Classification by subject (only available for images of the Federal Archives!)

The classification by subject, i.e. the categorisation of pictures and posters into subject groups, is divided into two sections:

• The fond "Bild 183 Allgemeiner Deutscher Nachrichtendienst" (central press agency of the GDR) is categorized by a special classification system, based on a printed catalogue ([+] Bild 183 ADN).
• All other groups of pictures and posters are categorized within the classification by subject ([+] A to [+] G), which consists of several historical periods.

The variety of the Federal Archives’ numerous picture and poster groups differing in provenance and pertinence prevents us from categorizing all groups in one consolidated classification system by subject. You, therefore, for the time being, are invited to use different classification systems.

This means that you might have to use several inventories, if the topic investigated, e.g. aeronautics, may be found in both classification systems and/or in more than one historical period.

Please, take into account that the classification systems mirror the available classification groups of the pictures analogously existing in the Federal Archives. If no pictures are found by consulting a special group, you may be sure that no pictures from the corresponding classification group have yet been digitized, but relevant pictures do exist in the Federal archives. In this case, please, consult us.

Use

• Option 1: You browse the classification trees to provide a summary of topics available. This works in the same way as a Windows-Explorer:
  The existing pictures are shown when clicking the name of a group.
  The sub-groups are shown when clicking the plus symbols [+].
  Groups with an asterisk * do not contain any pictures.
• Option 2: Search in classification groups by "Advanced search". There you have two options:
  A: You may enter the subject, person or locality you are looking for into the field "search" and activate the enter key of your keyboard. The groups with relevant information will be shown to you. If you want to transfer a group to the search box "classification", you just click the corresponding entry.
  B: In the field "list assistant", you may browse the classification tree as explained under "option 1".

Keywords (only available for photos of the Federal Press- and Information Office)

About the keyword list, at present, you can find only photos of the Bundespresseamt (Federal Press- and Information Office). By click on a key word those photos are displayed, who are marked with this keyword(s).

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