Studium.Pro: When studying is more than just acquiring knowledge

In a world where war is the answer, what questions arise?

The seminar “War, society and responsibility” breaks down the barriers between academic disciplines and campuses at the KU. The focus in this format is not primarily on earning ECTS credits, but on broadening one's own horizons, expanding one’s perspectives, and sometimes even letting go of certain beliefs. Lecturer Jeff Montrose teaches Business English at the KU's Ingolstadt campus. Until 2004, he served as an officer in the U.S. Army for about 20 years, completed overseas deployments in Kosovo and Iraq, and wrote a book about his experiences titled “In the Desert of Madness: What I Experienced in the Iraq War and Finally Understood” (published in German under the title: “In der Wüste des Wahnsinns – Was ich im Irakkrieg erlebt und endlich begriffen habe”). Even after his active service in the army, he has remained closely involved with the subject – among other things, as an advisor to the Bundeswehr Association – and to this day follows the combat missions of his former comrades as well as those of the Bundeswehr. 

A highly topical issue

With Russia’s war against Ukraine, the U.S. war in Iran, and Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip, the topic has once again come to the forefront of public discourse in Germany – and thus also made its way onto the KU’s seminar schedule. This seminar is part of the semester schedule for the Studium.Pro module, which offers all students the opportunity to broaden their horizons, take a wide range of courses regardless of their main study subject, and develop their personalities further. There is a lot of interest in this course among students. Above all, Montrose is delighted by the lively international and interdisciplinary exchange: "In the course, students from Germany, Russia, France, India, and other countries engage in discussions and share their perspectives. The subject-related foundations are also very diverse. "The group includes students majoring in business, data science, psychology, and education, each of whom brings a very different set of foundational knowledge to the table."

From the basics to reflective discussion

For this reason, Montrose structured his seminar around three fundamental questions and began by covering the basics. What is war, and why do countries go to war? He also highlights how different modern wars are, specifically addressing the differences between the Iraq War and the war in Ukraine. He then shifted to a more personal level: What is it like to fight in a war? Here, he also draws on his own experiences to illustrate the immense strain of asymmetric wars. While World War II, for example, was primarily about direct combat with the enemy, missions in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, or Mali also involve tasks related to reconstruction. Soldiers can no longer tell the difference between friend and foe at a glance. This blurring of the black-and-white spectrum places a very heavy burden on individuals. The number of veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder is rising sharply. 

The goal of the seminar is for students to be able to reflect on their own in the third part of the course, based on the third question: Does society have a responsibility toward the government, soldiers, and veterans? Jeff Montrose, a U.S. Army veteran himself who has attended Veterans' Days events in Germany as a speaker, observes a significant difference in the public perception of male and female veterans, as well as of overseas deployments by the U.S. Army and the Bundeswehr. While former soldiers are sometimes celebrated as heroes in the United States, they remain invisible in Germany. But here, too, Montrose delves even deeper. In the U.S., too, there is a big difference between whether a soldier served in World War II or in the Vietnam War. Nevertheless: In the U.S., veterans are seen and visible. Even though they are appreciated differently, they are a common theme in movies and literature. 

What is the status of male and female veterans in society?

Montrose describes the many facets of this question: In Germany, serving in the Bundeswehr is often associated with right-wing nationalist ideology. But the Bundeswehr is a parliamentary army whose mission also includes protecting democracy. Added to this are veterans of the NVA – that is, the former East German army – who often feel like second-class veterans. The culture of remembrance surrounding National Socialism and the Shoah also plays a role in this context. Many war memorials are still designed in the style of the Third Reich, and as a result, the act of remembrance is co-opted by the far right. A responsible remembrance of the war and the associated efforts to preserve peace must also address this issue. 

No easy answers, but an awareness of possible solutions

For Montrose, what we need is a comprehensive approach that involves the whole community. He, too, is aware of his own one-sided perspective as a white American man and appreciates the international perspectives that are explored in the course. Students also find this atmosphere very enriching and appreciate the opportunity for open discussion with both their lecturer and their fellow students. 

The new Studium.Pro program begins in October

Due to high demand during the 2026 summer semester, Jeff Montrose’s seminar is scheduled to be offered again as part of the Studium.Pro program for the upcoming winter semester. In addition, Studium.Pro offers students a wide variety of seminars on current social issues, ranging from “Anti-Racist Action” to “Shaping the Future.” In addition to events for students, the KU is opening up the Studium.Pro program – particularly as part of K’Universale – to the general public as well, because social discourse is only possible when we step outside our own spheres of experience. For more information about the programs offered by Studium.Pro and K’Universale, visit ku.de/studiumpro .

Text: Melena Renner; translation: Sylvia Schmager