Lecture in Bayreuth: US internment of Japanese in World War II

Lecture in Bayreuth: US internment of Japanese in World War II

In just one week, an insightful lecture will take place at the University of Bayreuth that will not only shed light on the history but also the present of the internment of Japanese-Americans. On Wednesday, June 18, 2025, the renowned historian Prof. Alexandra M. Stern from UCLA will be at 6:00 p.m. c.t. in the lecture hall H 27 of the Humanities II (GWII) building on the topic "Eugenics, Detention and National Insecurities in WWII United States. Experiences and Lessons from Japanese-American Incarcerations, 1942-1946". Admission is free, registration is not required.

The event is organized by Prof. Isabel Heinemann, Chair of Modern History. Over the years, Prof. Stern has made a name for herself as a leading contemporary historian and has particularly examined the practices of eugenics in the USA and the role of the ultra-right. Her research also includes directing the Sterilization and Social Justice Lab, which studies forced sterilizations in California up to 1979.

A dark chapter in history

The internment of Japanese-Americans between 1942 and 1946 remains a painful part of American history. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, 120,000 Japanese and Japanese-American citizens, 62 percent of whom were U.S. citizens, were viewed as potential security risks. The forced relocation order, issued on February 19, 1942 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt via Executive Order 9066, resulted in many having to leave their homes within a very short period of time. Only around 10,000 of them were able to move to other parts of the country, while the majority were interned in War Relocation Centers.

What's even more frightening is that there was no comparable internment for German- and Italian-Americans. While around 11,000 Germans and 3,000 Italians were temporarily interned, the affected group of Japanese was significantly affected by the aforementioned Executive Order, living in a total of ten internment camps until the end of the Second World War. It was only much later, in the 1980s, that this internment was recognized as a grave injustice and the US Congress decided to pay compensation for the surviving victims.

Connection to the present

What does all of this have to do with today? Prof. Stern will not only talk about the historical facts, but also draw parallels to current internment and deportation practices that are constantly being discussed in the USA today. A look at the history books shows that societies often repeat similar mistakes when fear of the unknown has triumphed over human rights.

The issue of eugenic practices also casts a shadow over society, as many people in the United States were sterilized against their will until the 1980s, which is considered one of the country's darkest chapters. Addressing questions of identity, belonging and human dignity are critical to shaping the future and are at the heart of discussions about justice and equality.

The invitation to this lecture is not only an invitation to listen, but also an invitation to think. The events and their consequences that Prof. Stern addresses are still relevant today and invite everyone interested to examine their own history and the current social situation. For an open-minded society, it is important to learn from the past.

So anyone who is interested in this insightful and necessary discussion should save the date at the University of Bayreuth. Discussion about these topics is more important than ever and there is a lot to learn.