Prof. Dr. Heike Bungert

Chair for Modern and Contemporary History/North American History (Chair Holder)

Prof. Dr. Heike BungertBungert
Universität Münster
Department of History
Fürstenberghaus, room 218 g 
48143 Münster

Tel.: + 49 (0) 251 / 83-24333
Prof. Dr. Heike Bungert

In the summer semester 2026, Prof. Bungert is on sabbatical leave.

Office hours: Click here

Secretarial Office:
Room 218 f 
Tel.: + 49 (0) 251 / 83-25423

 

  • CURRICULUM VITAE

    Education

    • 2004 University of Cologne, Habilitation; book manuscript entitled “Feste und das ethnische Gedächtnis: Die Festkultur der Deutschamerikaner im Spannungsfeld zwischen deutscher und amerikanischer Identität, 1848-1914“ (Festivals and Ethnic Memory: The Festive Culture of German-Americans between a German and an American Identity, 1848-1914)
    • 1995 Eberhard-Karls-University of Tübingen, Dr. phil.; Dissertation, “The Western Allies and the Free Germany Committees, 1943–1955” under the direction of Profs. Jürgen Heideking (†) and Anselm Doering-Manteuffel (Grade: Dissertation Magna cum laude, Oral Exam Summa Cum Laude)
    • 1990 University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Master of Arts in History; Thesis, “American-French Relations and the Fusion of the Three Western Zones of Germany, 1945–49” under the direction of Profs. Gerhard L. Weinberg, William E. Leuchtenburg, and Don Reid (Grade: Excellent)
    • 1986-1990 Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg and University of Regensburg, Studies in History, British/American and French Literature, B.A./Zwischenprüfung

    Academic Career

    • 2009 Offer of full professorship for the History of Great Britain and North America (18th – 20th century), University of Kassel; declined
    • 2008 Professorship, since 2010 Chair for Modern and Contemporary History/North American History
    • 2007-2008 Heisenberg scholarship, University of Cologne
    • 2004-2006 Substitute Professor (Vertretungsprofessorin) for North American Social History at the University of Bremen and for Modern History at the University of Bremen
    • 2000-2004 Assistant Professor (Wissenschaftliche Assistentin), Institute of Anglo-American History, University of Cologne
    • 1998-2000 Visiting Scholar, University of California, Berkeley; Columbia University; Max Kade Institute of German-American Studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison
    • 1997-1998 Assistant Professor (Wissenschaftliche Assistentin), Institute of Anglo-American History, University of Cologne
    • 1992-1997 Assistant Professor (Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin), Institute of Anglo-American History, University of Cologne
    • 1991-1992 Assistant Professor (Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin), Institute for Contemporary History/Chair for North American History, University of Tübingen

    Grants, Scholarships, and Prizes

    • 2007 Heisenberg Professorship, German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG (2/2008-12/2011)
    • 2005 Heisenberg Grant, DFG (1/2007-1/2008)
    • Jan. 2003 Travel Grant, DFG
    • 1998-2000 Research Grant, DFG
    • 1997 Research Grant, John F. Kennedy Institute, Free University Berlin
    • 1996 (Apr.) Travel Grant, DFG
    • 1995 Stuart L. Bernath Article Prize, Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations
    • 1994 (Jan.) Travel Grant, German Marshall Fund
    • 1992 (Aug-Okt.) Scholarship, German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, DAAD)
    • 1992 (März-Juli) Scholarship, German Historical Institute Washington
    • 1991 Research Award, Friends of the University of Tübingen (Vereinigung der Freunde der Universität Tübingen)
    • 1990 Mowry Research Award Grant University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
    • 1988-1989 Scholarship, DAAD
    • 1986-1988, 1989-1991 Scholarship, Bavarian Organization for the Advancement of Gifted Students (Bayerische Begabtenförderung)

  • Research Projects and Third-Party Funding

    • since 2019 Head of research project B3-9 "Dynamics and Traditon: German Immigrants and Religious Plurality in the USA in the 19th Century" in the Cluster of Excellence 2060 "Religion and Politics: Dynamics of Tradition and Innovation"
    • 2012-2017 Head of research project C2-3 "The Transcendental Creation of Community in a Multi-Religious Society: The U.S. from 1945 to 2005" in the Cluster of Excellence 212 „Religion and Politics in Premodern and Modern Cultures"
    • 2009-2011 Head of research project B12 „Religion and ‚Civil Religion’ in U.S. Patriotic Holiday, 1945-1990/92“ in the Cluster of Excellence 212 „Religion and Politics in Premodern and Modern Cultures", funded by the DFG
    • 2009-2011 Head of research project C9 „Symbolic Communication and Social Values in Panindian Movements “ in the Collaborative Research Center 496 „Symbolic Communication and Social Value Systems", funded by the DFG
    • 2004-2008 Member of the network „The Futures of (European) American Studies“, funded by the DFG
    • 2000-2001 Head of TransCoop project „The German Experience with the Land in Wisconsin“, University of Cologne, University of Wisconsin, Madison

