Anna Pelka

PD Dr. Anna Pelka is a Senior Lecturer in European History (19th and 20th Centuries) at the University of Regensburg’s Institute of History, within the Faculty of Philosophy, Arts, History and Social Sciences. She specializes in the intersection of cultural, urban, and political history, with a focus on dictatorships in Spain, East Germany, and Poland. Her research examines topics such as urban development under Franco, youth fashion as political expression, and gender ideologies in authoritarian regimes.

Educations:

• PhD (2006): Ruhr University Bochum, analyzing youth fashion in Poland and the DDR.
• Habilitation (2018): University of Regensburg, on urban change in Madrid and Barcelona during Franco’s dictatorship.
• Studies: Art History at University of Warsaw (1994–1999), German Language Studies (2000–2001), and extended research stays in Spain (2001–2003, 2008–2010).

Research interests span urban sociology, fashion as political discourse, dictatorship-era policies, and transnational cultural exchanges. Her work often highlights how everyday practices (e.g., clothing, neighborhood mobilizations) reflect broader political and social dynamics. Recent projects include DFG-funded studies on Katowice’s multiethnic history and urban marginalization under Franco.

Teaching focuses on modern European history, methodological approaches, and interdisciplinary seminars. She leads courses like “The Acoustic Turn in Historical Research” and “Comic Books as Tools for Teaching 20th-Century Dictatorships.”

Key publications include monographs like Urbaner Wandel und Öffentlichkeit (2019) and edited volumes such as the Vademecum of Contemporary Spanish History (2012). Her articles explore topics like workers’ movements in 19th-century Katowice, neighborhood strategies in Madrid under Franco, and fashion as a tool of political control in communist regimes.

Awards and grants include DFG funding for multiple projects, reflecting her established reputation in European historical studies. She actively contributes to academic networks and public history initiatives, such as curating exhibitions on GDR culture.