Legacy of the Enlightenment: The Use of European History and Culture in the Interwar Years by the Ligue des droits de l'homme and Grande Loge de France

What kinds of historical knowledge and historical consciousness have an impact on society? How can we study this question with regard to former periods like the interwar period in the twentieth century? Civil society organizations such as human rights leagues and masonic associations had a broad membership base, organized well-structured internal communication processes, and, above all, produced their own documents, providing broader insights into historical knowledge and historical awareness. These organizations were part of a historic struggle – for freedom, political rights, human rights, women's rights, anti-discrimination, democracy and the like. There was much reason to reflect on history and to articulate historical consciousness. The example of French Human Rights League and Masonic Grande Loge de France shows the ongoing importance of the Enlightenment for the formation of historical knowledge of Europe and the world, and for the philosophical and idealistic conception of history.