  • Academic Functions and Positions

    • since 2024 Member of Editorial Board of the journal Amerikastudien/American Studies
    • since 2024 Appointment Officer of Münster University (Appointment of New Professors)
    • 2020-2024 Principal Equal Opportunity Officer of Münster University
    • 2019-2020 Member of the Coordination Commission for Evaluation                
    • 2017-2019 (Deputy) Member of the Senate Committee for Teaching and Student Affairs of Münster University
    • 2016-2020, 2024-  Member of the Senate of Münster University
    • 2015-2019 Member of the Faculty Committee for Structure, Planning and Equality (chairperson since 2018)
    • 2014-16 Executive Director of the Department of History
    • 2014-2016 Deputy member of the Rectorate Committee for Research Affairs
    • 2013-2021 Member of the Library Committee of Münster University
    • 2012-2016 Member of the Board of the Center for Religion and Modernity
    • 2012-2016 (Deputy) Member of the Faculty Council
    • 2012-2015 (Deputy) Member of the Faculty Committee for Evaluation and Student Course Review
    • 2012-2015 Deputy Chairperson of the Faculty Committee for Research, Research Funding and Junior Academic Staff
    • 2012-14 Member of the Rectorate Committee for Internationalization
    • 2012/13 Deputy Chairperson of the Evaluation Commission of the GHI Washington
    • 2010-2014 Chairperson of the working group of Non-European History (Arbeitskreis Außereuropäische Geschichte)
    • since 2009 Fulbright liaison professor, University of Munster
    • 2009-2014 Reader for Amerikastudien/American Studies
    • 2008-2013 Chairperson of the committee for the prize of The German Association for American Studies (GAAS) of the Stiftung Deutsch-Amerikanische Wissenschaftsbeziehungen (Foundation German-American Academic Relations) in the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft
    • 2007-2008 Member of the subcommittee „Ranking and Evaluation“ of the German Historical Association (Historikerverband, VHHD)
    • 2006-2014 Member of the Board of Directors of the Working Group for Non-European History within the VHHD
    • 2006-2010 Advisory Board Member H-GAGCS/H-TGS (H-Net Discussion List on German-American and German-Canadian Studies/H-Net Discussion List on Transnational German Studies)
    • 2006-2008 Member of the selection committee of the Ebeling Fellowship
    • 2005-2013 Member of the Board of Directors, German Association for American Studies
    • since 2003 Reviewer for journals, book series, research organizations
    • 2001-2003 Member of the Committee on Structural Development, School of Humanities (Philosophische Fakultät), University of Cologne
    • 2000-2002 Deputy Spokesperson for the assistant professors of history (akademischer Mittelbau), University of Cologne
    • since 2000 Member of various (partly external) appointments committees
    • 1995-2004 Member of selection committees for studying abroad and of search committees at the University of Cologne
  •  

