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The Week in Germany: Current Affairs

September 14, 2007

German Federal Archive Takes History Online

Screenshot of the online archive

The German Federal Archive's new digital database contains approximately 60,000 photographs, areal shots, and posters that document nearly 150 years of German history.

With the symbolic push of a button in the Federal Chancellery, the digital database was taken live and is currently available for free to any interested user via the Internet.

The database encompasses a cross section of the 11 million total images maintained in the Federal Archives. They provide a view of German history from about 1860 to the late 1990's, including Germany's colonial history, the Weimar Republic and national socialism.

The history of the German Democratic Republic is especially well documented by the holdings of the former East German wire service, the Allgemeiner Deutscher Nachrichtendienst. Images from the federal government's press and information office also provide a comprehensive documentation of West German history.

Advanced search functions allow users to locate photographs by keyword, source, location, date and other parameters, and other functions allow users to store photos for later use. Anyone can search for photographs and view thumbnails or watermarked copies; only downloads cost a fee.

The Federal Archive is continually expanding the selection of photographs available online.

Links:

German Federal Archive – Online Image Database

Learn More About German History through the German Historical Institute's Online Project: "German History in Documents and Images"

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