Frank Bösch

Frank Bösch is Director of the Leibniz Centre for Contemporary History (ZZF) Potsdam and Full Professor of German and European History of the 20th Century at the University of Potsdam. He has established himself as a leading historian specializing in contemporary German history, media history, and transnational perspectives on 20th century Europe.

Professor Bösch received his education at the Universities of Hamburg and Göttingen. His academic journey includes positions as:

• Research Assistant at the History Department of the University of Göttingen (1998-2002)
• Junior Professor at the History Institute of Ruhr-University Bochum (2002-2007)
• Professor at Justus-Liebig-University Gießen (2007-2011)
• Director of ZZF and Professor at University of Potsdam (2011-present)

His research spans multiple interconnected fields with a focus on contemporary German history since the late 19th century. Bösch's work examines political social history, media transformations, and global connections in 20th century Germany. He has pioneered approaches to understanding historical events through transnational and global perspectives, particularly examining how global developments since the 1970s have shaped modern Germany. His research on scandals, political culture, and media history has contributed significantly to understanding the interplay between politics, society, and communication in historical context.

Analysis of Bösch's recent publications reveals consistent engagement with themes of transnational connections, German foreign policy, migration history, and the global dimensions of contemporary German history. His work demonstrates a methodological commitment to examining German history within broader international frameworks, particularly focusing on how global events and connections have shaped national developments. The interdisciplinary nature of his research bridges political history, media studies, and social history with particular attention to the 1970s and 1980s as pivotal decades for contemporary Germany.

Professor Bösch has held numerous prestigious academic positions and advisory roles including:

• Member of the Board of Trustees of the Stiftung Gedenkstätte Lindenstraße Potsdam (since 2025)
• Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Lern- und Erinnerungsort Notaufnahmelager Gießen (since 2025)
• Member of the Jury of the Open Humboldt Award (since 2024)
• Member of the Board of the Moses Mendelssohn Center for European-Jewish Studies (since 2024)
• Deputy Chairman of the Association of Historians in Germany (2016-2021)

Bösch has supervised numerous doctoral students whose research covers diverse aspects of contemporary German history, including right-wing extremism, migration history, media transformations, and the history of computing in Germany. His editorial work includes serving as co-editor of the academic journal "Zeithistorische Forschungen" and several book series on contemporary history and media studies. His leadership at the ZZF has fostered interdisciplinary research on crises in a globalized world and promoted digital approaches to historical research.

As Director of the Leibniz Centre for Contemporary History, Bösch leads one of Germany's premier institutions for research on 20th and 21st century history. The ZZF serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research connecting historians with scholars from political science, sociology, and media studies. Under his direction, the center has expanded its focus on global perspectives in contemporary history and strengthened its engagement with digital history methodologies.