Eine im Raum verankerte Wissenschaft? Aspekte einer Geschichte der „Abteilung Germanenkunde und Skandinavistik“ der Reichsuniversität Straßburg

The assignment of the “Reichsuniversität Straßburg” (1941–1944), founded by the National Socialists following its annexation of Alsace, was inter alia to conduct a “sci-ence anchored in space”. For humanities in general and the “department of Germanic and Scandinavian studies” in particular that meant to historically justify and to promote the germanization of Alsace. This article asks how this task is reflected in the history of the department. First its personal and institutional structures are analyzed; special focus is put on the book collection as an important historical testimony. Then, the article outlines the position of the representatives of Scandinavian studies in the context of contemporary Germanic ideologies. Finally, the question about the afterlife of the collection in the post-war period will be sketched out.