This blog publishes the letters of Hilde Laube and Roland Nordhoff (pseudonyms), which lasted from 1938 to 1946. Volunteers from several countries work collaboratively to transform their 4000+ well preserved, handwritten letters into this digital format. You can learn more about this correspondence here.
This project in the public humanities seeks to promote exchange about this historical correspondence and discussion about the meaning of the Nazi past for the present. The letters are useful for authors, citizens, foundations, researchers, students, and teachers; learn more here about what you can do with them.
We are also always hallo to welcome new members to our team of transcribers and bloggers if you are interested in getting involved. Contact us here.
In the meantime, feel free to read the letters chronologically or to search them either using our index of topics or for any string of characters using the full-text search function. If you register, you can also comment on the letters and participate in discussion on our forums (with moderation).
Over the years, we have begun to transform the written letters into several other media formats including academic articles, audio programs, plays, and a teaching curriculum. You can learn more about these various formats here.
Each media affords a different answer to the question of how one might engage with the past in the present. The various formats also demonstrate the wide range of perspectives through which one might critically engage with the past. We cordially welcome you to participate by creating new forms and offering your own interpretations.