Talk:Fritz Fischer (historian)

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Nazi doctor

Doctor's Trial article says Fritz Fischer was found guilty of Nazi human experimentation and given life imprisonment. Is this a different Fritz Fischer ? Jay 10:57, 4 Nov 2004 (UTC)

Prof. Fritz Fischer is not Dr. Fritz Fischer - the defendant in Doctors' Trial.

Prof. Fritz Fischer was apointed professor in 1948 at University of Hamburg and became prof. emeritus in 1973. Dr. Fritz Fischer was sentenced to life imprisonment by the American Military Tribunal , then his sentence was reduced to 15 years. Eventually, he was released from prison in March, 1954. Please do not confuse those two persons.

--fitzner 14:38, 1 Dec 2004 (UTC)

Thanks, the other Fritz Fischer now has an article at Fritz Fischer (medical doctor). Jay (talk) 03:57, 10 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

The link to Volker Berghahn's article is, in fact, a link to the American Historical Association only. The article is behind a paywall. This is misleading. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 94.192.64.37 (talk) 19:56, 30 November 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Proposed Lead revision

The current lead section does not fully adhere to Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Lead section. This revised lead removes unnecessary commentary and better reflects Fischer’s impact on historical scholarship.

Proposed Lead revision

Fritz Fischer (5 March 1908 – 1 December 1999) was a German historian known for his influential research on the origins of the First World War. His work, particularly the publication of Griff nach der Weltmacht (1961; Germany’s Aims in the First World War), challenged prevailing historical narratives by arguing that Imperial Germany bore primary responsibility for the war. Fischer’s thesis, based on newly accessed archival material, suggested that German leaders had deliberately pursued expansionist war aims and had played a decisive role in provoking the conflict. His findings provoked significant controversy within West Germany, as they contradicted widely held views that sought to distribute blame more evenly among the major powers.
Fischer held a professorship at Hamburg University, where he taught from 1948 until his retirement. His work had a lasting impact on historiography, shaping debates on German war aims and influencing the Sonderweg thesis, which posited that Germany's political development differed fundamentally from that of other Western nations. Despite initial resistance, his research gained international recognition, and in 1984, he was named an Honorary Foreign Member of the American Historical Association. Fischer's scholarship contributed to a broader reassessment of Germany’s role in 20th-century conflicts and influenced political discussions in post-war West Germany.

Feedback is welcome and if no significant objections are raised, I propose implementing this revision. Thank you Aeengath (talk) 20:02, 15 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]