Blog

What do bicycles have to do with freedom? Do unicorns actually exist? And why did the Vikings disappear from Greenland? We address these and other questions in our blog. Here we tell stories based on cultural assets in the Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek, introduce our cooperation partners and immerse ourselves in collections from museums, archives and other cultural institutions.

467 Articles

  • From Karl May To DEFA: Redface In German Cinema

    Among the successes of German-language cinema are Wild West stories. These fantastic tales about indigenous life in the Wild West are closely linked to the practice of redface, in which non-indigenous actors appear in indigenous roles.

    From Karl May To DEFA: Redface In German Cinema

  • ‘Viennese Charm’ – Actor And Director Willi Forst

    In her blog post, our guest author Kristina Höch looks back on Willi Forst's theatre and film career and was able to find two silent films that had not previously been attributed to Forst.

    ‘Viennese Charm’ – Actor And Director Willi Forst

  • Trapped Men Versus Space-Demanding Women: The Crinoline As An Instrument Of Silent Rebellion

    Fashion caricatures as a battleground for gender warfare? Yes, indeed! Fashion caricatures in the German Digital Library reveal how women may have indirectly rebelled against social and gender-stereotypical (behavioural) expectations in the mid-19th century with the help of the voluminous crinoline.

    Trapped Men Versus Space-Demanding Women: The Crinoline As An Instrument Of Silent Rebellion

  • Lernmaterial: Expressionismus

    Das Lernmaterial behandelt zentrale Merkmale des Expressionismus anhand einer Bildergalerie der Deutschen Digitalen Bibliothek und setzt diese im Vergleich zu anderen Kunstrichtungen sowie seine Kritiker*innen.

    Lernmaterial: Expressionismus

  • Lernmaterial: Der Erste Weltkrieg

    Das Arbeitsblatt führt Schüler*innen in die Darstellung des Ersten Weltkriegs in der Kunst und visuellen Kultur ein.

    Lernmaterial: Der Erste Weltkrieg

  • Lernmaterial: „Euthanasie“-Verbrechen im NS

    In diesem Lernmaterial beschäftigen sich Schüler*innen mit den ideologischen Grundlagen der Verfolgung von Menschen mit Behinderungen und psychischen Erkrankungen durch Zwangssterilisierungen und die sogenannte NS-„Euthanasie“ im Nationalsozialismus. Sie lernen vielschichtige Opferbiografien kennen und setzen sich mit den Täter*inneninstitutionen und dem Verständnis von Euthanasie als Begrifft auseinander. Außerdem analysieren sie die Aufarbeitung der Verbrechen und deren Bedeutung für das heutige Verständnis von Menschenwürde und Behindertenrechten.

    Lernmaterial: „Euthanasie“-Verbrechen im NS

  • Are ADHD, Autism And Other Forms Of Neurodiversity Relevant For Cultural Heritage?

    Since the 1990s, a movement has been developing among neurodivergent people that distances itself from the idea that neurodivergence is a disease or deficit. The perspective of deficit is being replaced by a perspective of difference. To this perspective of difference, neurodiverse cultural heritage is relevant and valuable. There are many questions that can be asked about neurodivergent cultural heritage. What contribution did and do neurodivergent individuals make to cultural heritage? To what extent does historical cultural heritage reflect the neurodiversity of past societies? Which parts of cultural heritage would be inconceivable without neurodiversity?

    Are ADHD, Autism And Other Forms Of Neurodiversity Relevant For Cultural Heritage?

  • Constantinus Africanus – A North African Migrant Revolutionises Medieval Latin Medicine

    History has always been a history of migration. People left their homes for a variety of reasons and sought new ones. There, they integrated into the societies of their new homelands and had a positive influence on them. This blog post deals with the monk Constantinus Africanus, translator of medical works from Arabic into Latin.

    Constantinus Africanus – A North African Migrant Revolutionises Medieval Latin Medicine

  • 2025 – Our Review

    What happened at the German Digital Library in 2025? Learn more about developments, projects and collaborations.

    2025 – Our Review

  • Discover the virtual exhibitions of the German Digital Library in a whole new way!

    The virtual exhibitions are launching in a completely revamped version – fresher, clearer and with lots of new features that make digital discovery even more exciting.

    Discover the virtual exhibitions of the German Digital Library in a whole new way!