Chair of Eastern European History

Where the East of our continent begins and where it ends has always been the subject of controversy and is answered differently depending on the area and period being studied.

At the University of Greifswald, we place our focus on the History of Eastern Central Europe, in particular Poland and the Baltic states, from the Middle Ages to the end of the 20th century. These are areas in which political boundaries changed frequently, but that have always been home to people of different languages and faiths.

Greifswald offers particularly favourable conditions for capturing the diverse aspects of this coexistence, cooperation and opposition. Eastern European history is not researched and taught here on its own, but in close connection to neighbouring subjects, in particular Pomeranian, Nordic and Hanseatic history. The University of Greifswald also provides Slavic Studies, Scandinavian/Finnish Studies and, unique to Germany, Baltic Studies. Books and journals on the History of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have traditionally been a focal point of the university's collections.

It is less than 100 kilometres from here to the Polish border. There are partnership agreements with numerous universities in Eastern Europe, e.g. Szczecin, Poznań, Vilnius, Riga, Tartu and St. Petersburg, which make it easier to study abroad.

In Greifswald, classes on Eastern European history can be attended on the BA and MA degree courses as well as teacher-training degree courses. Specialised language skills are always welcome, but are never a requirement. Anyone who would like to gain an insight into the sometimes familiar, sometimes unaccustomed world of Eastern Europe is cordially invited.