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BKGE (en) » ProjectsProjects
The Federal Institute for Culture and History of the Germans in Eastern Europe is integrated into the German university and research institutional scene and also in academic exchange with numerous national and international partners. The contacts and relationships are extended and deepened through a series of concrete projects conducted by each of the Institute´s specialist areas of research, as well as interdisciplinary work carried out by the Institute as a whole.
- Development of Archival Collections
- Nobles in Silesia - rule, culture and self-representation
- Co-operation with the Architecture Museum / Muzeum Architektury we Wrocławiu
- Working Group of German and Polish Art Historians
- Translation of Academic Publications into German
- Documenting the Heimatsammlungen (small local history collections) in Germany
- European Netzwerk Rememberance and Solidarity
Development of Archival Collections
The most important basis for the study of history, contemporary and past culture are the extensive collections of original sources on old Eastern German history which are to be found in, for example, the archives of Wrocław, Gdańsk, and Szczecin. A central task of the Institute is to contribute to the development of such collections and make these more accessible to an academic audience, thus extending the possibilities for research. The first result was the publication of the "Guide to the Collections of the Wrocław State Archive up to the year 1945" (Wegweiser durch die Bestände des Staatsarchivs Breslau bis zum Jahr 1945, Schriften des Bundesinstituts für Kultur und Geschichte der Deutschen im östlichen Europa. Vol. 9) in German, in co-operation with the general directorate of the Polish state archives. This is an inventory of the collections of this most significant Silesian archive, composed by Polish archivists and historians and translated into German at the request of the Institute so that a Polish and German edition could be published almost simultaneously. In 2000 the translation of the Gdańsk archival guide was published (Schriften des Bundesinstituts für Kultur und Geschichte der Deutschen im östlichen Europa. Vol. 16). In 2004 the archival guide for Szczecin appeared in print (Schriften des Bundesinstituts für Kultur und Geschichte der Deutschen im östlichen Europa. Vol. 24), in 2006 the archival guide for Gorzów Wielkopolski (Schriften des Bundesinstituts für Kultur und Geschichte der Deutschen im östlichen Europa. Bd 25), in 2006 the archival guide for the history of the Memel Territory and the German-Lithunian relationships (Schriften des Bundesinstituts für Kultur und Geschichte der Deutschen im östlichen Europa. Bd 27) and in 2007 the archival guide for the history of Eastern Brandenburg (Schriften des Bundesinstitus für Kultur und Geschichte der Deutschen im östlichen Europa. Bd 31).
The Institute is also in co-operation with archives in Hungary and Romania, aiming to develop the collections in two countries of East Central and South Eastern Europe where Germans have also lived for centuries and some Germans are still present. This co-operation also consists of recording sources for the development of a "Guide to the Archival Collections on the Culture and History of the Germans in South Eastern Europe" (Wegweiser durch die Archivbestände zur Kultur und Geschichte der Deutschen im südöstlichen Europa), with the involvement of the Hungarian National Archive in Budapest and the Romanian National Archive in Bucharest.
Nobles in Silesia - rule, culture and self-representation
On behalf of Christina Weiss, German Federal Government Representative for Culture and Media (BKM), the BKGE initiated in 2004 a bilateral German-Polish research project in the field of Silesian History and took over its coordination.
