Die Slawen In Deutschland. Geschichte Und Kultu... Apr 2026

Die Slawen in Deutschland: Geschichte und Kultur der slawischen Stämme westlich von Oder und Neiße vom 6. bis 12. Jahrhundert , edited by Joachim Herrmann, remains the seminal "handbook" on the presence of Slavic tribes in what is now modern Germany. First published in 1970 and significantly updated in 1985 by the Academy of Sciences of the GDR, this interdisciplinary work serves as both a high-level reference and a deep dive into the complex "Germano-Slavic" symbiosis of the Middle Ages. Overview: The Slavic Legacy in Central Europe

The volume provides a comprehensive account of the Slavic tribes (often historically grouped as "Wends") who settled in the territories west of the Oder and Neisse rivers following the Migration Period. It spans roughly six centuries, from the initial 6th-century arrival to the 12th-century consolidation under German lordship and Christianization. Core Themes and Historical Scope Die Slawen in Deutschland. Geschichte und Kultu...

: A significant portion of the "deep" history involves the "Wendish Crusade" and the slow, often violent process of Christianization. The book balances political history—wars and treaties—with the cultural shift from indigenous Slavic paganism to the ecclesiastical framework of the Holy Roman Empire. Critical Reflection and Legacy Die Slawen in Deutschland: Geschichte und Kultur der

: It examines the distinct identities of major tribal groups, including the Obotrites , Wilzi/Lutici , and Sorbs . The text explores how these groups maintained unique social structures while interacting with neighboring Frankish and Saxon realms. First published in 1970 and significantly updated in

: Originally a product of East German scholarship, the 1985 edition reflected the GDR’s desire to emphasize the historically multi-ethnic nature of German soil—a direct counterpoint to earlier nationalist "German-only" historical narratives. Despite this context, scholars recognize it as a work of immense factual depth that successfully moved Slavic history from the "periphery" to the center of German medieval studies.

The text is primarily available as a German-language reference work through academic publishers like De Gruyter Brill or in various editions from Google Books and Amazon.

: Modern readers will find early echoes of what researchers now call "Slavic migration as cultural diffusion". The book challenges the idea of a simple "replacement" of populations, suggesting instead a complex cultural and linguistic blending that still influences German toponymy and regional identity today. Summary of Availability