Project Launch and Objectives
The goal of this initiative is to conduct a historically grounded, independent, and transparent examination of the years 1938 through 1945. The study will examine institutional developments, continuity and discontinuity in personnel, and the impact of Nazi policies on research, teaching, and administration at the university. The Technical University of Leoben thereby expressly acknowledges its historical responsibility and aims to contribute to a culture of reflective remembrance.

Historical Context and Relevance
Following the “Anschluss” to the German Reich, universities became not only centers of scholarship but were also integrated into the political, economic, and ideological structures of the Nazi state. For a technical or mining university, this context is particularly significant: raw materials, industry, and technical expertise played a central role in Nazi economic, self-sufficiency, and armaments policies. The project therefore analyzes how research priorities, networks, and the university’s self-image as an institution changed under the conditions of dictatorship, war, and Nazi science policy.

People and Responsibilities
The focus is not only on institutions, but also on the people who taught, studied, and worked at the Technical University. The project examines forms of participation, adaptation, careers, responsibility, and potential complicity. It reconstructs who benefited from new power and career dynamics, who adapted, who took advantage of opportunities for action, and what life paths those involved took.

Cooperation, Independence, and Academic Leadership
The initiative was launched by the Rector’s Office of the Technical University of Leoben under the leadership of Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. mont. Peter Moser. The scientific implementation is the responsibility of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Research on the Consequences of War, under the direction of Univ.-Prof. Dr. Barbara Stelzl-Marx, with the collaboration and project coordination of Dr. Katharina Bergmann-Pfleger. The research is being conducted in close cooperation with the Institute of History at the University of Graz. An external scientific advisory board will provide expert guidance for the project and further ensure the independence of the work.

Methodology and Sources
The study is based on extensive research in university and external archives, the systematic analysis of relevant primary sources and research literature, and the critical incorporation of memoirs, personal accounts, and, where appropriate, contemporary eyewitness accounts. The research is conducted independently and without preconceptions.

Transparency and Publication
At the conclusion of the project, a scholarly final report will be submitted, which will be made publicly available. The report aims to transparently present key trends, reliable findings, and open questions, thereby laying the groundwork for further research.

Comments on the Project
Rector Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. mont. Peter Moser: “As the Technical University of Leoben, we are facing up to our historical responsibility. The years 1938 through 1945 represent a troubled chapter in our university’s history—one that we do not intend to ignore, but rather to examine in a scientifically sound, independent, and transparent manner. Precisely because science, technology, raw materials, and industry played a special role during the Nazi era, this examination is of great significance for a university specializing in mining and resources. This project aims to help make history visible, take responsibility, and further develop a culture of reflective remembrance.”

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Barbara Stelzl-Marx, Director of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Research on the Consequences of War and Professor of Contemporary History at the University of Graz: “The project focuses on the unique responsibility of the Montanuniversität Leoben during the Nazi era. For the first time, it examines the interconnections between academia, industry, and the war economy at this location, as well as the life stories of those who benefited from the political circumstances here, were excluded, or were persecuted. I am very pleased that, together with my team at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Research on the Consequences of War and the Institute of History at the University of Graz, I am able to conduct this in-depth exploration of contemporary history.”

Advisory Board
An external academic advisory board will be established to provide expert guidance for the project. It will support quality assurance, methodological reflection, and the academic relevance of the research. The advisory board consists of recognized experts in contemporary history, university history, the culture of remembrance, and Nazi research: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Mitchell G. Ash, Mag.a Dr.in. Linda Erker, Prof. Mag.a. Hannah M. Lessing, Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Georg Marschnig, and Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Dirk Rupnow.
The advisory board provides guidance to the project; academic responsibility and implementation rest with the research team.

Outlook
By systematically examining its Nazi history, the Technical University Leoben is sending a clear signal of academic integrity, historical responsibility, and transparency. The results are intended to provide lasting support for further dialogue on the culture of remembrance and responsibility in academia and society, while also serving as a foundation for future research.

Project Director: Barbara Stelzl-Marx
Project Coordinator: Katharina Bergmann-Pfleger
Project Team Members: Mathias Egger, Dorian Nowrouzi, Alexander Baumann, Michael Schober
Duration: 2026–2027