Raymond Poidevin

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Raymond Poidevin (born December 19, 1928 in Bennwihr , † June 24, 2000 in Strasbourg ) was a French historian . Poidevin dealt with the Franco-German history of the 18th and 19th centuries and had a decisive influence on the way people viewed this epoch in France.

life and work

Poidevin comes from Alsace . He studied at the Sorbonne in Paris History and concludes the study in 1969 with the Doctorat d'Etat from. From 1969 to 1980 he was Professor of Contemporary History at the University of Metz . From 1980 he was Professor of Modern History at the University of Strasbourg and Director of the Research Center for the History of International Relations.

Poidevin's research focus was on Franco-German history. He wrote the book "France and Germany - The History of Their Relationships 1815-1975" with Jacques Bariety . Poidevin published on Paul von Hindenburg , Wilhelm II. And on the origins of the First World War . Another focus of his work was the work of Robert Schuman and the history of Alsace . Poidevin positioned himself as an opponent of German reunification . According to him, a unified Germany would be a " third superpower " that would go beyond the " European framework " and would inevitably pose a threat to France.

criticism

In Germany, Poidevin's positions were controversial. In the introduction of the German edition of Poidevin's book "The Restless Great Power - Germany and the World in the 20th Century ", Andreas Hillgruber criticizes the fact that Poidevin argues as a political historian and basically assumes that all German actors have a need for nationalistic expansion . In his remarks, Poidevin would judge unilaterally and with special consideration of the national interests of France.

Awards

Publications (selection)

  • Robert Schuman's German and European politics between tradition and reorientation (= writings of the philosophical departments of the University of Augsburg. Vol. 3). Vögel, Munich 1976, ISBN 3-920896-26-2 .
  • with Jacques Bariety: France and Germany. The history of their relationships 1815–1975. Beck, Munich 1982, ISBN 3-406-04124-8 .
  • The restless great power. Germany and the world in the 20th century. Ploetz, Freiburg (Breisgau) et al. 1985, ISBN 3-87640-251-4 .
  • as editor with Rainer Hudemann : The Saar 1945–1955. A problem in European history. = La Sarre 1945–1955. A problem of the history of Europe. Oldenbourg, Munich 1992, ISBN 3-486-55914-1 .