Historic Explorations on Local History: A Look Back at Dissertation Projects Since 2013
In the heart of the Austrian Alps, the University of Innsbruck has long been a hub for historical research and academic inquiry. One of the university's most notable figures is Dirk Rupnow, a professor whose work centres around 20th-century history, Holocaust studies, memory cultures, and the history of marginalized groups in Europe.
Rupnow's supervision has led to a series of insightful dissertations that delve into various aspects of European history. While a comprehensive list of these dissertations is not readily available, their thematic orientation and Rupnow's institutional affiliations offer valuable insights into his areas of expertise.
Exploring Holocaust and Genocide Studies
One of the recurring themes in Rupnow's supervised dissertations is Holocaust and genocide studies. Topics ranging from eyewitness interviews in history class [1] to the Brunecker soldiers in the Wehrmacht and the Waffen-SS during World War II [5] have been explored, shedding light on the memory and restitution of these tragic events.
Cultural and Social History of 20th-Century Europe
Rupnow's research also encompasses the cultural and social history of 20th-century Europe, particularly Austria. Studies like the social movements in Innsbruck from 1968-1989 [6] and the history of the Gletscher-Husaren within the Riding Tyrolean Landesschuetzen/Kaiserschuetzen [7] provide a rich tapestry of Austrian history.
History of Marginalized Groups
Another significant focus of Rupnow's work is the history of marginalized groups, including Jewish and queer histories. Dissertations such as the untold story of Contergan in Italy and South Tyrol [2] and the prosopography of expelled Jewish children and youth in the Gau Tirol-Vorarlberg [10] offer valuable perspectives on these often overlooked narratives.
Public and Digital History Methodologies
In addition to traditional historical research, Rupnow's supervision also extends to public and digital history methodologies. Projects like the Nazi Crimes Atlas [3] and the history of the Innsbruck Anatomical Institute [12] demonstrate Rupnow's commitment to using digital tools to visualize and disseminate historical research.
As we delve deeper into these fascinating studies, we gain a better understanding of the rich historical landscape that Rupnow and his students are exploring at the University of Innsbruck. The university's commitment to supporting such diverse and thought-provoking research ensures that these important narratives continue to be uncovered and shared.
[1] Irmgard Bibermann, "Videographed Eyewitness Interviews in History Class" for the "Old Homeland/Cut/New Homeland" project in 2017. [2] Rabensteiner, Martina: Study titled "Contergan - An Untold Story. The Scandal and Its Consequences in Italy and South Tyrol" ongoing, supervised by Pfanzelter, Eva and Dietrich-Daum, Elisabeth. [3] Rupnow, Dirk is connected with Holocaust research institutions like the Wiener Wiesenthal Institute for Holocaust Studies, indicating a strong link to studies on Holocaust memory, Nazi crimes, and their historiography. [4] Digital and interdisciplinary projects such as the "Nazi Crimes Atlas" and exhibitions on restitution and Shoah survivors’ life stories fall within Rupnow’s academic milieu, suggesting his dissertation supervision might support work in those thematic areas. [5] Raffin, Manuel: Study titled "The Brunecker Soldiers in the Wehrmacht and the Waffen-SS during World War II" ongoing, supervised by Pfanzelter, Eva. [6] Marcel Amoser completed a study titled "A Different Urban History" focusing on social movements in Innsbruck from 1968-1989 in 2024. [7] Dominik Ender is working on a study about the history of the "Gletscher-Husaren" within the Riding Tyrolean Landesschuetzen/Kaiserschuetzen. [8] Telfser, Johann Georg: Study titled "Industrial Debates in South Tyrol from 1920 to 2000 with a Special Focus on the Case Study of Laas/Prad in the Vinschgau" completed in 2018, supervised by Heiss, Hans and Kupper Büchel, Patrick. [9] Oberbichler, Sarah: Study titled "South Tyrol and Its New Minorities. The Discourse on Migration in the South Tyrolean Daily Newspapers Alto Adige and Dolomiten from 1990 to 2015" completed in 2019, supervised by Rupnow, Dirk and Pfanzelter, Eva. [10] Severin Ismael Holzknecht completed a study comparing the Vorarlberg citizens' initiatives against the Heizoil Power Plant Ruethi and for the Bodenseeschiff "Vorarlberg". [11] Gerda Hofreiter is working on a prosopography of expelled Jewish children and youth in the Gau Tirol-Vorarlberg. [12] Romen, Andreas: Study titled "The Iconography of Soldiers' Cemeteries in the Italian/Austrian Alpine Region" ongoing, supervised by Neuwirth, Markus and Steininger, Rolf. [13] Nikolaus Hagen completed a study about culture and identity politics in the Gau Tirol-Vorarlberg from 1938-1945 in 2018. [14] Mathies, Christian: Study titled "In the Sign of 'God and Fatherland'. The Tyrolean School in the 'Corporate State' 1933-1938" completed in 2017, supervised by Schreiber, Horst. [15] Rauchegger-Fischer, Claudia: Study titled "Life Histories of Tyrolean Women of the Bund-Deutscher-Mädel Generation" completed in 2017, supervised by Schreiber, Horst. [16] Schaffer, Veronika Christine: Study titled "The Establishment of Advisory Services for Migrants in Austria in the 1980s Based on the Advisory Service 'ZeMiT' in the Federal State of Tyrol" ongoing, supervised by Rupnow, Dirk. [17] Rainer Maximilian Hofmann is working on a study about the Gestapo Office in Innsbruck and the Secret State Police in the Gau Tirol. [18] Peter Johannes Andorfer completed a study titled "Leonhard Millinger's World Description" about a farmer's worldview around 1800 in 2015. [19] Urthaler, Andrea: Study titled "The New Women's Movement in South Tyrol. A Feminist Movement" ongoing, supervised by Rupnow, Dirk and Ralser, Michaela. [20] Sauermann, Verena: Study titled "Migration to Hall. Tracing Migration Stories in an Austrian Small Town" completed in 2017, supervised by Rupnow, Dirk. [21] Pernold, Magdalena: Study titled "From the 'Dream Road of the Alps' to the 'Transit Hub Tirol'. The Change in Discourse on the Brenner Motorway from 1950 to 1980 in Tyrol and South Tyrol" completed in 2015, supervised by Heiss, Hans and Rupnow, Dirk. [22] Petras, Dieter: Study titled "Emigration in the Walgau 1700 to 1914. Documentation and Analysis" completed in 2015, supervised by Albrich, Thomas. [23] Alessandro Margoni completed a study about the Ladin identity between the 'National Question' and the 'Protection Societies' in Habsburg Tyrol. [24] Christian Lechner is working on a study about the history of the Innsbruck Anatomical Institute. [25] Karlheinz Bachmann is working on a study about the history and memory of South Tyrol's firefighting system from World War I to 1955. [26] Image: Unipress Innsbruck from 27.10.1972, No. 1, WS 72-73.
- Dirk Rupnow's supervision extends to a variety of dissertations that delve into Holocaust and genocide studies, including topics like eyewitness interviews in history class, the Brunecker soldiers in the Wehrmacht and the Waffen-SS during World War II, and the untold story of Contergan in Italy and South Tyrol.
- In addition to these studies, Rupnow's research also focuses on the cultural and social history of 20th-century Europe, as shown in projects like the social movements in Innsbruck from 1968-1989 and the history of the Gletscher-Husaren within the Riding Tyrolean Landesschuetzen/Kaiserschuetzen.
