A remembrance and celebration of a life of passion, dedicated service and many wonderful achievements.
The event was organised jointly by the Leo Baeck Institute London and the German Historical Institute London and took place at the German Historical Institute London.
A memorial evening celebrating the life and work of Dr Arnold Paucker OBE, known to colleagues and friends as Arno, and his contribution as a longstanding director of the Leo Baeck Institute London.
Organised jointly by LBI London and the German Historical Institute London, the event brought together family, friends and colleagues to remember Paucker as a historian, editor and supporter of generations of scholars.
The recording combines personal memories with reflections on his scholarly legacy. Pauline Paucker recalls their meeting in post-war Florence, their shared love of books and the conversation that continued throughout their 67 years of marriage. In his lecture, “Arno Paucker, A Scholar Who Reached Out”, Peter Pulzer traces Paucker’s journey from Berlin to Britain and explores his role in developing the Institute’s research and international connections.
A panel chaired by Daniel Wildmann considers Paucker’s research on Jewish resistance to Nazism, his encouragement of younger scholars and the friendships that helped bring historians together across national and generational boundaries. Contributions from the audience add memories of his humour, generosity and commitment to open scholarly debate. Together, the speakers offer a portrait of a historian whose influence extended beyond his publications, through the people he supported and the connections he helped build.
Programme
- Opening words: Pauline Paucker
- Lecture: Peter Pulzer (Oxford), ‘Arno Paucker, A Scholar Who Reached Out’
- Panel: ‘Arno Paucker and German-Jewish History’, with Peter Alter (Cologne), Simone Erpel (Berlin) and Raphael Gross (Leipzig)
- Chair: Daniel Wildmann (London)
We invite you to listen to the recording and revisit an evening of remembrance, conversation and appreciation.