“Nobles in Silesia – rule, culture and self-representation” is the frame title of this project which started in May 2005 with a three years’ perspective. The project is lead by known cultural scientists at the Universities of Wrocław/Breslau, Dresden , Kraków/Cracow, Passau and Stuttgart as well as at the BKGE. The project deals with fundamental research (documentation of art monuments, repertories of archival sources, bibliography) and puts a particular accent on a graduate program for young scholars. The results are being discussed during conferences in Germany and Poland and will be published in German and Polish language. You will find further information on the project’s progress on www.szlachta-adel.hist.uni.wroc.pl
Co-operation with the Architecture Museum / Muzeum Architektury we Wrocławiu
A further Polish-German, art history research project "Wrocław Architecture 1900-1933" is being conducted by the Institute in co-operation with the Wrocław Architecture Museum. The buildings and building projects of the city of Wrocław reflect the rapid change and diverse influences on the architectural history of the first three decades of the 20th century in a way that few German cities do. Until now only individual aspects of Wrocław´s architectural history in this period have been studied. The aim of the project is thus to publish a collective presentation of the architectural history of Wrocław from 1900 to 1933. Various aspects of this research are covered by the exhibition catalogues "Hochhäuser für Breslau" (High Rise Buildings for Wrocław, 1997) and "Hans Poelzig in Breslau. Architektur und Kunst 1900-1916" (Hans Poelzig in Wrocław. Architecture and Art 1900-1916, 2000), which are published in Polish and German. [To order: stoertk@uni-oldenburg.de]
Working Group of German and Polish Art Historians
The working group of German and Polish Art Historians ensures broad-based academic co-operation with Polish art historians. It is a forum in which representatives of important art history institutions for teaching and research, museums and monument conservation in Germany and Poland work together. The working group meets annually to address questions of co-operation, common projects, exchange of scholars, the monument conservation and the encouragement of young scholars.
Translation of Academic Publications into German
The field of research co-operation also includes enabling the translation of important works into German. Previous publications include the monographs by Ágnes Tóth and Bernadetta Nitschke on the expulsion of the Germans from Hungary (Schriften des Bundesinstituts für Kultur und Geschichte der Deutschen im östlichen Europa. Vol. 12) and from Poland after 1945 (Schriften des Bundesinstituts für Kultur und Geschichte der Deutschen im östlichen Europa. Vol. 20) as well as the standard work on the medieval history of Silesia by the deceased Polish medievalist Benedykt Zientara, entitled "Henry the Bearded and his Age" (Heinrich der Bärtige und seine Zeit, Schriften des Bundesinstituts für Kultur und Geschichte der Deutschen im östlichen Europa. Vol. 17), and Jerzy Ilkosz´ synthesis about "Max Berg´s Centenary Hall and Exhibition Grounds in Wroclaw" (Die Jahrhunderthalle und das Ausstellungsgelände in Breslau - das Werk Max Bergs. Schriften des Bundesinstituts für Kultur und Geschichte der Deutschen im östlichen Europa. Vol. 28).
Documenting the Heimatsammlungen (small local history collections) in Germany
Several hundreds of museum-like venues have been established in the Federal Republic of Germany after World War II by German refugees, expellees and re-settlers that are often called “Silesian”, “Pomeranian”, “East Prussian” or supra-regional “East German” Heimatstuben (small Heimat museums) or Heimatsammlungen (small local history collections). They hold memorabilia of different kind, objects of historic, artistic or ethnological value as well as books and historical records – in many cases unique materials.
The goal of the project is to establish a complete directory of all Heimatsammlungen throughout Germany, which will be accomplished in close cooperation with the Federal States of Germany. The results on a freely accessible online-platform will be continuously updated. Furthermore, it is intended to publish a monograph about the historical development and the social significance of the Heimatsammlungen, dealing interdisciplinary with this phenomenon in the context of memory studies.
The project has started in July 2008 and is conducted at the Institute of European Ethnology / Folklore Studies (Seminar für Europäische Ethnologie / Volkskunde) at the University Kiel. Academic supervision is provided by Prof. Dr. Silke Göttsch-Elten. The research project is realised in cooperation with the Federal Institute for Culture and History of the Germans in Eastern Europe in Oldenburg, lead by Prof. Dr. Matthias Weber. Support comes from an advisory board of members of the Federation of Expellees (Bund der Vertriebenen, BdV), the German Museums Association (Deutscher Museumsbund), the Museums Associations of Lower Saxony and Bremen (Museumsverband für Niedersachsen und Bremen e.V.) as well as the directors of the Martin-Opitz-Library in Herne and the Silesian Museum in Görlitz. Designed to run for three and a half years, the project is financed by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, based on § 96 of the Federal Expellee Law (BVFG).
Online at: http://www.bkge.de/heimatsammlungen (only in German)