    Publications

    Books

    Books (Monographs)
    • . Die Indianer. Geschichte der indigenen Nationen in den USA [The American Indians. A History of the Indigenous Peoples in the United States of America], 3. edt., München, C. H. Beck, .
    • . Die Indianer. Geschichte der indigenen Nationen in den USA [The American Indians. A History of the Indigenous Peoples in the United States of America], 2. edt., München, C. H. Beck, .
    • . Die Indianer. Geschichte der indigenen Nationen in den USA [The American Indians. A History of the Indigenous Peoples in the United States of America],, München, C. H. Beck, .
    • . “Festkultur und Gedächtnis: Die Konstruktion einer deutschamerikanischen Ethnizität, 1848-1914 [Festive Culture and Memory: The Construction of a German-American Ethnicity, 1848-1914].”Studien zur Historischen Migrationsforschung, Vol. 32, Paderborn, Ferdinand Schöningh, .
    • . “Das Nationalkomitee und der Westen : die Reaktion der Westalliierten auf das NKFD und die freien deutschen Bewegungen 1943 - 1948 [The National Committee for a Free Germany and the West: The NCFG and the Free German Movements as Seen by the Western Allies, 1943–1948].”Transatlantische historische Studien, Vol. 8,, Stuttgart, Franz Steiner Verlag, .
    Books (Edited Collections)
    • Bungert, Heike, and Weiß, Jana, editors. “‚God Bless America‘: Zivilreligion in den USA im 20. Jahrhundert [‘God Bless America‘: Civil Religion in the USA in the 20th Century].”Religion und Moderne, Vol. 8, Frankfurt a.M., Campus Verlag, .
    • Bungert, Heike, and Lerg, Charlotte, editors. “Transnationale Universitätsgeschichte [Transnational History of Universities].”Jahrbuch für Universitätsgeschichte, Vol. 18, Stuttgart, Franz Steiner Verlag, .
    • Bungert, Heike, Kluge, Cora Lee, and Ostergren, Robert C., editors. Wisconsin German Land and Life,, Madison, Max Kade Institute for German-American Studies, .
    • Bungert, Heike, Heitmann, Jan G., and Wala, Michael, editors. “Secret Intelligence in the Twentieth Century.”Studies in Intelligence,, London, Routledge, .
    • Bungert, Heike, Frey, Marc, and Mauch, Christof, editors. “Verfassung - Demokratie - politische Kultur : US-amerikanische Geschichte in transatlantischer Perspektive [Constitution – Democracy – Political Culture: US American History from a Transatlantic Perspective].”Mosaic, Vol. 16,, Trier, Wissenschaftlicher Verlag Trier, .

