Who Is Ian Kershaw? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Ian Kershaw, born on April 29, 1943, is celebrated as one of the leading historians of Nazi Germany. As of 2025, Kershaw is 81 years old and continues to be a prominent figure in the field of history. His works, particularly "Hitler" and "The Nazi Dictatorship," have cemented his reputation as an expert on the subject matter. Kershaw's analytical approach and detailed research have earned him numerous accolades throughout his esteemed career.
| Occupation | Historian |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | April 29, 1943 |
| Age | 82 Years |
| Birth Place | Oldham, Lancashire, England |
| Horoscope | Taurus |
| Country | England |
Popularity
Ian Kershaw's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Ian Kershaw maintains a scholarly presence, though specific details about his height and weight are not widely documented. As a historian, he focuses more on intellectual pursuits than on physical appearances, a reflection of his dedication to academia rather than celebrity culture.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Kershaw is known to be a private individual, thus information regarding his family and personal relationships is limited. As of 2025, there is no public information suggesting he has a boyfriend or girlfriend, nor has he been reported to have a spouse. His commitment to his professional work has often left little room for public disclosure about his personal life.
He was educated at Counthill Grammar School, St Bede's College, Manchester, where he was taught by Father Geoffrey Burke, the University of Liverpool (BA), and Merton College, Oxford (DPhil). He was originally trained as a medievalist but turned to the study of modern German social history in the 1970s.
At first, he was mainly concerned with the economic history of Bolton Abbey. As a lecturer in medieval history at Manchester, Kershaw learnt German to study the German peasantry in the Middle Ages. In 1972, he visited Bavaria and was shocked to hear the views of an old man he met in a Munich café who told him: "You English were so foolish.
If only you had sided with us. Together we could have defeated Bolshevism and ruled the earth!"—adding in for good measure that "The Jew is a louse!" As a result of this incident, Kershaw became keen to learn how and why ordinary people in Germany could support Nazism.
Net Worth and Salary
As an esteemed historian, Ian Kershaw has accumulated a considerable net worth over his career. In 2025, his estimated net worth ranges between $1 million and $5 million. This wealth comes from his extensive writing, speaking engagements, and academic positions. His insights and contributions to history have been recognized worldwide, affirming his status as a leading expert.
Career, Business, and Investments
Kershaw's illustrious career includes significant contributions to historical literature. Aside from his bestselling books, he has held esteemed academic positions, including being a professor of modern history at the University of Sheffield. Kershaw's strategic investments and savvy financial management have allowed him to maintain a comfortable lifestyle, although specifics regarding his investments remain undisclosed.
* those historians who favour a "functionalist" interpretation with the emphasis on the German bureaucracy and the Holocaust as an ad hoc process, and those who favour an "intentionalist" interpretation with the focus on Hitler and the argument that the Holocaust had been something planned from early on in Hitler's political career.
Social Network
Ian Kershaw is not particularly active on social media, preferring to let his work speak for itself. He occasionally engages with international academic communities and history enthusiasts, primarily through selective online platforms, but does not maintain a significant social media presence, as many modern celebrities do.
He was a follower of the German historian Martin Broszat, and until his retirement, he was a professor at the University of Sheffield. Kershaw has called Broszat an "inspirational mentor" who did much to shape his understanding of Nazi Germany.
Kershaw served as historical adviser on numerous BBC documentaries, notably The Nazis: A Warning from History and War of the Century. He taught a module titled "Germans against Hitler".
Education
Kershaw attended the University of Liverpool, where he studied history, later achieving a PhD. His academic journey has profoundly influenced his insights into history, specifically focusing on the dynamics of power, dictatorship, and societal impact during the Nazi regime. His education laid the foundation for a career dedicated to understanding one of history's most complex eras.
In Kershaw's view, there was much dissent and opposition within German society, but outside of the working class, very little resistance. Although Kershaw has argued that the Resistenz (immunity [against indoctrination]) concept has much merit, he concluded that the Nazi regime had a broad basis of support and it is correct to speak of "resistance without the people".
