Welcome to the Website of the international Research Network on
“Military, War and Gender/Diversity / Militär, Krieg und Geschlecht/Diversität” (MKGD)
This website is intended to provide a virtual platform for the international research network on Military, War and Gender/Diversity / Militär, Krieg und Geschlecht/Diversität (MKGD), which was founded on March 11 2024, that not only serves to provide information about the activities of the research network, but is also intended to provide broader information about the field of research. One-hundred-and-six researchers from various disciplines from universities and institutions in twenty countries joined the research network so far as cooperation partners. One of them is the Bundeswehr Centre for Military History and Social Sciences (Zentrum für Militärgeschichte und Sozialwissenschaften der Bundeswehr, ZMSBw). In addition, over 500 scholars from 34 countries, all working on the subject of gender, violence and war in different stages of their career, joint our MKGD mailing list.
The aim of the research network is to systematically promote the research approach and subject of gender/diversity, military, violence and war through intensive international and interdisciplinary collaboration. In addition to this website, the research network includes a mailing list linked to the University of the Bundeswehr Munich, an MKGD online research colloquium that started in April 2024 and regularly comprises four events each in the summer and winter term. The presentations are either in English or German and will be announced accordingly. In addition, in November 2024 a group of younger scholars started an Early Career Initiative under the MKGD umbrella for Masters’ students, PhD candidates, recent PhDs, and PostDocs working in this field. In 2026 we also will start our own Book Series with Berghahn Books “Studies in Gender, Wars and Violence.” We just published the Call for Book Proposals.
Furthermore, we organize an annual international MKGD-ZMSBw conference together with cooperation partners. The third International MKGD-ZMSBw Conference on “Sexual Violence in Militaries and Wars: Comparative and Long-term Perspectives” will take place from Wednesday to Friday, January 20 to 22, 2027 at the ZMSBw in Potsdam. We just published the Call for Papers. In addition, we organize our first international MKGD-ZMSBw Online Workshop on “Masculinities, Militaries, Violence and Wars since 1945” on Thursday and Friday, June 25 and 26, 2026.
For more information click here.
For the Annual Report 2025 of the MKGD Research Network click here
For a flyer on the MKGD Research Network click here
Academic Directors:
Prof. Dr Isabelle Deflers, Professor of Early Modern History, and Vice President for Internationalisation and Diversity at the University of the Bundeswehr Munich.
Prof. Dr Karen Hagemann, James G. Kenan Distinguished Professor of History and Adjunct Professor of the Curriculum in Peace, War, and Defense, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Prof. Dr Isabel Heinemann, Professor of Contemporary History at the Ludwig Maximilian University Munich and Director of the Leibniz Institute for Contemporary History, Munich – Berlin, Germany.
If you are interested to be included in the MKGD mailing list please write to: [email protected]
MKGD Online Research Colloquium
Program in the Winter Term 2026-2027
PDF of the program overview
Monday, October 5, 2026, 4:00–6:00 pm (CET)
Prof. em. Dr KAREN HAGEMANN (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill):
Book Discussion (in English):
Forgotten Soldiers: Women, the Military and Wars in Europe since 1600
(Vergessene Soldatinnen: Frauen im Militär und in den Kriegen Europeas seit 1600, Suhrkamp 2026)
Comment: Prof. em. Dr Michael Geyer (University of Chicago)
Moderation: Prof. Dr Isabel Heinemann (Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich / Leibniz Insitute for Contemporary History – Munch – Berlin)
PDF of the Flyer for October 5, 2026
For more information on the program click here
You Tube Video
on the Second International MKGD-ZMSBw Conference on
Masculinities, Militaries and Mass Violence in Transition
on January 21 to 23, 2026 at the Bundeswehr Center for Military History and Social Sciences (ZMSBw) in Potsdam.
For the You Tube Video click here
For more information on the conference program click here
ZMSBw Podcast Series “Zugehört” (in German)
Neue Podcast-Folge: An und hinter der Front. Vergessene Soldatinnen
(New Podcast: On and Behind the Front Lines: Forgotten Female Soldiers)
The historians Prof. Dr Karen Hagemann (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) talked with the
jounralist and Staff Sergeant Gerrit Reichert about her new book “Vergessene Soldatinnen: Frauen im Militär und in den Kriegen Europa seit 1600″ (Suhrkamp 2028). In her comprehensive and comparative study, the renowned historian examines the military service of women in European wars since 1600. Drawing on numerous autobiographical accounts and visual representation, she brings women’s wartime experiences to life, describes how these women were perceived in their respective eras, and explores why, across national and institutional boundaries, there has never been a long-lasting effort to adequately commemorate their active role in the military and in war.
(ZMSBw Podcast Series “Zugehört,” 26 May 2026. Copyright: Bundeswehr/Andrea Nimpsch. Language German, runtime 46minutes.)
- For the Podcast click here
ZMSBw Podcast Series “Zugehört” (in German)
Masculinity and the Military in the Age of World Wars
The historians Prof. Dr Thomas Kühne (Clark University) and Carolin Kaiser, M.A. (ZMSBw) conduct research on masculinity and the military in the age of the two world wars. Podcaster and Private First Class Philipp Janssen spoke with them about their research and the theme of the second international MKGD-ZMSBw conference on Masculinities, Militaries and Mass Violence in Transition that took place on January 21 to 23, 2026 at the ZMSBw
(ZMSBw Podcast Series “Zugehört,” 20 February 2026. Copyright: Bundeswehr/Philipp Janssen. Language German, runtime 48 minutes.)
- For the Podcast click here
Podcast Series “Sein und Streit” (in German)
New Readiness for Defense: What Militarization does to Society
Since Russia’s attack on Ukraine, there has been debate in Germany about compulsory military service. Political scientist Herfried Münkler (Humboldt University of Berlin) and historian Karen Hagemann (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) reflect on what mobilization means for a society. The conversation is moderated by author and philosopher Wolfram Eilenberger.
(Deutschlandfunk Kultur, 1 February 2026, Language German; 46 minutes)
For the Podcast click here (also on Spotify)
“Diversity in the Army: ‘Combat is still seen as a Man’s Job’”
Süddeutsche Zeitung Online, May 3, 2024 (in German)
