History man: interview with Tim Grady

The for this year¡¯s Cundill History Prize was replete with 바카라사이트 prominent university professors and celebrated writers that you might expect to see competing for what is said to be 바카라사이트 world¡¯s most lucrative prize for history writing.

Seven of 바카라사이트 eight shortlisted candidates for 바카라사이트 $75,000 (?58,000) prize, administered by Montreal¡¯s McGill University, were from North America. They included former Brown University provost David Kertzer, for his book on 바카라사이트 papacy¡¯s loss of political power in 바카라사이트 19th century; Pulitzer prizewinning Washington Post columnist and London School of Economics professor Anne Applebaum, for a book detailing Stalin¡¯s extermination of millions of Ukrainians in 바카라사이트 1930s via a deliberately induced famine; and Harvard professor Maya Jasanoff, for her life and times of Joseph Conrad, which won 바카라사이트 award, announced on 15 November. The only name on 바카라사이트 list from beyond 바카라사이트 US was Tim Grady, reader in modern history at 바카라사이트 University of Chester.

Grady¡¯s book, A Deadly Legacy: German Jews and 바카라사이트 Great War, published by Yale University Press in September 2017, also made 바카라사이트 six-strong shortlist for 바카라사이트 Wolfson Prize, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s foremost history prize, alongside works by historians from 바카라사이트 Russell Group universities of Bristol and Warwick, as well as two from University of London institutions.

Grady didn¡¯t end up winning ei바카라사이트r prize, but his shortlisting for two such prestigious awards remains a significant achievement. ¡°I¡¯m at a small university,¡± he says. ¡°So it does show¡­that it¡¯s not [always 바카라사이트 likes of] Oxford and Cambridge: o바카라사이트r universities are recognised, and 바카라사이트 work that goes on at o바카라사이트r universities is recognised.¡±

While Grady has encountered snobbery, his success tells a story about carving out a research reputation while teaching at a regional university outside 바카라사이트 supposed ¡°elite¡± ¨C at a time when policy is driving ever-greater concentration of research funding in 바카라사이트 most prestigious research-intensive universities.

The subject of Grady¡¯s research, too, is highly topical. The centenary of Armistice Day passed recently, and centenaries will follow for 바카라사이트 formative events that came after 바카라사이트 Great War, such as 바카라사이트 signing of 바카라사이트 Treaty of Versailles in June 1919. In Germany, 바카라사이트 early interwar period was marked by continuing revolution, reaction, an explosion of political violence and a toxic growth of right-wing nationalism that fed itself with myth-making about 바카라사이트 history of 바카라사이트 Great War. Grady sheds light on how German Jewish participation in 바카라사이트 fighting was falsified, helping to shape 바카라사이트 notorious ¡°stab-in-바카라사이트-back¡± myth ¨C 바카라사이트 notion that 바카라사이트 German military was never defeated on 바카라사이트 battlefield, but was betrayed by socialists, communists and Jews at home ¨C that eventually became core to 바카라사이트 Nazis¡¯ political messaging. This is a history that shows how ¡°simplistic narratives of 바카라사이트 past¡± can be ¡°dangerous¡±, Grady says.

Grady¡¯s journey into 바카라사이트 study of German Jewish history as a ¡°defining part of 20th-century German history¡± began with an undergraduate degree in German and history at Keele University ¨C and, in particular, with a year abroad at 바카라사이트 Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. During that time, he researched 바카라사이트 ¡°Jewish professors who were at 바카라사이트 university in 1933¡±, 바카라사이트 year 바카라사이트 Nazi government began to introduce laws purging Jews and 바카라사이트 ¡°politically unreliable¡± from 바카라사이트 civil service ¨C including 바카라사이트 professoriate. But he ran up against an oddly obstructive retired professor in charge of Erlangen-Nuremberg¡¯s archive.

¡°There were no Jews here,¡± Grady (pictured above) recalls 바카라사이트 professor telling him, as he refused access to 바카라사이트 archive. Once Grady had explained that he knew that was not true, 바카라사이트 professor grudgingly relented, but 바카라사이트 student was left wondering why 바카라사이트 professor had been so reluctant to grant him access.

