This video is only available in German. Below you will find an English translation of the audio track.
Johann-Dietrich Wörner, then President of the TU Darmstadt, 2006
“The award of an honorary doctorate to Mr. Georg Iggers represents a special situation. By this I do not mean the fact that none of the 45 honorary doctors mentioned earlier comes from the field of social and historical sciences, but a highly special situation.
In 1988, at the suggestion of then President Böhme, Darmstadt Technical University honored Georg Iggers with the Erasmus-Kittler Medal in recognition of his services to German-American exchange.
This exchange, which from Darmstadt’s point of view fortunately dates back to the appointment negotiations with Helmut Böhme in 1968, initially started with a loosely agreed exchange of doctoral students in the history department. The exchange was extended to the whole university.
The unfortunate imbalance between American and German exchange participants led to the establishment of the Summer School at our university in the mid-1990s. The relationship between Buffalo and the TU Darmstadt has become an important part of our international activities. Just two weeks ago, the new president John Simpson was here and reaffirmed the ties with Darmstadt.
And yet, Georg Iggers is not receiving an honorary doctorate for his outstanding and sustained initiatives to establish the exchange. He is being honored today for his scientific work, the assessment of which will be made in detail by Mr. Kocka, President of the Social Science Research Center Berlin.
The books of Georg Iggers, the judgments and recommendations of other quality, impressively demonstrate the competences of Georg Iggers and the recognition he receives in the scientific community.
There is also a direct link to Darmstadt in terms of scientific activity. Transatlantic lectures in Buffalo and Darmstadt, or better Iggers and Böhme which concerned beyond the circle of historians, architecture and the arts. Lectures and seminars in Darmstadt, complete the picture of a dedicated scholar.
Therefore, I am not only sure that we are honoring the right person by awarding an honorary doctorate to Mr. Iggers, but I also believe that it is an honor for us as the TU Darmstadt that you, dear Mr. Iggers, accept this honor.
I read out the certificate: The Technical University of Darmstadt, during the term of office of the President, Professor Dr. Johann Friedrich Wörner, at the request of the Department of Social and Historical Sciences, by resolution of the Senate, confers on Professor Georg Iggers the dignity of Doktor philosophiae honoris causa, Dr, phil. h. c., in recognition of his extraordinary presentation of the history of historiography, which has received worldwide attention.
Darmstadt, February 15, 2006, the President.”