulbrook is involved with several international advisory boards, including the Memorial Foundation for Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora and the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation. She has also played a key role in the German History Society and the British Academy, highlighting her significant impact on the field.

Dr. Julie Ault
Julie Ault is an Associate Professor of History at the University of Utah, where she specializes in East German history and its global connections. Her scholarly contributions have been featured in prominent journals such as German History, Central European History, and the Journal of Modern European History, alongside several book chapters. Dr. Ault is currently working on her second book-length project, which explores the role of East German scientific and technological experts abroad. This research delves into the environmental impacts of their work and the long-term legacies of these international interactions. Her broader research interests encompass East Germany, environmental history, transnational networks, socialism, and the Cold War. Ault’s academic foundation includes a BA in History and German Language and Literature from Grinnell College, an MA in History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a PhD in History from the same institution. Her educational background underpins her extensive research into the intersections of history, environment, and international relations.

Dr. Andrew Port
Andrew I. Port is a professor of history at Wayne State University in Detroit, specializing in modern German history. His notable works include Never Again: Germans and Genocide after the Holocaust, which explores Germany’s post-Holocaust identity, and Conflict and Stability in the German Democratic Republic, a study of East German political and social dynamics. He also co-edited Becoming East German: Structures and Sensibilities after Hitler with Mary Fulbrook, examining the formation of East German society. Dr. Port holds degrees in history from Yale University and Harvard University. He has received the DAAD Prize for Distinguished Scholarship in German and European Studies for his significant contributions to the field. Additionally, Port served as editor-in-chief of Central European History, the flagship journal in his field, where he shaped important scholarly conversations. His work continues to influence the understanding of German and East European history.

This session will convene via Zoom. Please contact AGI Program Coordinator Mr. Jack Fornasiero at jfornasiero@aicgs.org with any questions.

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This event is supported with funds from The Harry and Helen Gray Humanities Program.