Karl Schlögel will receive the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade in 2025!

Karl Schlögel will receive the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade in 2025!

At a time when awareness of democracy and freedom is needed more than ever, Karl Schlögel is being honored for his tireless commitment to Ukraine. On Sunday, October 19, 2025, the emeritus professor and historian will be with the renowned during the Frankfurt Book Fair Peace Prize of the German Book Trade honored. Minister of Culture and Science Dr. Manja Schüle already congratulated and praised Schlögel's extraordinary work and his commitment to a free Europe.

The Peace Prize is considered one of the most important awards for journalists in Germany and is endowed with 25,000 euros. The award not only honors Schlögel's life's work, but also his tireless contribution to promoting understanding of Ukraine and the problems of the Russian war of aggression. In their statement, the jury highlighted his extraordinary oeuvre, which reflects a passion for Eastern European living environments, especially in times of crisis. The prize is traditionally awarded at the end of the Frankfurt Book Fair in the historic Paulskirche.

A life for Eastern European history

The 77-year-old historian, born in Hawangen im Allgäu, has spent his entire life studying the history of Eastern Europe and Ukraine. After learning Russian in the 1960s and making his first trips to the Soviet Union, he shaped the European University Viadrina over the years with a chair in Eastern European history, which he played a key role in establishing. His dissertation on labor conflicts in the Soviet Union laid the foundation for a career that took him through various academic institutions, including the University of Konstanz and as a guest lecturer at international universities.

His works, such as "Terror and Dream. Moscow 1937" and "The Soviet Century. Archeology of a Lost World", deal with complex historical contexts and encourage us to think outside the box. Schlögel's literary gift and his ability to adopt unusual perspectives make him a valued commentator and scientist who always critically reflects on events in Eastern Europe.

A committed activist

As a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Schlögel campaigns for peace and freedom not only in science, but also actively in society. He can be found regularly at anti-war protests and is committed to a better understanding of Ukraine among the German public. A formative experience was the Russian occupation of Crimea in 2014, which acted as a wake-up call for him and strengthened his commitment.

His latest book, “On the Sandbank of Time,” will also be published in October 2025, in which he deals with the change in his image of Russia in the context of the Ukraine War. With a sensitive approach, Schlögel masters the balancing act between historical analysis and current events. His conviction that the war in Ukraine is also a war against Europe illustrates the urgency of his message: without a free Ukraine, a stable peace in Europe is not possible.

Finally, with his views and works, Schlögel invites us to place Eastern Europe and Ukraine in particular in a common European context. At a time when the world demands voices of reason more than ever, he remains an incisive voice for the freedom and challenges of his field.