👑 Prussian/ German Genealogy Help
Welcome!
If you're new to Prussian/ German (Polish, Mennonite & Shoah) research or just 'stumped' for additional clues, this page will provide new sources of hope, inspiration, and information. The 'local' ManyRoads' libraries alone contain more than 500GB of original (digital) genealogical and historical source documents.
In addition to our documents and tools, this page provides links to what I believe are the most helpful Internet research resources for conducting Prussian/ German research. I will update the contents of this page frequently based on usage patterns, comments, and client research efforts.
📚 ManyRoads' Core Topics & Help Pages
Related German/Prussian Topics
- Deutsche Mundarten- German Language
- So you think your ancestor was Prussian…
- German Illness/ Death Terms and Translations
- Eastern German Records
- Middle Ages, Hanseatic League, & Teutonic Knights
- Alternative Germanic Research Sources
- Germans from the Volga and Bessarabia
- Eastern German Diaspora
- Researching the Eastern European German Diaspora (Tutorial)
- Research & Study Aid: Prussian Poland
Related Special Focus Help Pages
🗺️ Locating Places & Records (Gazetteers & Archives)
Historic Gazetteers (Essential Tools to Locate Villages)
- Meyers Gazetteer (MeyersGaz.org): A vital resource based on the 1912 Meyers Orts-und Verkehrs-Lexikon des Deutschen Reichs, which includes the original gazetteer's details and interactive modern-day/historical map overlays.
- Kartenmeister: Essential for towns east of the Oder and Neisse rivers (former German provinces now in Poland), providing German and Polish names, as well as parish and civil registry office information.
- GOV Geschichtliches Ortsverzeichnis (GenWiki Historic Gazetteer): A comprehensive historic gazetteer covering virtually all current or former German-speaking areas.
German & Polish Online Archives (New Resources)
| Resource | Focus | Type |
|---|---|---|
| FamilySearch Wiki & Catalog | German/Prussian Genealogy, extensive digitized/indexed church and civil records | Free |
| Archion | Official online portal for Protestant church registers in Germany. | Subscription (Paid) |
| Matricula Online | Extensive online portal for Catholic church registers (e.g., Münster, Paderborn, Luxembourg). | Free |
| Szukaj w Archiwach | Polish State Archives digital portal, key for records from former Eastern Provinces. | Free |
| Geneteka | Index of birth, marriage, and death records for all of Poland, including former Prussian areas. | Free |
| Bundesarchiv (German Federal Archive) | Records of civil and military bodies from various eras; specific holdings for ethnic Germans resettled from Eastern Europe (EWZ). | Official Archive |
📜 Historic Context & Administrative Changes
Changes in German Governmental Administrative Regions (1871- 1990)
- 1914 -Detailfragen Bilder u. Dokumenten 1871-1929
- German Administrative History (Deutsche Verwaltungsgeschichte von der Reichseinigung 1871 bis zur Wiedervereinigung 1990 von Dr. Michael Rademacher M.A. (R.I.P.))
- Territoriale Veränderungen in Deutschland und deutsch verwalteten Gebieten ~ Territorial Changes in Germany and areas under German Administration (1874-1945)
Primary Research Source Materials
- Adressbücher- Address Books (Former German Eastern Provinces, West & East Prussia bias)
- Prussia (Germany) Histories (West & East Prussia, Alsace, Hesse bias)
- German Newspapers (Digitalized)
⚔️ Researching The Wars (WWI & WWII)
War, Holocaust & Expulsion Resources
- Locating German WW1 & WW2 War Casualties & Prisoners
- Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge: Online search for German war graves and casualties abroad (WWI and WWII).
- (Österreich) Kriegsarchiv (Austrian War Archives)
- Wannsee Conference
- Final Solution ~ Endlösung
- Die Vertreibung/ Flucht (Post-WW2 German Expulsion from the former Eastern Provinces)
- Post-WW2 Allied Control of German Peoples and Lands
WW1 & WW2 Internet Resources (External Links)
ManyRoads Caveat: We accept no responsibility for the content on any external site. We only provide these links as a convenience to our readers.
🔍 Search Tools & Language Aids
Custom Search Tools
- GlobalGenSearch https://ggs.spdns.eu/
- genealogy.net Meta Search https://meta.genealogy.net/
Surname Distribution Tools
| Focus | Tool | Link |
|---|---|---|
| German/Austrian | Geogen | http://christoph.stoepel.net/ViewSoftware?id=0200 |
| Polish | Dictionary of Surnames Currently Used in Poland | https://jri-poland.org/slownik.htm |
| Jewish (Poland) | Surname Distribution Mapper | http://data.jewishgen.org/maps/jrimap.asp |
Language and Script Help
- German Script Help: Click on the image (above) for a reference.
- Translation Tool: ManyRoads’ recommends using Deepl.com for deciphering German https://www.deepl.com/translator.
- First Name (Given Name) Translation(s): https://www.behindthename.com/names/translate
🖼️ Maps & Image Galleries
Maps (Cartographic Materials)
- European Historical Maps: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2lo9ydifcm1vlwk/AADWNTIR0oR2fOm8ffjnbkoNa
- Historical Germany: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ckqq8dry779wenf/AACuMkaxOaiV1JQJ4bK0hdGsa
- Atlas des Deutschen Reiches (Ravenstein, 1883): https://search.library.wisc.edu/search/digital/browse
West-East Prussia Image Galleries
Be advised the following links will take you to image libraries many of which will load slowly!
🔗 Comprehensive External Link Collections
ManyRoads Caveat: We accept no responsibility for the content on any external site. We only provide these links as a convenience to our readers.
- German Speaking Peoples (ManyRoads Link Library): https://www.many-roads.com/link-directory/german-speaking-peoples-links/
- Polish Internet Resources: https://www.many-roads.com/link-directory/polish-links/
- Hans Selbach's ~2000 additional links: https://www.genealogy4you.at/download_free.htm
Credits and Licensing
Compiled by Mark Rabideau, Opa & Professional Genealogist.
All materials licensed: CC BY-ND 4.0 by eirenicon llc.