His doctoral dissertation, subsequently reworked for commercial publication, dealt with "violence in the Biedermeier period" in the context of an increase in antisemitic riots at that time.
[4] He is a former chairman of the Association of Judaists in Germany ("Verband der Judaisten in Deutschland") and a member of the board of the Academic Working Group with the Leo Baeck Institute.
[5] Rohrbacher's most important research themes included Jewish history in central Europe, focusing primarily on the early modern period.
[7] Although the allegations were anonymous, the case captured a place in the news agenda and the responsible "doctoral committee" at the University of Düsseldorf undertook a five-month investigation of the matter.
[2] Schavan's doctoral dissertation was determined to reflect a "plagiarising approach" (eine "plagiierende Vorgehensweise") and "intent to deceive" ("leitende Täuschungsabsicht").
Bernhard Kempen, long-standing president of the German Universities Association ("Deutscher Hochschulverband"), insisted that Schavan, like anyone else confronting serious plagiarism allegations, deserved a fair process, and warned against a premature media acquittal orchestrated by "politicians and fringe academics".