caption birth_place image_size nationality birth_date spouse known_for image article_title name occupation alma_mater
at the leipzig book fair 2012 oldham , lancashire , england , uk 225px british 29 april 1943 janet e m gammie/kershaw studies '' , and for advancing the `` working towards the of führer '' concept german social history , especially '' alltagsgeschichte ian kershaw 2012 crop.jpg ian kershaw
 sir ian kershaw historian university of liverpool merton college , oxford
ian kershaw

sir ian kershaw , fba -lrb- born 29 april 1943 -rrb- is a british historian and author whose work has chiefly focused on the social history of 20th century germany .
he is regarded by many as one of the world 's leading experts on adolf hitler and nazi germany , and is particularly noted for his monumental biographies of hitler .
he was the leading disciple of the late west german historian martin broszat , and -lrb- until his retirement -rrb- professor at the university of sheffield .
kershaw has called broszat an `` inspirational mentor '' who did much to shape his understanding of national socialist germany .
kershaw served as historical adviser on numerous bbc documentaries , notably '' '' and `` war of the century '' .
he taught a module titled ` germans against hitler ' .
his wife dame betty kershaw was professor of nursing and dean of the school of nursing studies at the university of sheffield .
