Zeitgeschichtliche Forschungsstelle Ingolstadt
Encyclopedia
The Zeitgeschichtliche Forschungsstelle Ingolstadt e. V. (Ingolstadt Research Institute for Contemporary Historical Research registered association
, ZFI, also known as Institut für Zeitgeschichtsforschung Ingolstadt) is a historical revisionist
association located in Dunsdorf, Bavaria
.
, Hellmut Diwald
and Alfred Seidl, in opposition to the renowned Institut für Zeitgeschichte
(Institut für Contemporary History) in Munich
. It has about 500 to 600 members. It organizes large meetings twice a year, and publishes the Zeitgeschichtliche Bibliothek and the ZFI-Informationen. Stephen E. Atkins has stated that the ZFI is a Holocaust denial institution in Germany, while the head of the ZFI, Alfred Schickel, is careful to stay avoid German restrictions against attacking Holocaust and has concentrated on - what Atkins describes as - “so-called Allied atrocities against the Germans”. For instance, Schickel wrote in 1980 that the number of six millions Jews killed in the Holocaust was “no longer advocated seriously today in contemporary historical science”. The ZFI rejects the findings of historical research, and uses ideologically based Pseudohistory
. In doing so, it creates a "parallel universe" isolated from scholarly discourse by self-referencing to its own publications. In conferences and meetings, Nazism
is presented systematically as innocent, and the German guilt for the Second World War is denied. This happens in close collaboration with periodicals such as Europa Vorn, Nation und Europa und Deutschland in Geschichte und Gegenwart, which pursue similar goals. The founders of ZFI, who except for Schickel have died, have collaborated with historical revisionist and radical right organizations. Bernd Wagner in 1994 regarded the ZFI as one of the intellectual centers of far right
historical revisionism
in Germany.
The SPD
and others have made allegations that Alfred Lehmann (CSU
), Lord Mayor of Ingolstadt, has participated several times in ZFI conferences, while Horst Seehofer
(CSU), th eminister for food, agriculture and consumer protection, had sent a laudatory greeting to the organization.
Some of the more active critics of the institution include the left-wing journalist Anton Maegerle
, who published his portrait of the ZFI in 1996.
Eingetragener Verein
Eingetragener Verein is a legal status for a registered voluntary association in Germany and Austria. While any group may be called a Verein, registration as eingetragener Verein holds many legal benefits because a registered association may legally function as a corporate body rather than just...
, ZFI, also known as Institut für Zeitgeschichtsforschung Ingolstadt) is a historical revisionist
Historical revisionism
In historiography, historical revisionism is the reinterpretation of orthodox views on evidence, motivations, and decision-making processes surrounding a historical event...
association located in Dunsdorf, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
.
Political orientation
The ZFI was founded in 1981 and shaped by Alfred SchickelAlfred Schickel
Alfred Schickel is a German revisionist historian and Scientific Director of the Zeitgeschichtliche Forschungsstelle Ingolstadt.-Life:...
, Hellmut Diwald
Hellmut Diwald
Hellmut Diwald was a German historian and Professor of Medieval and Modern History at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg from 1965 to 1985....
and Alfred Seidl, in opposition to the renowned Institut für Zeitgeschichte
Institut für Zeitgeschichte
The Institut für Zeitgeschichte in Munich was conceived in 1947 under the name Deutsches Institut für Geschichte der nationalsozialistischen Zeit...
(Institut für Contemporary History) in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. It has about 500 to 600 members. It organizes large meetings twice a year, and publishes the Zeitgeschichtliche Bibliothek and the ZFI-Informationen. Stephen E. Atkins has stated that the ZFI is a Holocaust denial institution in Germany, while the head of the ZFI, Alfred Schickel, is careful to stay avoid German restrictions against attacking Holocaust and has concentrated on - what Atkins describes as - “so-called Allied atrocities against the Germans”. For instance, Schickel wrote in 1980 that the number of six millions Jews killed in the Holocaust was “no longer advocated seriously today in contemporary historical science”. The ZFI rejects the findings of historical research, and uses ideologically based Pseudohistory
Pseudohistory
Pseudohistory is a pejorative term applied to a type of historical revisionism, often involving sensational claims whose acceptance would require rewriting a significant amount of commonly accepted history, and based on methods that depart from standard historiographical conventions.Cryptohistory...
