The Writing Room
Dr. Christian Hardinghaus
Historian · Media Scholar · Author
German WW2 Historian Christian Hardinghaus specializes in World War II history, eyewitness testimony, memory culture and media analysis. His work combines more than 100 interviews with German wartime witnesses, historical sources and narrative nonfiction.
History told through human experience
Research, testimony and narrative clarity
My books begin with people: with what they witnessed, what they remembered and what remained unsaid for decades.
A central part of my historical work is based on interviews with more than 100 German participants in World War II, including soldiers, refugees, women, child soldiers and civilians. I conducted many of these conversations when the last witnesses were already approaching the end of their lives.
Their accounts are neither a substitute for historical sources nor a justification of the Nazi dictatorship. They are personal evidence that must be documented, compared and placed in context. Preserving these voices adds human experience to the historical record without removing moral or scholarly distance.
This approach shapes my narrative nonfiction, biographies and historical fiction. The genre changes; the commitment to research, context and responsible storytelling remains.
Academic and professional background
History, media studies, education and specialist journalism
From family memory to historical research
Stories from my grandparents, whose lives connected East and West Prussia, first drew me toward the history of war, flight and displacement. That early interest developed into academic work on the Third Reich, antisemitism, war crimes, propaganda and prejudice.
My doctorate, completed in 2011, brought history and media studies together in research on propaganda and prejudice. Training in psychology, pedagogy and didactics added an educational perspective that continues to inform my books, lectures and media work.
I began my journalistic career at the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung and later contributed to publications including P.M., Psychologie Heute and Gala. I also work as a lecturer, media expert and historical consultant for film and television productions.
- Doctorate
- Dr. phil. — history and media research
- Media studies
- M.A. Media Studies
- Education
- M.Ed. History and German literature
- Journalism
- Specialist journalist, lecturer and study advisor
- Consulting
- Historical consulting for film and television
Fields of work
Historical research and media analysis across eight connected areas
Nazi Germany and World War II
Dictatorship, war crimes, military history and everyday life under National Socialism.
Oral history
More than 100 interviews with soldiers, refugees, women, child soldiers and civilians.
Flight and displacement
German experiences of forced migration, loss and postwar memory.
Propaganda and manipulation
Historical and contemporary techniques of persuasion, prejudice and media influence.
Medicine under dictatorship
Medical history and historically ambiguous figures, including Ferdinand Sauerbruch.
True crime and forensics
Case research, digital evidence, crowdsolving culture and the ethics of crime narratives.
Film and narrative complexity
Nonlinear storytelling, unreliable perception and the “mindfuck” film as a media phenomenon.
Narrative nonfiction and fiction
Historically grounded storytelling shaped by sources, testimony and archival research.
Explore the work
Books, research hubs and reference projects
Books in English
World War II history, true crime, historical fiction, thrillers and film analysis.
View all 12 titles →World War II
Eyewitness history, encyclopedias, military reference material and articles.
Explore the history hub →True Crime & Forensics
Cold cases, ethical analysis and the Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon research projects.
Open the research hub →Manipulation & Propaganda
Propaganda history, media influence and psychologically complex cinema.
Explore the media hub →Media & public work
Interviews, lectures and historical consulting
I speak about World War II eyewitness history, propaganda, media literacy and historical storytelling. My work includes television and radio appearances, lectures for educational institutions and historical consulting for international film and television productions.
Frequently asked questions
Research, publications and professional inquiries
What makes Christian Hardinghaus’s World War II research distinctive?
His work draws on more than 100 interviews with German soldiers, refugees, women, child soldiers and civilians. The testimonies are treated as personal historical evidence and placed in context through documentary and archival research.
What are Dr. Hardinghaus’s academic qualifications?
He holds a doctorate (Dr. phil.) combining historical and media research, an M.A. in Media Studies and an M.Ed. in History and German literature. His work also draws on training in psychology, pedagogy and didactics.
Are Christian Hardinghaus’s books available in English?
Yes. Twelve English titles are currently available, including the complete six-volume World War II series, true crime investigations, historical thrillers, historical fiction and film analysis.
Can Dr. Hardinghaus be contacted for interviews, lectures or consulting?
Yes. Inquiries concerning media interviews, lectures, speaking engagements and historical consulting for film or television can be submitted through the contact page.
Books built from research, testimony and difficult questions
Discover the English editions or follow new publications, interviews and eyewitness material on the Hardinghaus Books channel.
