The Leibniz Centre for Contemporary History (ZZF) Potsdam, Department I (Communism and Society), seeks to fill within the DFG project „Military Cultures of Violence – Illegitimate Military Violence from the Modern Age until the Present“ one PhD position between January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2024.

The position is part-time (65 percent employment) and limited to three years due to the project duration. The salary is paid according to the collective bargaining agreement for public employees in Germany (TV-L 13). Place of employment is Potsdam.

Your tasks:

- Dissertation on „Violent Men between great War, Revolution and Second World War (1905-1945): Cossack Military Violence under Different Regimes“ within the DFG-project „Military Cultures of Violence – Illegitimate Military Violence from the Modern Age until the Present“
- Participation in the activities of the project (workshops, conferences, presentations, publications)
- Participation in the work of the department at ZZF

Your profile:

- Graduate degree (MA) in East European History, Modern History or a related discipline (Sociology, Anthropology, Political Science)
- Advanced Knowledge of German, English and Russian, possibly Polish
- Advanced Knowledge of the region’s culture and history
- Interest in research on physical violence
- Team player with interest in exchange
- Determination to academic excellence

The ZZF is a research institute regarding German and European contemporary history and member of the Leibniz-Gemeinschaft. It is also part of the research network „Military Cultures of Violence – Illegitimate Military Violence from the Modern Age until the Present“ at the University Potsdam, which will be promoted by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) in the next three years. The scholars involved pursue to close an important desideratum in military history as well as in violence research: The focus lies on physical violence that was considered illegitimate at the time in war and in peace. Therefore, special attention is paid to the question of changing scales of legitimacy and illegitimacy of violence. Nine scholars by the University of Potsdam, Göttingen and Bochum as well as the Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and the Leibniz Centre for Contemporary History (ZZF) Potsdam are part of the research network funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). Cooperation partner is the Centre for Military History and Social Sciences of the Bundeswehr. We offer an exciting working environment and a motivated and cooperative working atmosphere as well as flexible working times. We attach great importance to optimal scientific advancement and support our staff by achieving new qualifications. Applications by women are explicitly welcome and will be preferred if equally qualified. Severely disabled applicants will be favoured if equally eligible.

Please send your convincing application (CV, motivational letter, diploma) under the reference number WM 03-2021 until October 1, 2021 only via email as ONE PDF to: bewerbung@zzf-potsdam.de. For further questions about the tasks and requirements please contact Dr. Jan C. Behrends: behrends@zzf-potsdam.de. The selection interviews are expected to take place in the week starting 11 October 2021.

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