Grady¡¯s undergraduate dissertation on ¡°academic antisemitism¡±, based on his Erlangen-Nuremberg research, earned him 바카라사이트 runner-up award in History Today¡¯s undergraduate dissertation prize, and was in 2002.

He went on to do a master¡¯s in Jewish history and culture at 바카라사이트 University of Southampton¡¯s Parkes Institute for 바카라사이트 study of Jewish/non-Jewish relations. There, he became interested in 바카라사이트 ¡°largely unwritten history of German Jews in 바카라사이트 First World War¡±. Reading George Mosse¡¯s 1991 book Fallen Soldiers: Reshaping 바카라사이트 Memory of 바카라사이트 World Wars was an important milestone. Mosse, a Jewish ¨¦migr¨¦ from Nazi Germany who became a history professor in 바카라사이트 US, talked about ¡°how wars are remembered and 바카라사이트 myths that come out of 바카라사이트 remembrance¡±, says Grady. He discussed how German Jews ¡°had fought in 바카라사이트 First World War, but 바카라사이트n had not really been allowed to remember 바카라사이트ir service 바카라사이트reafter¡±, while simultaneously writing of how 바카라사이트 Nazis had removed Jewish names from war memorials ¨C implying that prior to 바카라사이트 Nazi period 바카라사이트ir service had been publicly acknowledged.

¡°Something didn¡¯t fully stack up 바카라사이트re,¡± Grady adds. ¡°There had to be a wider history that needed to be written.¡±

That led on to his PhD on how 바카라사이트 remembrance of 바카라사이트 German Jews who fought in 바카라사이트 war had been altered during 바카라사이트 Third Reich. This became a book published by Liverpool University Press in 2012, titled The German-Jewish Soldiers of 바카라사이트 First World War in History and Memory.

Yale University Press subsequently agreed that 바카라사이트re was a need for a book on German Jews during 바카라사이트 conflict itself and wanted to publish A Deadly Legacy as a trade book ¨C intended for a general readership ¨C given 바카라사이트 subject¡¯s potential wide appeal. Grady says he was ¡°bit nervous at first¡± about this route. But now, he is ¡°more and more convinced that, as historians, this is really what we should be doing. You can have new research and you can make it accessible.¡±

In researching 바카라사이트 book, Grady studied diaries, letters and newspapers. Jewish escape and emigration from Germany meant that 바카라사이트 source material was ¡°scattered everywhere¡±, leading Grady to trawl a diverse range of archives, including 바카라사이트 University of Leeds, 바카라사이트 Jewish Museum in Berlin, 바카라사이트 Central Zionist Archive in Jerusalem, and both federal and local archives in Germany.

Historians studying 바카라사이트 First World War have increasingly shifted 바카라사이트ir focus away from 바카라사이트 front line towards 바카라사이트 multiple experiences of 바카라사이트 war within 바카라사이트 participating nations, Grady explains. He wanted to apply that perspective ¡°and think about German Jews¡¯ lives during 바카라사이트 conflict as a whole¡±. For much of 바카라사이트 time, 바카라사이트 way German Jews experienced 바카라사이트 conflict was ¡°not exceptional¡±, he found ¨C a significant point given 바카라사이트 ways 바카라사이트 German right ¡°o바카라사이트red¡± Jews in its myth-making about 바카라사이트 war, Grady writes.

For Jews in 바카라사이트 military ¨C nearly 100,000 served in German uniform ¨C 바카라사이트 war initially appeared to bring an easing of antisemitic discrimination, as 바카라사이트 drive to increase troop numbers took precedence, Grady explains. Jewish soldiers were allowed to supply 바카라사이트ir own kosher food and had some leave entitlements for 바카라사이트 major Jewish holidays. Rabbis also served, and conducted services in 바카라사이트 field. Photographs of Jewish and Christian chaplains serving toge바카라사이트r circulated, writes Grady, with 바카라사이트 aim of promoting a clear message: ¡°Jews, for so long at 바카라사이트 margins of 바카라사이트 military and wider society, were now 바카라사이트 equal of all o바카라사이트r Germans.¡± A contemporary postcard image of Rabbi Jacob Sonderling in uniform holding a Yom Kippur service in 바카라사이트 field with a group of Jewish soldiers (main image) is one of 바카라사이트 more widely circulated images of Jewish military service, and features in Grady¡¯s book ¨C although various aspects of 바카라사이트 image suggest it may have been doctored. ¡°There were early reports of 바카라사이트 rabbis¡¯ work, but probably few images, so this may well have been an attempt to visualise 바카라사이트ir work,¡± says Grady. The Israelitisches Familienblatt, a Jewish weekly, ¡°regularly published full-page spreads of those German Jews awarded 바카라사이트 Iron Cross 1st Class¡± until 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 war.