    Articles

    Research Articles (Journals)
    • . “Deutsche 'Forty-Eighters' in den USA.” Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte, Vol. 73, № 7-9, , pp. 31–39.
    • and . “Literaturbericht. Geschichte der USA. Teil II.” Geschichte in Wissenschaft und Unterricht, Vol. 73, № 1/2, , pp. 90–107.
    • . “The German Forty-Eighters in American Society and Politics.” Yearbook of Transnational History, Vol. 4, , pp. 69–112.
    • . “Literaturbericht. Geschichte der USA. Teil I.” Geschichte in Wissenschaft und Unterricht, Vol. 72, , pp. 698–712.
    • and . “The Relevance of the Concept of Civil Religion from a (West) German Perspective.” Religions, Vol. 10, № 6, , p. 366–366. doi: 10.3390/rel10060366.
    • . “The Singing Festivals of German Americans, 1849–1914.” American Music, Vol. 34, № 2, , pp. 141–179.
    • . “Migration und Internationale Beziehungen im Kaiserreich: Wilhelm II., das Auswärtige Amt und ihr Interesse an den Deutschamerikanern.” Zeitschrift für Geschichtswissenschaft, Vol. 63, № 5, , pp. 413–434.
    • and . “Transnationale Universitätsgeschichte (Einleitung).” Jahrbuch für Universitätsgeschichte, Vol. 18, , pp. 35–49.
    • . “Deutschamerikanische Sängerfeste und Lieder als Medium der Ethnizitätsbildung, 1849-1914.” Lied und populäre Kultur, Vol. 55, , pp. 41–76.
    • and . “Die Debatte um ‚Zivilreligion’ in transnationaler Perspektive.” Zeithistorische Forschungen/Studies in Contemporary History, Online-Ausgabe, Vol. 7, № 3, , pp. 454–459.
    • . “Globaler Informationsaustausch und globale Zusammenarbeit: Die International Association of Universities, 1950-1968.” Jahrbuch für Universitätsgeschichte, Vol. 2010, № 13, , pp. 177–191.
    • . “Two Times ’Geronimo’: Changes in the Representation of Native American History in Film.” Zeitschrift für Anglistik und Amerikanistik, Vol. 53, № 5, , pp. 257–272.
    • . “’Feast of Fools’: German-American Carnival in the United States, 1854-1914.” Amerikastudien/American Studies, Vol. 48, № 3, , pp. 325–344.
    • . “Deutsche Emigranten im amerikanischen Kalkül : Die Regierung in Washington, Thomas Mann und die Gründung eines Emigrantenkomitees 1943.” Vierteljahrshefte für Zeitgeschichte, Vol. 46, , pp. 253–268.
    • . “The OSS and Its Cooperation with the Free Germany Committees, 1944-1945.” Intelligence and National Security, Vol. 12, № 3, , pp. 130–144.
    • . “GLORY and the Experience of African American Soldiers in the Civil War: An Attempt at Historical Film Analysis.” Amerikastudien/American Studies, Vol. 40, № 2, , pp. 271–282.
    • . “A New Perspective on French-American Relations during the Occupation of Germany, 1945-1948: Behind-the-Scenes Diplomatic Bargaining and the Zonal Merger.” Diplomatic History, Vol. 18, № 3, , pp. 333–352.
    Book Contributions
    Research Article (Book Contributions)
    • . “James Buchanan (1857-1861): Südstaatenfreundlicher Legalist in der Krise der Union.” Die Präsidenten der USA. 45 historische Porträts von George Washington bis Donald Trump, edited by Christof Mauch, München, C. H. Beck, , pp. 181–187.
    • . “’Indianer’ und ‘Weiße’, ‘Edle’ und ‘Wilde’: Zur Geschichte von Indigenen und euroamerikanischen Indianerbildern.” Ost/Western: Kino, Kultur und Klassenfeind, edited by Kunsthalle Rostock, Halle/Saale, Mitteldeutscher Verlag, , pp. 26–34.
    • . “1855: Deutsch wird man erst in der Fremde: Deutsche Vereine in den USA.” Deutschland: Globalgeschichte einer Nation, edited by Andreas Fahrmeir, München, C. H. Beck, , pp. 369–373.
    • . “‘An Agreeable Mixture of Festivity with Solemnity‘: Graduierungsfeierlichkeiten (Commencements) an US-amerikanischen Hochschulen.” Zwischen Inaugurationsfeier und Fachschafts-Party: Akademische Festkulturen vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart, edited by Martin Kintzinger, Wolfgang Wagner and Marian Füssel, Basel, Schwabe, , pp. 143–177.
    • . “Zivilreligion in Jubiläen der US-amerikanischen Geschichte, 1957-1971.” „God Bless America“: Zivilreligion in den USA im 20. Jahrhundert, edited by Heike Bungert and Jana Weiß, Frankfurt a.M., Campus Verlag, , pp. 37–77.
    • . “German Americans and their Efforts to Bring ‘Cultur’ to the United States, 1848-1914.” New Perspectives on German-American Educational History: Topics, Trends, Fields of Research, edited by Jürgen Overhoff and Anne Overbeck, Bad Heilbrunn, Julius Klinkhardt, , pp. 63–82.
    • . “Ein Fest der Zivilreligion: Amtseinführungen US-amerikanischer Präsidenten.” Rituale der Amtseinsetzung: Inaugurationen in verschiedenen Epochen, Kulturen, politischen Systemen und Religionen, edited by Helene Basu and Gerd Althoff, Würzburg, Ergon Verlag, , pp. 187–232.
    • . “Inklusion und Exklusion, 'Fest' und 'Feier': Deutschamerikanische Sängerfeste, 1848-1914.” Zwischen Inklusion und Exklusion: 'Deutsche' Musik in Europa und Nordamerika, 1848-1945, edited by Sabine Mecking and Yvonne Wasserloos, Göttingen, V&R unipress, , pp. 65–94.
    • . “Global Comments: Transnational Views of Pocahontas and Early White-Native American Interactions in ‘The New World’.” Visual Representations of Native Americans: Transnational Contexts and Perspectives, American Studies - A Monograph Series, Vol. 218, edited by Karsten Fitz, Heidelberg, Carl Winter Verlag, , pp. 211–236.