. In doing so, it creates a "parallel universe" isolated from scholarly discourse by self-referencing to its own publications. In conferences and meetings, Nazism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
is presented systematically as innocent, and the German guilt for the Second World War is denied. This happens in close collaboration with periodicals such as Europa Vorn, Nation und Europa und Deutschland in Geschichte und Gegenwart, which pursue similar goals. The founders of ZFI, who except for Schickel have died, have collaborated with historical revisionist and radical right organizations. Bernd Wagner in 1994 regarded the ZFI as one of the intellectual centers of far right
Far right in Germany
Following the fall of Nazi Germany and the dissolution of the Nazi Party in 1945, the far right in Germany quickly re-organized itself.The Deutsche Rechtspartei was founded in 1946, succeeded by the Deutsche Reichspartei in 1950. The Socialist Reich Party was founded in 1949...
historical revisionism
Historical revisionism
In historiography, historical revisionism is the reinterpretation of orthodox views on evidence, motivations, and decision-making processes surrounding a historical event...
in Germany.
Criticism
The ZFI was previously observed by the intelligence service of the Bavarian government. However, the ZFI no longer features in the yearly reports of the intelligence service, that depict extremist and anti-constitutional activities. In February 2007, the service stated, though, that "Publications belonging to the far right refer to the Head of the ZFI and his articles in order to propagate thoughts which are not compatible with the free democratic order."The SPD
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
and others have made allegations that Alfred Lehmann (CSU
Christian Social Union of Bavaria
The Christian Social Union in Bavaria is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It operates only in the state of Bavaria, while its sister party, the Christian Democratic Union , operates in the other 15 states of Germany...
), Lord Mayor of Ingolstadt, has participated several times in ZFI conferences, while Horst Seehofer
Horst Seehofer
Horst Lorenz Seehofer is a German politician . He was Federal Minister for Health and Social Security from 1992 to 1998 and served as Federal Minister of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection in the cabinet of Angela Merkel from 2005 to 2008...
(CSU), th eminister for food, agriculture and consumer protection, had sent a laudatory greeting to the organization.
Some of the more active critics of the institution include the left-wing journalist Anton Maegerle
Anton Maegerle
Anton Maegerle is the nom de plume of a left-wing German journalist and author books on far-right politics and the Neue Rechte.-Personal life:...
, who published his portrait of the ZFI in 1996.
Dr. Walter-Eckhardt-Ehrengabe für Zeitgeschichtsforschung
Die ZFI also awards the Dr. Walter-Eckhardt-Ehrengabe für Zeitgeschichtsforschung (“Dr. Walter Eckhardt Honorary Gift for Contemporary Historical Research”). Among the recipients in the preceding years were:- Alfred Schickel (1986)
- Joachim HoffmannJoachim HoffmannJoachim Hoffmann was a German historian and scientific director of the German Armed Forces Military History Research Office.-Life:...
(1991) - Walter Post (1993)
- Franz W. SeidlerFranz W. SeidlerFranz Wilhelm Seidler is a German historian, author and expert on German military history. He is Professor Emeritus of Modern History at the Bundeswehr University Munich....
(1998) - Alfred-Maurice de ZayasAlfred-Maurice de ZayasAlfred-Maurice de Zayas is an American lawyer, writer, historian, a leading expert in the field of human rights, as well as a former high-ranking United Nations official...
(2001)
Literature
- Andreas Angerstorfer, Annemarie Dengg: Rechte Strukturen in Bayern. Eine Dokumentation mit Schwerpunkt Oberbayern, Oberpfalz und Niederbayern. Second revised edition, Munich 2005
- Anton MaegerleAnton MaegerleAnton Maegerle is the nom de plume of a left-wing German journalist and author books on far-right politics and the Neue Rechte.-Personal life:...
: „Club der Revisionisten“. Blick nach RechtsBlick nach RechtsThe Blick nach Rechts is a German-language information service which appears every two weeks on the Internet. Its concern is the current "information about activities of the extreme right" , which in the opinion of the initiators aren't properly noticed by the common media.- Structure and purchase...
Nr. 25, 11 December 2006. - Bernd Wagner: Handbuch Rechtsextremismus - Netzwerke, Parteien, Organisationen, Ideologiezentren, Medien, Reinbek near Hamburg 1994