Berlin (dpa) – The volume written by historian Stefan Malinowski on the relationship between the House of Hohenzollern as the home of the last German and Nazi emperors has been awarded this year’s non-fiction book.
A jury selected “Hohenzollern and the Nazis. A Collaboration Story “on Monday in Berlin from among the eight books nominated for the prize, for which €25,000 was awarded.
Malinowski wrote “an excellently researched and brilliantly told book of the role of the Hohenzollern since 1918,” as the justification states. The book combines contemporary social and political history with a family portrait and is at the same time a central study of conservative and right-wing hostility to the republic.
“Malinowski provides a compelling answer to Hohenzollern’s demands to return property while at the same time defending academic freedom against resistance.”
Malinowski described his volume as “a contribution to the cultural history of the right in the twentieth century”. He also sees his study as a book “about a group of people who, on the basis of mediocre performance, make excessive demands on the state.” In the presentation of the volume, Malinovsky already said: “Three generations in this family, together with politically related actors, tried to destroy the Republic and support National Socialism, from beginning to end.”
Artifact return negotiations
Negotiations on the return of artifacts and reparations have continued since 2014 between the federal government with the states of Berlin and Brandenburg on the one hand and the Hohenzollerns. Brandenburg refuses compensation on the basis of the unification agreement. Hohenzollerns complain about this. It is about 1.2 million euros. According to the law, a person who “greatly encouraged” the Nazi regime does not receive compensation.
Unlike many historians, George Friedrich, Prince of Prussia, as chief negotiator of the Hohenzollern family, denies that his predecessors helped the National Socialists. It is based on other reviews. There are many legal disputes between Hohenzollerns, historians, media houses, and other organizations. Malinovsky, who openly thanked his lawyer at the award ceremony, was already touched by this.
The award was presented by the Foundation for the Promotion of Book Culture and Reading of the German Book Trade Association for the second time. 205 books from 130 publishers have been registered.
Relevancy of topic, narrative strength, presentation, language and quality of research were assessed. Bettina Palchief (“On the Edge of Happiness. Over the Shore”), Alice Botha (“The Women of Belarus. Revolution, Courage, and the Urge to Freedom”), Stefan Kreuzberger (“The German-Russian Century. A Story of a Special Relationship”), Samira Lusail and Friedman Karij (“Narrative Monkeys”). Myths, Lies, Utopias – How Stories Determine Our Lives”), Ludwig Huber (“The Rational Animal. A Biological-Knowledgeable Search for Clues”), Stephen Mau (“Sorting Machines. Reinventing Frontiers in the Twenty-first Century”) and Natan Sznaider ( “Vanishing Points of Memory. Present-day Holocaust and Colonialism”).
Secretary of State for Culture Claudia Roth (The Greens) described art and culture as the voice of democracy. The realist prize came at a time when violence was being used in propaganda and disinformation. Literary and nonfiction books are essential so that you can participate as democrats and contribute to discussions.
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