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Baden-Württemberg digitizes history: secret maps and more!
The Baden-Württemberg State Archives digitize historical documents and objects, from military maps to football trophies, to preserve history.
Baden-Württemberg digitizes history: secret maps and more!
History can be experienced up close in the Baden-Württemberg State Archives, as documents from the Middle Ages to the Corona period are digitized here. The major scanning process is currently underway, which will also include a remarkable 400-page book from the 17th century. Marcella Müller is in the process of digitizing the delicate parchment, which will take an estimated six hours. Nearby, Alain Thiriet works on a secretly marked military map from 1917 that details the marching directions of German and French troops during the spring offensive in World War I. Dr. Thomas Fritz, head of department at the Main State Archives, sees the historical parallels to current conflicts such as the war against Ukraine as a serious warning for the future.
Did you know that the oldest document in the main state archives dates back to 814? The shelves in the archive are an impressive 175 kilometers long, and another 150 kilometers of documents are planned. Thanks to the newly passed State Archives Act, digitization is being further advanced. Prof. Dr. Gerald Maier, President of the State Archives, described this process as a democratic act—a way to effectively counteract the spread of fake news. There is also entertainment in the form of culture: a shiny gold challenge cup, which was once awarded in a ministerial football tournament during Lothar Späth's time in office, has found its place in the archive. The tournament, which took place from 1980 to 2019, will be reactivated next year under the new name MP-Cup.
Diversity of digitization projects
But that's not all! The state archive also provided insights into the world of 3D digitization. A mini football boot from the 1954 World Cup team was digitally captured, as was the walking stick of the last King of Württemberg, Wilhelm II. This is even made of antlers! Personal items such as the watch and top hat of the last President of Baden, Leo Wohleb, or the pistols that were intended for a failed assassination attempt on King Wilhelm I in 1861 also found their way into the digital world.
3D digitizations are useful not only for historical artifacts, but also for various areas such as industry and healthcare. This technology enables complex objects to be recorded in the highest quality and ensures that private researchers and scientists also benefit from the wave of digitalization. Artificial intelligence plays a central role in this as it calculates the optimal camera positions to create impressive 3D models.
A look into the future
The state archive is looking to the future with impressive plans: a protected virtual reading room and the use of artificial intelligence to translate Sütterlinschrift are on the agenda. This means that the archive is taking a leap into the future not only architecturally but also digitally. These developments show that history can not only be preserved, but can also be actively experienced.
The state archive is therefore more than just a storage facility for old documents - it is a living space that gives history a place in the digital age and at the same time offers citizens access to valuable information. So if you think that archive work is boring, you are very much mistaken! Visit the state archives and be inspired by the diversity and future-oriented nature of this institution, which directly affects us all.