Matthias Melcher

Matthias Melcher is a PhD student and research assistant in the Department of Eastern and Southeastern European History at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU). His research focuses on the interplay between historical narratives, fact, fiction, and their societal impact in 19th-century Eastern Europe. He holds an M.A. from LMU Munich (2020) with a thesis on national literature forgeries in Eastern Europe. His current doctoral project examines the performative power of narratives in shaping historical consciousness, particularly in the Habsburg Empire context.

Educational Background: 2014–2020 – Studies in Comparative Literature, Slavic Literature, and East European History at LMU Munich and École Normale Supérieure Paris. Scholarship support included the Max Weber Program, German Academic Scholarship Foundation, and Maximilianeum Foundation.

Research Interests: 19th-century nationalism, memory politics, literary forgeries, sovereignty discourses, and digital media's role in historical storytelling. He explores how stories become culturally entrenched and their role in shaping national identities and political agendas.

Key Publications: Includes analyses of literary forgeries in Eastern European national movements (2021), sovereignty through video games (2025), and collaborative works on interdisciplinary methods in Eastern European studies. He also reviews works on Jewish history, memory culture, and historical methodology.

Teaching & Outreach: Designed courses on cultural nationalism, antisemitism, and memory politics, alongside innovative projects like audio walks and public history initiatives in Moosburg. Collaborates on interdisciplinary research and editorial projects, such as the 'Crossing disciplinary boundaries' online dossier.

Awards & Fellowships: Bridging Fellowship (2021), Max Weber Program Fellowship (2014–2020), and multiple scholarship recognitions for academic excellence.