Oral History Interview, Robert Koehl (1039)

Abstract

In his two July 2009 interviews with Bob Lange, Robert Koehl reflects on his years of study, scholarship, and teaching history at Harvard, MIT, Nebraska and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Koehl traces important influences from his German family, his Harvard and MIT years, and his experience as an interrogation officer in World War II to follow his interest in sociological elements of National Socialism in Germany. He also chronicles his struggles with alcoholism and family life, his record of publication and teaching, his activism during the turbulent 1950s and 60s, and his developing views on fascism and communism during the interwar and postwar years. He offers insights into the history and educational policy studies departments at UW-Madison from the 1960s to the 1990s. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the UW-Madison Archives and Records Management Oral History Program.