The spelling of geographical names is generally based on the following two reference works on geographical names published by the Duden editorial team:

• Standing Committee on Geographical Names (ed.): Duden Dictionary of Geographical Names. Europe (excluding the Soviet Union). Mannheim 1966.
• Standing Committee for Geographical Names (StAGN) (ed.), Hans Zikmund (comp.): Dictionary of Geographical Names of the Baltic States and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) with information on spelling, pronunciation and usage of the names in German. Mannheim et al. 2000.

The title of an entry lists – where available – the German name used by former or current German inhabitants, as well as the current official place name. The articles themselves also provide further historically relevant names.

The online encyclopaedia is a multidisciplinary specialist encyclopaedia which – conceived as a cross-geographical work – covers regions and periods relevant to the history and culture of Germans in Eastern Europe. Many areas and regions of Eastern Central Europe have historically been associated with several ethnic groups, nations and states, and possess dual or even multiple cultural identities. Based on the current state of research, the online encyclopaedia focuses on the period between the 12th and 13th centuries – covering the medieval development of states in Eastern Europe – and the year 1945, marking the end of the Second World War and the resettlement, flight and expulsion of a large proportion of the German population from these regions, as well as their integration into the two German states. The topics of German minorities in Eastern Europe, resettlers and late resettlers also play a central role. In line with the online encyclopaedia’s regional-historical approach, the entries extend to the present day in order to capture discontinuities and processes of transformation and to take cultural and cultural-political developments into account.

As a specialist encyclopaedia, the Online Encyclopaedia on the Culture and History of Germans in Eastern Europe is aimed both at the interested general public and at an international community of academics specialising in historical research (including art and cultural history, literary history and political science), European ethnology and the social sciences.

The online encyclopaedia on the culture and history of Germans in Eastern Europe is a co-operation project between the Institute for German Studies at the University of Oldenburg and the Federal Institute for Culture and History of Germans in Eastern Europe, Oldenburg. The editors are the directors of the institutes, Prof. Dr Sabine Doering and Prof. Dr Matthias Weber. The editors are supported by an editorial team currently comprising nine specialist academics in the fields of history, literary history, art history and European ethnology.

The academic quality of the encyclopaedia articles is ensured through a multi-stage peer-review process. The editorial team (editors and subject specialists) discusses the allocation of entries to qualified authors. Submitted articles are reviewed by the editorial team; subject-specific peer review is carried out by the relevant subject specialist, who may consult other subject specialists where necessary. Finally, the articles are formally edited by an editor, checked by the editors and published following approval by the authors. Regular updates to the articles are planned in consultation with the authors.

• Dr Cornelia Eisler
• Dr Heinke M. Kalinke
• Dr Stefan Lehr
• Dr Silke Pasewalck
• Dr Hans-Christian Petersen
• Dr Burkhard Olschowsky
• PD Dr Beate Störtkuhl
• Dr Dr Gerald Volkmer
• Associate Professor Dr Matthias Weber

The publications published in the online encyclopaedia on the culture and history of Germans in Eastern Europe are self-contained publications, with the authors’ names clearly stated. A consistent and logical URL, the date of last update and citation guidelines can be found at the end of each publication.

Furthermore, since 2015, a PDF version of the entire encyclopaedia, assigned a URN, has been made available on /oops/, the Oldenburg Online Publication Server of the University of Oldenburg. This version will be updated annually in future.

OME Encyclopaedia As of 2015

OME Lexicon As at 2016

OME Encyclopaedia As at 2017

OME Glossary As of 2018

OME Glossary As of 2019

OME Glossary As at 2020

The copyright holders of the texts, images, audio and video files in the online encyclopaedia on the culture and history of Germans in Eastern Europe are named in the relevant articles. The encyclopaedia is intended solely for academic or private use. External links are expressly encouraged. Reproduction of the pages or parts thereof in other electronic or printed publications is permitted only with prior authorisation. To request this, please contact: . Citation guidelines can be found at the end of each article.

Please note: We always endeavour to verify the rights to the images used in the online encyclopaedia. We ask any individuals or institutions who believe their rights have been infringed through unintentional breaches to contact the editorial team.

The project is funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, following a resolution by the German Bundestag.