    • . “Nationale Bildungssysteme: USA.” Bildung: Ziele und Formen, Traditionen und Systeme, Medien und Akteure, edited by Michael Maaser and Gerrit Walther, Stuttgart, J.B. Metzler Verlag, , pp. 436–444.
    • and . “Transnationalizing American Studies: Historians’ Perspectives.” American studies, shifting gears : a publication of the DFG Research Network "The Futures of (European) American Studies", American studies, Vol. 158, edited by Birte Christ, Heidelberg, Carl Winter Verlag, , pp. 89–116.
    • . “Europäische Migration nach Nordamerika im 19. Jahrhundert.” Migration in internationaler Perspektive [Zentralinstitut für Regionenforschung], Zentralinstitut für Regionenforschung : Schriftenreihe des Zentralinstituts für Regionenforschung der Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg ; N.F., Vol. 5, edited by Thomas Fischer and Daniel Gossel, München, Allitera Verlag, , pp. 61–98.
    • . “Memory and Migration Studies.” The merits of memory : concepts, contexts, debates, American studies, Vol. 143, edited by Sabine Schindler and Hans-Jürgen Grabbe, Heidelberg, Carl Winter Verlag, , pp. 197–219.
    • . “Deutschamerikanische Ethnizitätsbildungsprozesse in San Antonio und San Francisco, 1848-1914.” Die deutsche Präsenz in den USA = The German presence in the U.S.A., Literatur, Vol. 11, edited by Josef Raab and Jan Wirrer, Berlin, Münster, LIT Verlag, , pp. 57–94.
    • . “Fighting American ‘Muckerism’: German-American Festivals and their Impact on American Cultural Life, 1854-1914.” Atlantic Migrations: Regions and Movements in Germany and North America/USA during the 18th and 19th Centuries, edited by Sabine Heerwart and Claudia Schnurmann, Münster, LIT Verlag, , pp. 183–208.
    • . “Der Deutsch-Französische Krieg im Spiegel der Wohltätigkeitsbazare und Feiern deutscher und französischer Migranten in den USA, 1870/71.” Deutschland - Frankreich - Nordamerika: Transfers, Imaginationen, Beziehungen, Deutsch-Französisches Komitee für die Erforschung der Deutschen und Französischen Geschichte des 19. und 20. Jahrhunderts: Schriftenreihe des Deutsch-Französischen Historikerkomitees, Vol. 3 Geschichte, edited by Chantal Metzger and Hartmut Kaelble, Stuttgart, Franz Steiner Verlag, , pp. 152–170.
    • . “Regional Diversity in Celebrating Regional Origin: German-American ‘Volksfeste’, 1870-1920.” Regionalism in the Age of Globalism. Bd. 2: Forms of Regionalism, edited by Lothar Hönnighausen, Madison, WI, CSUMC, , pp. 93–115.
    • . “From Celebrating the Old to Celebrating the New: The Formation of a German-American Identity, 1859-1914.” Sites of Memory in American Literature and Cultures, American Studies - A Monograph Series, Vol. 101, edited by Udo Hebel, Heidelberg, Carl Winter Verlag, , pp. 193–212.
    • . “Demonstrating the Values of ‘Gemüthlichkeit’ and ‘Cultur’: The Festivals of German-Americans in Milwaukee, 1870-1910.” Celebrating Ethnicity and Nation: American Festive Culture from the Revolution to the Early Twentieth Century, edited by G. Fabre, J. Heideking and K. Dreisbach, New York, Berghahn Books, , pp. 175–193.
    • . “Edith Bolling Wilson: die erste Präsidentin der Vereinigten Staaten?” Die First Ladies, edited by Philipp Gassert and Christof Mauch, Stuttgart, Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, , pp. 111–120.
    • . “Nationalkomitee und ‘Paulus-Armee’: Amerikanische Sorgen anläßlich der Repatriierung deutscher Kriegsgefangener aus der UdSSR, 1945-1955.” Kriegsgefangenschaft im Zweiten Weltkrieg: Eine vergleichende Perspektive, edited by Günter Bischof and Rüdiger Overmans, Ternitz-Pottschach, Gerhard Höller, , pp. 265–279.
    • . “‘Possible Dynamite’: Ebauche d’une coopération partielle des Etats-Unis et de la France avec les communistes allemands, 1943-1945.” Il n’est point de secret que le temps ne révèle: Etudes sur l’histoire du renseignement, edited by d’Etudes Centre, Paris, Editions Charles Lavauzelle, , pp. 167–184.
    • . “‘Den deutschen Widerstandswillen brechen’: Anglo-amerikanische Pläne zur Gründung eines deutschen Komitees als Antwort auf das NKFD.” Das Nationalkomitee Freies Deutschland und der Bund Deutscher Offiziere, edited by Gerd R. Ueberschär, Frankfurt a.M., S. Fischer Verlag, , pp. 52–63.
    • . “James Buchanan (1857-1861): Südstaatenfreundlicher Legalist in der Krise der Union.” Die amerikanischen Präsidenten : 41 historische Portraits von George Washington bis Bill Clinton, edited by Jürgen Heideking, München, C. H. Beck, , pp. 170–175.
    • . “Ein meisterhafter Schachzug: Das Nationalkomitee Freies Deutschland in der Beurteilung der Amerikaner, 1943-1945.” Geheimdienstkrieg gegen Deutschland: Subversion, Propaganda und politische Planungen des amerikanischen Geheimdienstes im Zweiten Weltkrieg, edited by Jürgen Heideking, Göttingen, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, , pp. 90–121.
    Entries in Encyclopediae (Book Contributions)
    • . “USA: Staat und Religion.” Lexikon für Kirchen- und Religionsrecht, edited by Heribert Hallermann and Thomas Meckel Ferdinand Schöningh, , pp. 540–543.
    • . “Native Americans.” USA-Lexikon, edited by Christof Mauch and Rüdiger Wersich Berlin, Erich Schmidt Verlag, , pp. 763–774.

    Entry in Encyclopedia in a Digital Collection

    • . “Gemütlichkeit.” Encyclopedia of Milwaukee, .