How do you access the German archives?

[21Z5M]

Does anyone have a contact or link?

thanks

Keith

 

[dlazov]

Which German Archives?

The Germans don't offer any 'free' archives like the US, Britain, Australia, Canada do.

Last I checked the German government charges something like $500 to $1500 to access their records. Which is ridiculous since the US Army, Britain and other countries offer them for free.

 

[Srynerson]

Does anyone have a contact or link?

thanks

Keith

If you can be more specific concerning what you're looking for, I could ask my father. He's done some research using German archival sources, although I believe it all relates to Cold War-era issues.

 

[witchbottles]

the BundesArchiv is located in Koblenz, Germany

Their contact information is here:

Address: Potsdamer Straße 1, 56075 Koblenz, Germany
Phone:+49 261 5050

direct Access for historical records research - general information is here:
http://www.bundesarchiv.de/index.html.en


Pricing for copy services of known , identified documents is here:

http://www.bundesarchiv.de/benutzung/kopierservice/index.html.en

note electronic scan ( and all , really) pricing is not THAt horrible, 3.85 euros for a single page scan delivered via email worldwide is not a horrible rate.

Research fees and services to locate documents of specific category that are not already known and identified has information available here:

http://www.bundesarchiv.de/benutzung/recherchedienste/index.html.en

research services can range from inexpensive individuals to very expensive and expansive group and staff research efforts.

( if you are looking for an in depth long term research effort requiring multiple inquiries, and multiple staff assistance times, yes, the cost could easily spiral above $1,000 USD here. The occurrence, however, is rather rare overall. )

This may be your best "start point" if you are interested in bundesArchiv documentation:

http://www.bundesarchiv.de/recherche/index.html.en

Note that WikiCommons is hosting over 1.1 million photographs released to public domain by the BundesArchiv since 2008.

http://www.bild.bundesarchiv.de/

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Bundesarchiv

Hope all that helps, and good luck

KRL, jonH

 

[clavain]

Nice post Jon, thanks - very useful (rep gun, as always it seems, empty). Those fees do not seem any more extravagant than what the British TNA/PRO charges, or LAC or US NARA.

the BundesArchiv is located in Koblenz, Germany

Their contact information is here:

Address: Potsdamer Straße 1, 56075 Koblenz, Germany
Phone:+49 261 5050

direct Access for historical records research - general information is here:
http://www.bundesarchiv.de/index.html.en


Pricing for copy services of known , identified documents is here:

http://www.bundesarchiv.de/benutzung/kopierservice/index.html.en

note electronic scan ( and all , really) pricing is not THAt horrible, 3.85 euros for a single page scan delivered via email worldwide is not a horrible rate.

Research fees and services to locate documents of specific category that are not already known and identified has information available here:

http://www.bundesarchiv.de/benutzung/recherchedienste/index.html.en

research services can range from inexpensive individuals to very expensive and expansive group and staff research efforts.

( if you are looking for an in depth long term research effort requiring multiple inquiries, and multiple staff assistance times, yes, the cost could easily spiral above $1,000 USD here. The occurrence, however, is rather rare overall. )

This may be your best "start point" if you are interested in bundesArchiv documentation:

http://www.bundesarchiv.de/recherche/index.html.en

Note that WikiCommons is hosting over 1.1 million photographs released to public domain by the BundesArchiv since 2008.

http://www.bild.bundesarchiv.de/

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Bundesarchiv

Hope all that helps, and good luck

KRL, jonH

 

[clavain]

Not that I have ever had occasion to use it (sadly) but here is the AHA page on the Freiburg military archives:

http://archiveswiki.historians.org/index.php/Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv

 

[clavain]

And if you are looking for personnel records:

https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Germany_Military_Records

 

[xenovin]

You can always check out the captured German records at the US National Archives too:
http://www.archives.gov/research/captured-german-records/
Sometimes cheaper to buy the microfilm reels if your local library still has readers.