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Welcome

The Political Archive of the Federal Foreign Office

Welcome!

View of the stacks

The Political Archive is the “memory” of the German foreign service. The archive contains 26 linear kilometres of material, which can be consulted for research purposes in line with the legal regulations. This website will tell you more about the services provided by the Political Archive.

Practical information

How to prepare for your visit and how to get to the Reading Room.

Users research in the reading room

invenio - how to research, order and cite archival material

In the forefront, a user of the archive is sitting with his laptop at a table in the reading room. Next to him stands an archivist, showing the user an open finding aid. In the background, bookshelves are visible.

Tutorials

This page contains essential background information for working with all of the holding groups. Sound preparation will make your work in the archives easier and faster.

Aids for the Foreign Office’s history and records management

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here you can find answers to frenquently asked questions about using the Political Archive as well as selected information.

Registration and collection of files at the counter

Document publications

Important documents from the files of the Federal Foreign Office have been published with detailed comments in various academic series.

AAPD 1986

Legal information

The statutory basis for the legal status, competence, responsibilities and use of the Political Archive is explained here.

Federal Archives Law

Contact and opening hours

Description

Political Archive of the Federal Foreign Office

Address

Kurstraße 36, 10117 Berlin

Further information in our data protection declaration

Opening hours

Monday - Thursday 8.30 a.m. - 4.30 p.m.

Friday 8.30 a.m. - 3.00 p.m.

(only with prior permission)

The reading room of the Political Archive is open the whole year, apart from two weeks around Christmas and New Year’s, and a few, single days during the year (mostly the day between a holiday, if it’s a Tuesday or Thursday, and the weekend). Closure times are announced on our home page.

Contact

Contact

Telephone

+49 (30) 1817-2179

Fax

+49 (30) 1817-5-2179

Pull times for records

Orders are accepted twice a day. Files ordered before 10 a.m. are made available in the reading room at 2 p.m. on the same day, files ordered before 2 p.m. are made available the following day when the reading room opens.

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