Am Beispiel der Historikerkommission: Zeitgeschichtliche Forschung in juristischer Perspektive

Abstract

The article reviews several aspects of the Historical Commission of the Republic of Austria, set up in October 1998 »to investigate and report on the whole complex of expropriation in Austria during the Nazi regime and on restitution and/or compensation(including other financial or social benefits) after 1945 by the Republic of Austria.« First, the author discusses the motives and principles that shaped the commission. Then he focuses on the activities of the Commission in order to provide for an objective approach based on methodically and accurately acquired expert knowledge and correctly measured assessment. The inter- and multi-disciplinary orientation of the Commission – historians and legal experts working together – is being discussed in the third part of the article. The author analyses the differences between the methodological approaches of academic historians and le- gal experts and concludes with a short retrospective evaluation of the effects and impacts of the Commission.