Photo credit: Overview map of the City Atlas project. Kartensammlung Herder-Institut / Herder-Institut, Free access - no reuse
Infrastructure project
Completed

Historical-Topographical Atlas of Silesian Towns

Duration
2008 - 2018
Applicant
Herder-Institut für historische Ostmitteleuropaforschung: Kartensammlung

Gisonenweg 5-7
Marburg 35037
Germany

Telefon
+49 6421 184 142
https://www.herder-institut.de/kartensammlung/
Researcher
PD Dr. Christian Lotz GND
christian.lotz@herder-institut.de
Researcher
Dariusz Gierczak GND
dariusz.gierczak@herder-institut.de
Researcher
Marc Friede GND
marc.friede@herder-institut.de
Project manager
Prof. Dr. Peter Haslinger GND
Project manager
Dipl.-Ing. Wolfgang Kreft GND
Laufzeit
  • 2008 - 2018
Many cities in Eastern Central Europe have been shaped by profound processes of change since modern times. These include industrialization and the transport revolution since the 19th century, war, destruction, and widespread migration in the mid-20th century, and reconstruction and redevelopment since 1945 and 1990. Using cities in Silesia as examples, the atlas focuses on selected case studies.
 
The Atlas project has two objectives: Firstly, the Atlas provides time series of topographic maps on a scale of 1:25,000 from the early 19th century to the present day. These time series enable a comparative analysis of urban development over a period of around 200 years, for example with regard to the expansion of residential areas, the establishment of businesses, and the development of infrastructure. Second, the Atlas aims to use cartographic sources to raise awareness of the many facets of urban history, while also questioning the scope and limitations of maps as a historical and geographical source.
Growth phase map of the City Atlas project. Kartensammlung Herder-Institut / Herder-Institut, Free access - no reuse
As part of the initial phase of the City Atlas, printed atlas volumes have been produced for five Silesian cities, namely:
Görlitz / Zgorzelec (2010), German/Polish,
Opole / Oppeln (2011), Polish/German,
Węgliniec / Kohlfurt (2012), Polish/German,
Nowa Sól / Neusalz (2013), Polish/German,
Wrocław / Breslau (2016), German, Polish, and English
Building views of the City Atlas project. Kartensammlung Herder-Institut / Herder-Institut, Free access - no reuse
In addition to the printed volumes, the Herder Institute is developing an online application that provides selected maps and texts on the history of Silesian cities.
POSTER
To complement the Wrocław / Breslau atlas volume, a montage of 27 vertical aerial photographs of Breslau in 1944 was published as a poster. The photographs not only provide a fascinating overview of the city, they also enable a critical examination of city maps. In many maps, especially during the Second World War, armaments factories or strategically important infrastructure were not shown. The back of the poster shows examples of such maps and provides explanations. Tracing Silence on Maps / Cartographic Voids, English/German.
Poster Tracing Silence on Maps. Kartensammlung Herder-Institut / Herder-Institut, Free access - no reuse
Geographischer Kontext
  • Silesia
Time periods
  • 19th century
  • 20th century
Subject areas
  • Cartography
  • City history
  • Urban geography
  • Urban studies
  • City planning

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https://www.herder-institut.de/en/link/68f614b18361e2.13578924
§de=Wachstumsphasenkarte des Projekts Städteatlas $en=Growth phase map of the City Atlas project
Growth phase map of the City Atlas project. Kartensammlung Herder-Institut / Herder-Institut, Free access - no reuse
Gebäudeansichten des Projekts Städteatlas
Building views of the City Atlas project. Kartensammlung Herder-Institut / Herder-Institut, Free access - no reuse
Poster Kartografische Leerstellen
Poster Tracing Silence on Maps. Kartensammlung Herder-Institut / Herder-Institut, Free access - no reuse
Übersichtskarte des Projekts Städteatlas
Overview map of the City Atlas project. Kartensammlung Herder-Institut / Herder-Institut, Free access - no reuse