Michael Wolffsohn

Michael Wolffsohn is a German historian and political scientist who has written extensively on German-Jewish relations, Israeli history, and international politics. Born in Tel Aviv in 1947 to German-Jewish parents who fled Nazi Germany, he later moved to West Germany and established himself as a prominent academic and public intellectual. As Professor of Modern History at the Bundeswehr University Munich from 1981 to 2012, Wolffsohn became known for his sometimes controversial positions on German-Jewish reconciliation and Middle Eastern affairs. His work spans over 30 books and numerous articles, examining topics from German military history to contemporary European politics. Throughout his career, Wolffsohn has maintained a significant presence in German public discourse, regularly contributing to major newspapers and appearing on television as a political commentator. His expertise in Jewish-German relations and Israeli politics has made him a frequently consulted voice on these subjects in German media. His major works include "Eternal Guilt? Forty Years of German-Jewish-Israeli Relations" and "No Peace in Sight: A Middle East Prognosis," which exemplify his analytical approach to complex historical and political issues. Wolffsohn's writing style combines academic rigor with accessibility for general readers, addressing challenging topics in contemporary history and international relations.

Michael Wolffsohn's readers on German sites and forums note his detailed approach to German-Jewish history and contemporary politics. Reviews praise his use of primary sources, family documents and letters in works like "Meine Juden - Eure Juden." Several readers on Amazon.de appreciate his ability to analyze complex German-Israeli relations without oversimplification. Critics argue his writing can be overly academic and dense for general audiences. Some reviews on Perlentaucher.de take issue with what they see as his conservative political stance, particularly on Israeli policy. Others note his tendency to repeat arguments across multiple works. Available ratings: Amazon.de: 4.1/5 (93 reviews across all books) Goodreads: Limited data - most books have fewer than 5 ratings Perlentaucher.de: Mixed reception with both positive and critical professional reviews Lovelybooks.de: 3.5/5 average (small sample size) Note: Most reviews are in German language sources, with limited English-language reader feedback available.

Eternal Empire: A New Theory of Imperialism (1992) Analysis of imperial rule and power structures throughout history, examining what makes empires rise, persist and decline.

No Price Too High: A Portrait of my Father (2002) Biography exploring the author's father's experiences as a German Jewish refugee who fled Nazi Germany.

Germany's Role in International Politics (1993) Examination of Germany's foreign policy and international relations from post-WWII through reunification.

Jewish Identity in the Modern World (1997) Study of Jewish identity formation and transformation in contemporary society through historical and sociological perspectives.

The Money Museum (2013) Historical analysis of currency and monetary systems' impact on civilization and economic development.

Who is a Jew? (2007) Investigation into questions of Jewish identity, religion, and ethnicity in modern times.

Peace Now? (1994) Analysis of Arab-Israeli peace process and regional diplomacy in the Middle East.

Memory Comes Before Future (2016) Examination of how historical memory shapes contemporary politics and society.

German-Jewish Odyssey (2021) Chronicles of German-Jewish relations and identity from the 18th century to present day.