Roman Smolorz

Dr. Roman Smolorz is a Research Associate at the Chair of East and Southeast European History within the Institute of History at the University of Regensburg's Faculty of Philosophy, Arts, History and Social Sciences. Born in 1967 in Bytom/Oberschlesien, he has established himself as a specialist in East Central European history with particular expertise in the political and social history of socialism and Eastern European emigration patterns.

• Master of Arts (1997), University of Regensburg
• Doctorate in Philosophy (2001), University of Regensburg

Dr. Smolorz's research focuses on three interconnected areas: the history of East Central Europe, the political and social history of 'real existing socialism' and the Federal Republic of Germany, and the history of Eastern European emigration, particularly in post-war Bavaria. His work bridges archival research with broader historical analysis, examining how political systems shaped social realities and migration patterns.

His publications demonstrate consistent scholarly output centered on forced labor during the Nazi era, the functioning of socialist economic systems in Poland, and the experiences of displaced persons in post-war Bavaria. These works show a methodological approach that combines micro-historical case studies with macro-historical analysis of political and social systems.

Dr. Smolorz has been actively involved in multiple research projects including 'Survival through Art: Forced Labor in the Gusen Concentration Camp for the Messerschmitt Factory in Regensburg' (2015), 'Poland, Germans and Silesians as Internees in the USSR 1945-1956,' and studies on Eastern European immigrants in West Germany.

• Association of Eastern European Historians
• German Society for East European Studies
• History Society of the City and District of Deggendorf

His teaching at the University of Regensburg, University of Passau, and Silesian University in Katowice through Erasmus Mobility has focused on Eastern European migration, Cold War history, and the social history of socialism. Dr. Smolorz has developed specialized courses examining forced labor, displaced persons, and the complex relationship between Eastern Europe and Bavaria throughout the 20th century. His professional trajectory shows steady progression from archival work to academic research and teaching, with increasing responsibility in research projects and scholarly publications.