Hanno Hochmuth

Dr. Hanno Hochmuth serves as Scientific Officer and Project Manager at the Leibniz Centre for Contemporary History (ZZF Potsdam) in the Leibniz Lab 'Social Upheavals and Transformations' since April 2024. He has maintained a continuous academic career at ZZF since March 2011 while simultaneously teaching Master's level courses in Public History at Freie Universität Berlin. His institutional affiliations also include research collaborations with the Luxembourg Center for Contemporary and Digital History and the Stiftung Stadtmuseum Berlin.

His academic background includes:

• Doctorate from Freie Universität Berlin (2016) on 'Public and Private in Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg'
• Magister Artium from Freie Universität Berlin (2004)
• Studies at University of Minnesota (2001-2002)
• Historical studies at Freie Universität Berlin and Theater Studies at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (1997-2004)

Hochmuth's research examines the complex interplay between public and private spheres in divided Berlin, with particular focus on Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg neighborhoods. He investigates historical authenticity in urban spaces, the commercialization of history through tourism, and how media representations shape collective memory. His work bridges academic research with public engagement through historical city tours, museum exhibitions, and media appearances.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals three dominant research trajectories: the evolving relationship between historical memory and urban space in Berlin; critical examination of historical representation in popular media (particularly television series like Babylon Berlin); and the commodification of history through tourism and museum practices. His work consistently explores how historical narratives are constructed, contested, and consumed in contemporary society.

As an educator, Hochmuth has developed and taught numerous specialized courses in Public History at Freie Universität Berlin since 2008, including seminars on 'Babylon Berlin as Urban History,' 'Checkpoint Charlie,' and 'Public Visual History.' His teaching emphasizes practical application of historical methods in public settings.

He currently leads the multimedia documentation project of Berlin Wall history (1961-1989/90), a major collaboration between ZZF, the Federal Agency for Civic Education, Deutschlandradio, and the Berlin Wall Foundation. He previously co-directed the exhibition 'Ost-Berlin. Die halbe Hauptstadt' at the Ephraim Palace Museum and completed research on historical tourism's development since the 1980s.