Rainer Karlsch is a German historian and author.

He studied economic history

Economic history

Economic history is the study of economies or economic phenomena in the past. Analysis in economic history is undertaken using a combination of historical methods, statistical methods and by applying economic theory to historical situations and institutions...

 at the Humboldt University of Berlin

Humboldt University of Berlin

The Humboldt University of Berlin is Berlin's oldest university, founded in 1810 as the University of Berlin by the liberal Prussian educational reformer and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt, whose university model has strongly influenced other European and Western universities...

. He graduated in 1986 as a Doctor of Economics.

From 1992-1994, assistant to the Historical commission on
Berlin (Historischen Kommission zu Berlin).

From 1995-1998, assistant to a key DFG

DFG

DFG may stand for:*Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, a German research funding organisation, known prior to WW II as the Notgemeinschaft der Deutschen Wissenschaft.*Deutsche Friedensgesellschaft, the German Peace Society....

 program.

Since 1999, assistant to Institute for economic policy and economic history of the Free University of Berlin

Free University of Berlin

Freie Universität Berlin is one of the leading and most prestigious research universities in Germany and continental Europe. It distinguishes itself through its modern and international character. It is the largest of the four universities in Berlin. Research at the university is focused on the...

.

Together with the TV journalist Heiko Petermann, he investigated intensively the four year history of German atomic research. They were supported by international historians, physicists and radio chemists.

He is a winner of the Stinnes Award.