Südost-Forschung im Dienst der SS – Zur Biographie von Fritz Valjavec 1909-1945
Southeast Research Serving the SS – The Biography of Fritz Valjavec 1909-1945

Summary/Abstract: The article focuses on Fritz Valjavec (1909-1960), the key figure in the German research community specializing on Southeast Europe before and after 1945, seeking to unmask the ‘founding myth’ of German Southeast Europe research. Valjavec’s youth spent in Vienna and the Banat determined his perception of the world: He internalized a distinct German identity and respect for other nationalities of the Habsburg Monarchy. During his studies in Munich he soon established contacts with NSDAP officials, thus predestinating his professional career. Together with Franz Ronneberger he established a monopoly position concerning the procurement of information and news from Southeast Europe. In this context he benefitted from his position at the Südost-Institut in Munich, where he edited – among other things – the ‘Südost-Forschungen’. Through this line of work Valjavec came into the focus of the SS and their studies on regime opponents (Gegnerforschung). During the Second World War Valjavec’s work was closely affiliated with the SS activities in Southeast Europe. To the degree that Valjavec’s biography is traceable it shows a smooth transition from research on Volkstum, via political Gleichschaltung (conformity) of German ethnic groups in Southeast Europe to the technocratic realization of racial ideologies in the region.

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