Martin Philippson (1846-1916), an (in)voluntary Grenzgänger? The case of a Jewish scholar in Wilhelminian Germany.

Warland, Geneviève [UCL]

The German Jewish historian Martin Philippson can be viewed as an authentic representative of a “Germany transnational”. As an historian, he always tried to build a bridge between the Belgian, French and German historical science. He also considered history as being best understood from a transnational point of view. As a Jew, he was probably helped by his family’s network to get a chair at the University of Brussels. Moreover, he viewed his Belgian experience as a tool for a better understanding of the Jewish condition in Wilhelminian Germany. It is upon this experience that he committed himself to improving the Jews’ social and political situation after his return to Berlin. Last but not least, Martin Philippson’s language abilities and openness of mind towards foreign cultures were the precondition of his successful mediating activities.