The roots of the Institute of Contemporary History date back to the period of occupation after the Second World War back. In 1947, efforts were made in the American zone, to establish an "Institute for the Study of National Socialist policy" Under slightly altered name -. "German Institute for the History of Nazi time" - started the Institute in 1949 with his work, which by 1950 financial federal allocations and the State of Bavaria was born. In 1952, the Institute's still valid name "Institute for Contemporary History". From then on, the activities of the Institute, from the first political education was expected "determined by exclusively scientific criteria".