Object of research are life, work and reception of the German-Jewish Historian Marianne Awerbuch (1917 – 2004). She later became, as one of the firsts in Germany and Berlin, a Professor for Jewish Studies at the Freie Universität Berlin.When she passed away in 2004 she left her autobiography. Her life story, however, breaks off right after she finished her Ph.D. in 1970, prior to becoming Professor at the Institute for Jewish Studies.  It is, therefore, one goal of this project to collect and edit her unpublished writings. Furthermore, the project aims to complete her biography as a scientist and to reconstruct her activities in university policy as well as social policy.  Especially her attitude in the debates on how to cope with Germany’s Nazi past is remarkable, due to her very unique and differing opinion:  She put a special emphasis on the mutual respect between Jews and Christians as the only way to overcome the ancient antagonism between Judaism and Christianity. Only such, as she put it, the unbearable load of historical remembrance could become a little more bearable.The project also focuses on the question: “What influence did biographical features had on her scientific life and political work?” These features include her experience of the Third Reich, escape to British Palestine in 1939, the return to Berlin and work there.Last, but not least, it will ask how she was seen and received in public life.