Dr. Christian Hardinghaus – German Historian and Writer
Welcome to my official international homepage! As a PhD historian, media researcher and writer, I combine meticulous research with captivating storytelling. Here you will find my novels, thrillers, and historical non-fiction books—from the examination of the Second World War to gripping true crime stories.
My focus lies on the history of the Third Reich and World War II. Over 100 interviews with contemporary witnesses form the foundation of my work. Additional research and writing emphases are topics in the fields of propaganda, manipulation, and true crime.
Most of my now over 30 books are written in German. If you are interested in my entire repertoire, please visit the bookshelf on my German homepage. This international version of my homepage concentrates on the available English translations of some of my bestsellers. You can find them here.
I only started having the titles translated last year. More will follow in the coming months and years. I also plan to have some of my novels translated into English.
Three Facets of My Work
As an author, scholar, and journalist, I combine different perspectives in my work. These three roles complement each other and allow me to examine and communicate complex topics from various viewpoints.
The Writer: Between Facts and Fiction
My books are not light reading—they delve into the depths of human experience. They touch people because they are true or based on true events. My writing work walks the line between facts and fiction, with the respective text genre determining the nature of their interweaving.
Non-Fiction and Biographies
My nonfiction books and biographies document historical facts and extraordinary life stories. It’s important to me not just to convey history but to make it experiential. I particularly favor the form of narrative non-fiction.
The protagonists of the books are in special focus. I wasn’t always able to speak with them personally—whether in my biography about master surgeon and misunderstood resistance fighter Ferdinand Sauerbruch, the experiences of medical officer Helmut Machemer, who voluntarily went to the Eastern Front to save his half-Jewish wife. These two individuals are internationally known, and I am planning translations soon.
My book Still Lost in Panama, an investigative work into the mysterious deaths of Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon in 2014, has already been translated. This case is considered one of the most mysterious true crime cold cases ever—or perhaps it was. Together with my co-author Annette Nenner, who spent six months investigating in Panama, and after gaining access to thousands of pages of investigation files, we were able to shed more light on solving this mystery.
My research takes me to archives, to official and secret documents, to field post letters, forensic reports, court verdicts, and diaries. A particular focus lies on oral history: Over the past 10 years, I’ve been able to conduct 100 professional interviews with witnesses of World War II, from which my generational series emerged.
Thrillers and Shocking Shorts
In my thrillers, such as the dark Norderney crime novels, I combine psychological depth with gripping suspense. Even though these stories are fictional, my experience in researching real criminal cases flows into them, giving the plots their special authenticity.
My favorite stylistic device in both novels and thrillers is the plot twist. They usually surprise readers with a completely unexpected turn at the end. I love misleading my readers and astonishing them. This passion for surprising turns began in 2014 with the short story collection “Mindfuck Stories,” which has just been revised and expanded under the title “Twisted Tales and Shocking Shorts”.
The Scholar: Historian and Media Researcher
From History Enthusiast to Doctor of Philosophy
The historian has always been dormant within me: as the grandson of a doctorate-holding historical scientist, the fascination with history was practically laid in my cradle. The life stories of my grandparents from East and West Prussia, who had to endure the horrors of war as a soldier and refugee, profoundly shaped my early understanding of history.
From my history Abitur, my path led through historical studies to my doctorate. My specialization in the Third Reich, particularly antisemitism and war crimes in World War II, continues to define my scientific and literary work today.
The Synthesis of History and Media
The combination with media studies proved to be an ideal complement. Here, I could focus my research on manipulation methods and propaganda techniques. My fascination with complex narratives was reflected in my master’s thesis on “Mindfuck Movies,” particularly in the analysis of David Lynch’s “Mulholland Drive.”
Academic Expertise
In 2011, I achieved the perfect synthesis of both fields in my doctoral thesis on propaganda and prejudice research. To round out my academic profile, I expanded my expertise through studies in psychology, pedagogy, and didactics, which I completed with a state examination as a high school teacher for history and German.
This even resulted in a new name: Dr. phil. Christian Hardinghaus, M.A., M.Ed.
Current Research Focus
My historical research currently concentrates on
- Everyday life in the Third Reich
- Military history of World War II
- History of displacement
- Medical history of the Nazi period
In my capacity as a consulting historian, I have also been booked by international production companies for research in Germany for several years. This has led to many exciting projects, and I have even had the opportunity to contribute to a major Netflix production.
In media studies, I focus on propaganda research, manipulation mechanisms, true crime phenomena and their societal fascination.
Besides regular appearances and commentaries in major alternative German media, I am occasionally also asked for a statement by international media outlets. A particularly exciting experience for me recently was the talk with Paul Woodadge on WW2-TV about German participants in the Second World War. This exchange, in my opinion, points in the right direction toward a necessary and long-overdue shared culture of remembrance. You can watch it here:
The Specialized Journalist
Journalistic Beginnings
My career as a writer began at the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung, where I gained important initial experience as a local journalist. What began with local reporting developed into broad journalistic work for renowned German media such as P.M., Psychologie Heute, and Gala.
Specialization and Training
For a long time, a particular focus was on career, study, and further education reporting for career information centers. In 2011, I completed my training as a specialized journalist at the Free School of Journalism, with which I remain connected in various roles—as a lecturer, in PR, and as a study advisor.
Commitment to Quality Journalism
As a member of the German Association of Specialized Journalists, I actively work to strengthen serious journalism. In times of fake news and declining trust in media, I particularly care about German journalism returning to its ethical core values and press code. I want to do my part in regaining lost trust and promoting quality in journalism.
Knowledge Transfer in Practice and Media
Today, I share my knowledge in various ways:
- Lectures at schools and universities on historical topics
- Media education workshops
- Expert statements in German and international media
- Regular appearances on radio and television
- Historical consulting for international film productions
- Translations of my books for the international market
