Recently unveiled information

In the realm of historical research, the University of Innsbruck and its surrounding region have been a hotbed of activity. Here's a roundup of some of the most significant studies and publications that have emerged in recent years.

Exploring the Past: Key Publications

Ina Friedmann and Dirk Rupnow's article, "Under Hitler's Spell and Nazism. A Wall Mosaic and a Rector's Portrait as Contaminated Legacies at the University of Innsbruck" was published in Martina Griesser-Stermscheg, Monika Sommer, Nora Sternfeld, and Luisa Ziaja's book, "Not Simply Exhibiting. Curatorial Formats and Strategies in Post-Nazism", Berlin-Boston 2025, pages 165-174.
Sarah Oberbichler, Eva Pfanzelter, and Valerio Larcher edited the book, "Return and Circular Migration in Contemporary European History", published in Berlin-Munich 2024. The book includes articles such as Eva Pfanzelter's "Digital Historical Remigration: The Example of the South Tyrolean Return Option" and Sarah Oberbichler and Eva Pfanzelter's "2. European Historical Return Migration Research. A Literature Overview".
Ina Friedmann's article, "Forced Sterilizations in Vorarlberg between 1940 and 1945" was published in Simone Berchtold Schiestl, Ingrid Boehler, Georg Friebe, Michael Kasper, Norbert Schnetzer, and Brigitte Truschnegg's book, "Yearbook of the Vorarlberg Museum Association 2024 (vorarlberg museum Schriften 80)", Innsbruck 2024, pages 87-100.
Eric Burton's article, "Forging the Vanguard of Developmental Socialism: Nationalization, Respectability and Ideological Struggles at Kivukoni College, Tanzania" was published in Su Lin Lewis, David Brydan, Nana Osei-Opare, and Jessica Reinisch's book, "Socialism, Internationalism, and Development in the Third World. Envisioning Modernity in the Era of Decolonization", London et al. 2024, pages 193-214.
Julia Nora Mueller and Eric Burton's article, "Kuchu-Widerstand gegen populistische Allianzen: Homophobie und LGBTQI-Aktivismus in Uganda" was published in Horst Schreiber and Elisabeth Hussl's book, "Das Jubilaum. Gaismair-Jahrbuch 2025 (Jahrbuch der Michael-Gaismair-Gesellschaft 2025)", Innsbruck-Wien 2024, pages 51-61.
Eva Pfanzelter's book, "Option Digital": Documentation of the South Tyrolean Option of 1939. Project Part: Digitization of the "Optantenkartei" was published in Karl C. Berger, Christoph Haidacher, Lukas Morscher, Ulrich Nachbaur, Gustav Pfeifer, Dirk Rupnow, Ingo Schneider, Oswald Uberegger, and Melanie Wiener's book, "On the Value of Remembering II. Scientific Projects of the Funding Period 2019 - 2023", Innsbruck 2024.
The book, "A Century of Bishop Reinhold Stecher. Contexts - Positions - Memories" was edited by Martin Kapferer, Dirk Rupnow, and Mathias Moosbrugger and published in Innsbruck 2024.
Lisa Rettl and Peter Pirker's book, "I Was Glad to Be There." The KZ-Arzt Sigbert Ramsauer. An Austrian Story" was published in Vienna 2024.
Ina Friedmann's article, "The Career of Prehistorian Richard Pittioni between 1930 and 1950" was published in Christoph Augustynowicz, Martina Fuchs, and Florian-Jan Ostrowski's book, "Everyday Life - Memory - Processing at the University of Vienna. Historical Sciences in Austro-Fascism, National Socialism and Post-War Era", Goettingen 2025, pages 157-176.

Delving Deeper: Significant Research Projects

Ina Friedmann and Friedrich Stepanek conducted the research project, "Learning Humility: Childhood in Catholic Children's Homes after 1945".
Eva Pfanzelter's research project, "Option Digital": Documentation of the South Tyrolean Option of 1939. Project Part: Digitization of the "Optantenkartei" was also published on behalf of the "Dreierkommission Martinsbuhel", Innsbruck-Wien 2024.
Peter Pirker's research project, "Deserters of the Wehrmacht in Tyrol, Vorarlberg and South Tyrol. An Overview" was published in Karl C. Berger, Christoph Haidacher, Lukas Morscher, Ulrich Nachbaur, Gustav Pfeifer, Dirk Rupnow, Ingo Schneider, Oswald Uberegger, and Melanie Wiener's book, "On the Value of Remembering II. Scientific Projects of the Funding Period 2019 - 2023", Innsbruck 2024.
Nikolaus Hagen's research project, "High Tyrolean Landtag! Austria is the Gateway to the West for these Eastern Bloc Countries". Tyrolean State Politics and Eastern Opening 1989-1991" was published in Andrea Brait and Michael Gehler's book, "Turning Point and Transition Years. Austria's Federal States and Their Neighbors 1989/91", Vienna 2024, pages 403-446.

Exploring Topical Issues

Ina Friedmann, Dirk Rupnow, and Margret Aull co-authored the article, "No Humility. On Dealing with Research Findings on Catholic Home Education in Tyrol".
Julia Nora Mueller and Eric Burton co-authored the article, "Kuchu-Widerstand gegen populistische Allianzen: Homophobie und LGBTQI-Aktivismus in Uganda".
Lucile Dreidemy and Eric Burton's article, "Collective colonialism for European integration: The rise of Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi's Pan-European movement in post-imperial Austria" was published in Bernhard Schaer and Mikko Toivanen's book, "Integration and Collaborative Imperialism in Modern Europe: At the Margins of Empire", London 2024, pages 201-222.
Noam Zadoff's article, "Ethnonationalism, Militarism, Identities of Minorities and the Threats to Israel's Democracy" was published in Denis Heuring, Paul-Moritz Rabe, and Mirjam Zadoff's book, "Fragile Democracies. What Free Societies Threaten - and What Holds Them Together", Goettingen 2024, pages 123-135.

These studies and publications provide valuable insights into various aspects of history, from the darker periods of the past to contemporary issues such as migration and the struggle for equality. They serve as a testament to the ongoing efforts to understand and learn from the past, and to apply those lessons to the present and future.