Pictures and posters
The Federal Archives has pictures, aerial pictures and posters on German history.
The picture holdings of the Federal Archives start with visual illustrations dating from the 17th century and document the political, socio-economic and cultural aspects of the history of the German state on a central platform.
Separate from the actual picture collections of the picture archive, some pictures and posters are also located in case files and some may form an integral part of personal papers.
Highlights of picture records are
German Reich: Kaiser Reich (1871-1918)
- Military
- German colonies
- First World War
German Reich: Weimar Republic (1918-1933)
- Public life and society in Berlin
- Parties and trade unions
- Military
- Economic and social conditions
- "Deutschtum im Ausland" [Germanhood abroad]
German Reich: National Socialism (1933-1945)
- NSDAP with structures and affiliated associations
- Economy and armaments
- Olympic Games 1936
- "Deutschtum im Ausland" [Germanhood abroad]
- Second World War
GDR (1949-1990)
- Politics
- Society
- Parties and associations
- Military
- Economy and working life
- Culture
- Sport
- Flyers and posters
Federal Republic of Germany
- Political history
Biographical collections
- Figures from politics, administration and public life from the imperial era until 1990
Geographical collections
- Berlin 1920 - 1990
- Cities of the GDR
Aerial pictures
- Complete and part flights over the German Reich, the Federal Republic of Germany and the GDR
- Aerial pictures of the fronts in the First and Second World Wars
Highlights of poster collections are
- Parties
- Associations
- Elections
- State propaganda
- Publicity work by authorities
- Film posters
Research options
Reference locations
Several places provide a reference service for the Federal Archives:
Koblenz
- Photograph and poster collections
- Aerial photographs
Berlin-Lichterfelde
- Photograph and poster collections from the Archive Foundation for Parties and Mass Organisations of the GDR in the Federal Archives
- Aerial photographs from topographical survey flights in the DDR
Berlin-Wilmersdorf
- Personal portraits from the domain of film and cinema
- Scene and set photographs
- Photographs from cinema advertising
- Posters on documentaries and feature films
Freiburg
- Photographic sources in case files, military history collections and personal papers