Thomas Etzemüller
Henning von Rittersdorf: Das Deutsche Schicksal
Memoirs of a racial anthropologist
A docu-fiction

294 p., paperback, € 35.00
ISBN: 978-3-8376-5936-8 (Bielefeld: transcript, 2021)

The racial anthropologist Henning von Rittersdorf is a fictional character. But he could have existed. He is the ideal type of German scientist who has meandered through three political systems, effortlessly inserted himself into the "Third Reich" and could hardly have found his way out again with more effort. In 1969, he presented a collection of documents as proof that he had always been a scientist who had only served the "cause", "abused" by the National Socialists. However, through deletions, comments and marginal notes, he lost the authority to interpret his material and unintentionally confirmed his deep involvement in National Socialism.

The book offers a lively, docu-fictionalised inside view of the life of a racial anthropologist. And makes it clear how novelistic the underlying reality was - even though it had terrible, real effects.

Reviews:

H-Soz-u-Kult, September 2022

Berlin Debate Initial, 2022

Journal for Historical Science, 2022

Historical Journal, 2022

Podcasts:

The race theorist who didn't exist - Thomas Etzemüller in conversation in the podcast "Was wäre gewesen?" by L.I.S.A. Wissenschaftsportal Gerda Henkel Stiftung, 08/09/2022 (https://bit.ly/3RSEqfh)

Are scientists allowed to invent sources? - Thomas Etzemüller in conversation at the podcast "House of Modern History", 2022-04-07 (https://bit.ly/3DUS9hR)