In this chapter I propose as my subject the Berlin historical seminar in the twenties. I might have chosen to discuss Friedrich Meinecke's seminar, of which several German refugee historians were members in the twenties and in the early thirties: Hans Baron, Dietrich Gerhard, Hajo Holborn, Gerhard Masur, Hans Rosenberg. Yet it seems to me preferable to speak in general about the experience of studying history in Berlin; such a discussion will also help to establish the nature and the importance of the influence which Meinecke exerted on those who were to become historians. The Berlin historical seminar in the twenties is a rather wide subject, and this will explain - and I hope excuse - why this chapter takes the form of a personal reminiscence rather than scholarly analysis.

Before studying in Berlin, I had studied in Heidelberg and Munich. I never wavered, however, in my decision to complete my studies in Berlin. There was one very decisive reason why studying history in Berlin, and particularly modern history, was very attractive. Of course, at that time modern history was not global history; it meant European history, with emphasis on German history, and when you studied modern history at the University of Berlin you had a wide choice of whom you wanted as your teacher, and you could slowly and gradually decide on the era and on the field in which you wanted to concentrate.