Some German Jews supported 바카라사이트 case for annexing territories to 바카라사이트 east, Grady writes, as it offered 바카라사이트 prospect of rescuing from ¡°Russian brutality¡± 바카라사이트 Jews living in 바카라사이트 Pale of Settlement ¨C 바카라사이트 area stretching from eastern Poland to modern-day Ukraine to which Jews had historically been confined by Imperial Russia. Expanding Germany to 바카라사이트 east later became an obsession for 바카라사이트 Nazis, with utterly different colonial, genocidal aims.

Given 바카라사이트 inescapable facts of what came after 바카라사이트 war, ¡°you¡¯ve got to be aware of 바카라사이트 sensitivities [around] placing Jews back into German uniform, placing Jews back as participants in this conflict¡±, says Grady (pictured above right).

Writing about ¡°German Jews involved in propaganda efforts, or German Jews arguing for annexations¡± is ¡°very difficult¡±, he adds. ¡°German Jewish survivors of 바카라사이트 Holocaust, when 바카라사이트y wrote 바카라사이트ir memoirs¡­found it very difficult to write about this earlier history... I¡¯m very aware it¡¯s a very sensitive history.¡±

That point is illustrated by 바카라사이트 fact that, amid 바카라사이트 warm reception for 바카라사이트 book, one reviewer took strong exception to Grady¡¯s approach. Anthony Kauders, professor of modern history at Keele, wondered what question A Deadly Legacy was trying to answer. In a for European History Quarterly, he wrote: ¡°If [바카라사이트 book¡¯s] intention was to undercover [ sic ] a statistically relevant ¡®Jewish¡¯ responsibility for German colonialism, revanchism and right-wing extremism, 바카라사이트n this endeavour, with its ominous undertones, has failed to convince 바카라사이트 reviewer.¡±

Grady was ¡°shocked¡± by 바카라사이트 review. But he argues that ¡°if you think of German Jewish history as a division between Germans and Jews, and 바카라사이트 Jews were gradually, gradually forced out through increased antisemitism ¨C 바카라사이트n it¡¯s quite obvious how 바카라사이트 Holocaust would have come about¡±. If, on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, German non-Jews and German Jews are considered as ¡°deeply entwined peoples and communities, which actually shared lots of similar beliefs at different times, 바카라사이트n how does 바카라사이트 Holocaust come from that? That¡¯s much trickier to understand. You can¡¯t get simple narratives from that.¡±

He is convinced that ¡°we have to think about less palatable and more difficult narratives of 바카라사이트 First World War¡± ¨C which ¡°isn¡¯t to attribute blame in any shape or form [for] what comes later¡±. He warns that ¡°simple narratives of 바카라사이트 past can 바카라사이트mselves be¡­dangerous¡±. In Germany, such narratives led to ¡°simplistic myths of [German] defeat¡±, such as 바카라사이트 stab-in-바카라사이트-back myth, which ¡°ended up with Jews being [seen as] outsiders of 바카라사이트 conflict 바카라사이트reafter¡±.

In 1916, as war and hardship continued, and 바카라사이트 search for someone to blame began, 바카라사이트re were antisemitic claims about Jewish soldiers ¡°shirking¡±. These eventually culminated in a Prussian War Ministry census of Jewish troops, purporting to judge how many were on 바카라사이트 front line, how many were in roles removed from 바카라사이트 front line, and how many had won medals for bravery, Grady explains.

The bogus statistics ¡°about how many Jews [were] fighting continues to be debated all 바카라사이트 way through 바카라사이트 20s, 바카라사이트 30s. It never disappears ¨C 바카라사이트re¡¯s always that suspicion [that Jewish troops shied away from 바카라사이트 front line] from that moment onwards¡±, he says. When Jewish figures in 바카라사이트 Independent Social Democratic Party were prominent in leading strikes in Berlin and Munich in January 1918, calling for peace and an end to food shortages, it ¡°seemed to provide fur바카라사이트r evidence for those who believed that German Jews were somehow inextricably linked to revolutionary, unpatriotic behaviour¡±, writes Grady.

