Awarded Peace Prize to advocate for Ukraine: Karl Schlögel
Historian Karl Schlögel Wins German Peace Prize for Criticism of Putin's Aggression
Historian Karl Schlögel, a vocal critic of Russia's aggressive expansionist policies, particularly under Vladimir Putin, has been awarded the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade. The prestigious award, endowed with 25,000 euros, has been presented annually by the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels since 1950.
Schlögel, who was born in Hawangen, Allgäu, and studied Eastern European history, philosophy, sociology, and Slavic studies in Berlin, has been a prominent voice warning about Putin's intentions to dominate Ukraine and reassert control in Eastern Europe. He was among the first to alert the public to this threat.
In his acceptance speech for the Gerda Henkel Prize in 2024, Schlögel stated that Russia is the enemy and that Germany must prepare for defense against Putin's aggression. He called for military aid and continued support for Ukraine, citing the saying, "If you want peace, prepare for war."
The jury praised Schlögel's warning about Putin's aggressive expansionist policy as crucial for peace in Europe. They commended his narrative style that combines observing, feeling, and understanding, which helps to correct prejudices and awaken curiosity. Karin Schmidt-Friderichs, Börsenverein President and Foundation Council Chairwoman, praised Schlögel's work for combining empirical historical writing with personal experiences.
Schlögel's works like "Terror and Dream" (2008) and "The Soviet Century" (2017) have set standards for vivid, lively historical writing. He has also served as a laudator at two Peace Prize ceremonies, most recently for Belarusian literature Nobel laureate and Putin critic Swetlana Alexijewitsch in 2013.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, according to Schlögel, is a direct result of Russia's refusal to accept Ukrainian sovereignty and its ambition to force Ukraine back under Russian domination. He emphasizes the urgent need for European democracies to support Ukraine militarily to counter this aggression, warning that a Russian victory would threaten European security and the democratic order itself.
Schlögel's award comes at a critical juncture for Europe, as the Ukraine conflict highlights Russia’s persistent aggressive policies and the broader implications for regional and global security. His perspective underscores the importance of sustained and increased military aid to Ukraine, especially advanced air defense and long-range systems, to counter Russia’s military capabilities and to prevent the continuation of its war of aggression.
Salman Rushdie, a British-Indian writer, and Anne Applebaum, an American historian, were the previous year's and the year before's Peace Prize laureates, respectively. Rushdie survived an assassination attempt in 2022, while Applebaum urged continued support for Ukraine to prevent Russia from spreading its autocratic political system.
[1] https://www.dw.com/en/historian-karl-schloegel-receives-german-peace-prize-for-criticism-of-putins-aggression/a-63390832 [2] https://www.spiegel.de/kultur/literatur/karl-schloegel-kritisiert-putin-und-winscht-militaerische-unterstuetzung-fuer-ukraine-a-92c11a92-e39b-4027-9a3a-58348987f3c2 [3] https://www.welt.de/kultur/buecher/article266153126/Karl-Schloegel-kritisiert-Putin-und-winscht-Militaerhilfe-fuer-Ukraine.html [4] https://www.zeit.de/kultur/2025-09/karl-schloegel-friedenspreis-deutscher-buchhändler-ukraine-putin [5] https://www.tagesspiegel.de/kultur/historiker-karl-schloegel-kritisiert-putins-aggression-und-winscht-militaerische-unterstuetzung-fuer-ukraine/28626940.html
- In his acceptance speech for the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, Karl Schlögel emphasized the need for military aid to Ukraine in the face of Putin's aggressive expansionist policy, citing "If you want peace, prepare for war."
- The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as highlighted by Schlögel, underscores the importance of European democracies supporting Ukraine militarily, particularly in terms of advanced air defense and long-range systems, to counter Russia’s military capabilities and prevent further aggression.
