Willy Brandt Prize for Contemporary History

Willy Brandt Prize for Contemporary History honors outstanding scholarly works every two years on German history of the 20th century in a European and global context, which engage with the political legacy of Willy Brandt. Private individuals may submit their dissertations, monographs, or contributions to edited volumes that convince through scientific relevance, innovative content, and a close reference to the thematic fields associated with the prizeholder. Selection is based on clearly defined criteria, focusing primarily on the originality of the research question, methodological rigor, and significance for contemporary historical research.

The prize is endowed with a publication subsidy for unpublished manuscripts or a cash award for already published works. In doing so, the Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt Foundation under public law supports the dissemination of new research findings and simultaneously creates incentives for an intensive engagement with Brandt’s political era. Researchers who distinguish themselves through excellent scholarly achievements and focus thematically on Brandt’s role in German history thus receive both financial support and a prestigious award. Through this commitment, the foundation contributes to deepening the understanding of historical-political contexts and sustainably enriching scholarly discourse.