Luther’s Hammers: German Academic Historiography and Popular Memory of the Reformation in the Context of its 2017 Anniversary

Abstract

Abstract This essay analyses the relationship between scholarly and public treatments of the Lutheran Reformation surrounding its 500th anniversary in Germany in 2017. It aims at critically re-evaluating the celebrations and their media coverage from a historical and historiographical perspective. Taking into account important links between contemporary and earlier forms of German Reformation memory, the chapter first focuses on current views of Martin Luther and the posting of his theses, because both featured prominently during the official celebrations and were meant to link the Lutheran Reformation to modernity. The next part summarizes the historical origins of Luther’s alleged hammering of his theses. The essay then assesses another contested issue; namely a diffusion of Lutheranism from the small town of Wittenberg into Europe and across the world. The final section addresses current historiographical and methodological trends in German Reformation research and how they connect to a public Reformation memory.