Universitätsrektorat

A chilling decree echoed through the halls of the Universit\u00e4tsrektorat in 1933. Under the watchful eye of Rector Martin Heidegger, Jewish faculty members were expelled, a dark chapter in the history of the Universit\u00e4tsrektorat and the University of Freiburg. The Universit\u00e4tsrektorat, once a symbol of academic freedom, became a stage for the Nazi regime’s discriminatory policies. This imposing building, with its seven levels and flat roof, stands as a silent witness to this turbulent era. Constructed in 1955 by architects Frank Beyer and Sonderbauamt Freiburg, the Universit\u00e4tsrektorat replaced the former French military administration building. The Universit\u00e4tsrektorat, also known as the “Panzerkreuzer,” now houses the administrative heart of the Albert-Ludwigs-Universit\u00e4t Freiburg. Before the shadows of National Socialism fell upon the university, the institution boasted a rich history. Founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty, it was the second university in Austrian-Habsburg territory. Over the centuries, the university flourished, attracting renowned scholars such as Erasmus of Rotterdam, Edmund Husserl, and Martin Heidegger. It became a center for humanist jurisprudence, a pioneer in accepting female students in 1900, and the birthplace of ordoliberalism, the Freiburg School of economic thought. The Universit\u00e4tsrektorat, in its current form, did not exist during these early years. The university’s administration was housed in various buildings throughout the city, evolving alongside Freiburg itself. The post-war years saw a resurgence of the university and the construction of the Universit\u00e4tsrektorat. The principles of ordoliberalism, developed at the university, played a key role in the German Wirtschaftswunder, the economic miracle. The Universit\u00e4tsrektorat became the central hub for managing this growth, overseeing the expansion of faculties and student body. Today, the Universit\u00e4tsrektorat, open from 8 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday, manages a vibrant university with 11 faculties and over 24,000 students. The building stands as a reminder of both the university’s prestigious past and its resilience in overcoming dark times. It is a symbol of the enduring power of knowledge and the pursuit of truth, a truth that, as the university’s motto proclaims, “will set you free.”