Michael Hans Kater (born July 4, 1937)[1] is aGerman-Canadian historian ofNazism. He is Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus of history atYork University, Toronto, and a fellow of theRoyal Society of Canada.
Kater was born inZittau and moved to Canada in his teens. He graduated fromSt. Michael's College School inToronto and earned bachelor's and master's degrees from theUniversity of Toronto. After studying at the universities ofMunich andHeidelberg, he completed his PhD in 1966.[1]
After working as a lecturer at theUniversity of Maryland in 1965–66, Kater spent the remainder of his career atYork University, where he was an assistant professor from 1967 to 1970, associate professor from 1970 to 1973, professor from 1973 to 1991, and distinguished research professor from 1991[1] until becoming emeritus. In 1985–86, he was Jason A. Hannah Visiting Professor of the History of Medicine atMcMaster University,[1] and in the 1990s, he was a visiting professor at the University of Toronto.[2]
Kater is also a jazz musician and music historian.[2]
Kater is a past recipient of fellowships including theGuggenheim Fellowship and the Canada Council Senior Killam Fellowship. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1988 and in 1990 won the Konrad Adenauer Research Award of theAlexander von Humboldt Foundation.[1][2] His bookDoctors Under Hitler won the Royal Society of Canada's Jason A. Hannah Medal in 1991.[1][3]
