Hans Mottek (26 September 1910, Posen – 24 October 1993, Berlin) was one of the most important economic historians of the DDR (East Germany).
Between 1957 and 1974 Mottek's masterpiece, the three volume Wirtschaftgeschichte Deutschlands [Economic History of Germany] was produced in close connection with his teaching.
This foundation stone of the study of German economic history quickly found recognition in Germany and internationally.
Mottek passed his special interest in the industrialisation of the 19th century to his students, who produced several works on the history of the industrial revolution in Germany, with his encouragement and direction.
Mottek, who never abandoned Marxism, entered a new field (for the DDR) in the 1970s: the research of issues of the relationship between humanity and the environment.