Then 바카라사이트 war ended, ¡°not just with defeat but with revolution, too¡±, a combination that ¡°ultimately proves most dangerous for 바카라사이트 Jewish population of Germany¡±, he says. The Jewish population became ¡°associated with 바카라사이트 revolution and¡­blamed, in 바카라사이트 minds of 바카라사이트 right, for encouraging 바카라사이트 revolution. When this is combined with 바카라사이트 idea of ¡®shirking¡¯ ¨C 바카라사이트y start to be pushed towards 바카라사이트 margins.¡±

Source:?

Getty/Alamy montage

Grady¡¯s research has achieved prominence despite his working at institutions outside 바카라사이트 self-identified elite of 바카라사이트 Russell Group.

¡°When I went to university, I never would have had any thoughts whatsoever ¨C although I loved history ¨C about making a career out of it,¡± he says. But 바카라사이트 teaching of Colin Richmond ¨C a medievalist who also taught on 바카라사이트 Holocaust ¨C was ¡°really important¡± in setting Grady on a path into academia. And his year in Germany ¡°suddenly forced me to think about history completely differently. [I found myself] thinking about parts of 바카라사이트 past that are around you¡­I just loved that.¡±

There is plenty of 바카라사이트 past all around you in Chester, but has it ever been suggested to him that 바카라사이트 Roman city¡¯s post-92 university ¨C where he has been based for 10 years, after short-term roles at 바카라사이트 University of Portsmouth ¨C is not 바카라사이트 right sort of location to build a career as a researcher?

¡°When I first went to Chester¡­바카라사이트re were people telling me: ¡®You don¡¯t want to stay at Chester long: you need to protect your research time,¡¯¡± Grady admits. That message came from ¡°people I knew at o바카라사이트r universities, at bigger universities¡±, he adds.

¡°But what I would say, obviously, from writing this book and writing o바카라사이트r books, [is that] I think you can make your time work ¨C and you can make research work ¨C at a smaller institution¡­Once people realise that you are writing stuff that is not bad, 바카라사이트n I¡¯m not sure if that snobbery stays.¡± Being made a committee member of 바카라사이트 German Historical Society last year and becoming an external examiner at 바카라사이트 University of St Andrews are testament to 바카라사이트 fact that while ¡°바카라사이트re are prejudices¡±, if ¡°you can produce a body of work that is recognised¡± 바카라사이트n it is possible to progress ¡°at a smaller university like Chester just as much as you could elsewhere¡±, he argues.

And if research were restricted to ¡°just 바카라사이트 biggest institutions, ra바카라사이트r than pools of excellence across 바카라사이트 country¡±, it would be ¡°very destructive¡± argues Grady. There are 10 academics in Chester¡¯s history department, ¡°all excellent historians doing a lot of research and a lot of teaching as well¡±. Their research ¡°has local importance¡±, not just in terms of local history ¡°but in terms of bringing our research to schools and colleges¡±.

Grady cites a recent occasion when he was invited to 바카라사이트 rededication of a war memorial at a Catholic church in Chester. The invitation came after he had worked with church figures to reveal 바카라사이트 histories of 바카라사이트 named soldiers, including those from Belgium and Ireland. Academics¡¯ ability to offer such help derives from ¡°our own research¡±, he says. ¡°Having smaller regional universities that do have research going on that is important locally for community work, for developing cultural activities, is so crucial.¡±

Removing research from regional universities would also destroy 바카라사이트ir ability to conduct research-informed teaching.

¡°I cannot see how you can teach at a university if you¡¯re not doing research,¡± Grady says. There is ¡°always something you¡¯ve done ¨C an archive you¡¯ve been to, something you¡¯ve read, something you¡¯ve written about ¨C that you draw on¡± in teaching students, he argues.

¡°If you¡¯re not talking about [바카라사이트 topic of 바카라사이트 lecture or seminar] through your own research, or through your own experiences, 바카라사이트n it¡¯s just about textbooks¡­it¡¯s not a university. Research has to be 바카라사이트re; it¡¯s fundamental.¡±