Mapping and Transforming. Interdisciplinary Approaches to City Maps as a Visual Medium of Urban Transformation in Central and Eastern Europe, 1939-1949

UrbanMetaMapping is a research consortium which brings together scholars from different countries and of different academic backgrounds to examine war damage maps of European cities as an interdisciplinary historical source. Initiated in November 2020 under the leadership of Dr. Carmen M. Enss (Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg), the group brings together several academic institutions in Germany (Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg, Universität des Saarlandes, Herder Institute in Marburg and IRS), as well as a cooperative partner at the TU Wien.

The research consortium gathers damage maps from the Second World War and other thematic urban maps covering Central and Central Eastern Europe; investigates urban mapping as a cultural practice of transformation, unlocks knowledge about the social and spatial development of post-war cities, observes how heritage was mapped and historical consciousness was formed, traces how maps were perceived and reinterpreted after the end of the war and explores the visual programme of maps and information graphics.

The subproject "Planning" pursued at the IRS investigates the post-war reconstruction in less prominent cities, exploring the role of war damages in these processes in the period 1945-60. The central research question delves into the similarities and differences in the reconstruction processes and planning of so-called socialist cities in East Germany and Poland.

The sub-project employs a comparative urban history approach within a transnational framework. Qualitative analysis of archival sources, both written and cartographic, is conducted, complemented by the use of digital humanities tools like QGIS for enhanced spatial data analysis. The project focuses on cities of different size, degree of war damage, and geographical location. Until 1945 all were part of Germany and in the aftermath of the war, a half of them remained German and while others became Polish. Chemnitz (Karl-Marx-Stadt), Cottbus, Gorzów Wielkopolski (Landsberg a.d.Warthe), Lubań (Lauban), Neubrandenburg, Racibórz (Ratibor), Szczecin (Stettin) and Zerbst serve as case studies, offering diverse insights into urban transformations in Central and Eastern Europe.

The project aims to contribute to scholarship through peer-reviewed articles. A book is planned as well. The UMM research consortium organizes a monthly online seminar and a yearly international conference.

Further details on all activities of the consortium can be found on the project website (https://urbanmetamapping.uni-bamberg.de/en/).