NGGJ

1903

The origins of the Germania Judaica

Upon suggestion of Breslau Rabbi and Historian Marcus Brann before a group of German speaking rabbies and Jewish scholars, the germ of the Germania Judaica is first discussed in the context of a board session of the Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaft des Judentums.

June 1905

1907

First Structures

Presentation of an alphabetical table with localities and the personal names therein.

1909

Publishing of eight example articles.

1913

Pre-print of articles about localities and territories listing items A-L

1914-1918

World War I

1917

100 Years ago

Publishing of the first partial volume (A-L) of Germania Judaica I for the period from the beginnings to 1238.

1920

The manuscript for Germania Judaica I entries M-Z is under review at the printing house where it’s misplaced.

The twenties

Ismar Elbogen takes charge of the project and asks the authors to reconstruct their contributions. Chaim Tykocinski takes over to write several articles as well as editing other articles.

1934

Publishing the second partial volume (M-Z) of Germania Judaica I for the period from the beginnings to 1238.

1936

On a meeting of the members of the society, Dr. Nachum Wehrmann advocates to expand the Germania Judaica up to the year 1500. Although the proposal is agreed upon, the year 1348 is still set as the date limit for the following volume.

Until October 1938, more than 100 articles are available for review. During the pogroms in November, they fell into the hands of the Nazi party. The contributors are asked by the society to issue their articles again.

1939-1945

World War II

At the beginning of WWII, 80% of the material is brought to safety in London. In 1954, it is transferred to the Jewish Historical General Archives in Jerusalem.

1955

Germania Judaica II

The newly founded Leo-Baeck-Institut takes over the Germania Judaica II and assigns the project to Dr. Zvi Avneri at Haifa.

1967

Publishing of the first partial volume of Germania Judaica II (A-L)

1968

Publishing of the second partial volume of Germania Judaica II (M-Z)

1969

Germania Judaica III

Starting the works on Germania Judaica III (1350 -1519). Appointed by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Arye Maimon succeeds Zvi Avneri.

1972

Nouvelle Gallia Judaica

Founding of the Nouvelle Gallia Judaica by Bernhard Blumenkranz sel. A.

1987

Publishing of the first partial volume (A-L) of Germania Judaica III.

1995

Publishing of the second partial volume (M-Z) of Germania Judaica III.

2003

Publishing of the third partial volume of Germania Judaica III (territories; introductions and indexes)

In the preface to volume III/3 in 2003, the editors of Germania Judaica, Mordechai Breuer and Yacov Guggenheim, advance their plans to expand the project as Germania Judaica IV for the period up to 1620. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf come to an agreement for further cooperation. However, the project falls through after another partial volume (IV.2: Landgrafschaft Hessen-Marburg). The digital publication of the project never saw the light so far.