The Leibniz Centre for Contemporary History Potsdam (ZZF), Department I (Communism and Society), seeks to fill a position within the DFG project „Military Cultures of Violence – Illegitimate Military Violence from the Modern Age until the Present“ 

for one PhD candidate

between April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2028.

The position is part-time (65% employment, 26 hours a week) 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 „The Origins of the Polish Army. National Defense and Military Violence (1914 - 1926)“ (supervision: Prof. Dr. Jan Claas Behrends) within the DFG-project „Military Cultures of Violence – Illegitimate Military Violence from the Modern Age until the Present“ (speaker of the group: Prof. Dr. Sönke Neitzel)
  • Participation in the activities of the DFG research network (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 English, Polish and French (reading skills)
  • Advanced knowledge of the region’s culture and history
  • Interest in research on military history and physical violence
  • Team player with interest in exchange
  • Determination to academic excellence

The PhD project is part of the research network „Military Cultures of Violence – Illegitimate Military Violence from the Modern Age until the Present“ at the University  of Potsdam, which has been in existence since 2022 and is entering its second phase. The research group will continue to be funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) over the next three years. The research 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. Scholars of the Universities of Potsdam and Göttingen as well as the Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and the Leibniz Centre for Contemporary History Potsdam (ZZF) 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. 

The aim of the dissertation is to apply the questions posed by the DFG research group to Polish history. It examines the genesis of the Polish army on the ruins of three empires, enquires into the genesis of its military culture of violence and thus makes an important contribution to the history of nation building in East Central Europe after 1918 and to the development of the region in the interwar period. The project focusses on the Polish elites, their understanding of military violence and on the actions of the Polish armed forces between the First World War, the border wars and the war against revolutionary Russia.

The ZZF is a research institute working on German and European contemporary history and member of the Leibniz-Gemeinschaft. We offer an exciting working environment and a motivated and cooperative working atmosphere as well as flexible working times. As part of the structured graduate programme of ZZF, there is the opportunity to attend the joint doctoral colloquium, training seminars and summer schools.

Applications by women are explicitly welcome. Applicants with special needs will be favoured if equally qualified.

Please send your application (CV, motivational letter, diploma) under the reference number WM 14-2024 until November 20, 2024 only via email as ONE PDF to: bewerbungen [at] zzf-potsdam [dot] de (bewerbung[at]zzf-potsdam[dot]de).

For further questions about the tasks and requirements please contact Prof. Dr. Jan C. Behrends: behrends [at] zzf-potsdam [dot] de (behrends[at]zzf-potsdam[dot]de).

During the application process, we store and process the data you send us. You can object to the processing of your data by ZZF at any time using bewerbung [at] zzf-potsdam [dot] de (bewerbung[at]zzf-potsdam[dot]de). 

You will find comprehensive information about the collection, processing and use of your personal data in our data protection information at: https://zzf-potsdam.de/en/privacy-notice . There you will also find the link to a PGP public key if you would like to send your application digitally encrypted.

Job advertisement ZZF Potsdam reference number WM14-2024 (pdf, deutch/englisch)