Authors

Discussion

During World War One, the concept of „Mitteleuropa“ became central for German war aims. By applying the idea of national self-determination, a political and economic dominion of the German Empire over newly formed states in Central Europe should be formed. To broaden the acceptance of this policy within the German Society, publicists issued hundreds of brochures, pamphlets, and leaflets to illustrate the struggle for self-determination of the respective nations; largely relying on authors from Eastern Europe. As Eastern and South-Eastern Europe where under imperial control since the end of the 18th century, premodern history played a decisive role to identify, construct, and promote certain national identities and projects.

Using the vast collections of the German National Library as well as the Bavarian State Library, a research project in Halle is currently building a data base to identify competing references to premodern history in this writings, by using the Wiki Data platform „Factgrid“. This project is realized together with students. Its aim is to get a closer understanding, of how premodern History is used as an argument to promote nations and states to be politically realized in the Post World War Order. Furthermore, it will be possible to identify networks of authors, printing houses, and sponsors of such publications. The paper will outline the historical context and provide insights into the results and possible research perspectives of the project.