Area Links Germany  Hungary  Poland

 

Research Links

(* updated 24 Nov 2023)

In addition to the  Black Sea German Research database, the following links will help you research your German ancestors in Poland.

* Overview of Prussian History and Links to Various Genealogical Sources
* Research Repository
* Society of German Genealogy in Eastern Europe
* Poland Online Records
* Odessa Digital Library, indexes for immigration lists, church record indexes, land records, and a census record
* Federation of East European History Studies
Genealogy for West Prussia
* Maps
* Village Names

Recommended Books


Heike, Otto
150 Jahre Schwabensiedlungen in Polen, 1795-1945 (FHL catalog # 943.8 F2ho; 150 years of Swabian colonies in Poland; German)

Hinz, Johannes
Reference books to Pommern, Schlesien, Ostpreussen


Kaemerrer, M
Ortsnamenverzichnis der Ortschaften jenseits von Oder und Neiße,
ISBN 3-7921-0368-0 (Gazetteer of locations east of th Oder River)

Kneifel, Dr. Eduard
Geschichte der Evangelisch-Augsburgischen Kirche in Polen and Die evangelisch lutherische Gemeinde Brzezinyea
(Download)

Miller, Martha
Mecklenburger in Osteuropa

Miller, Max
Die Auswanderung der Württemberger nach Westpreußen und dem Netzegau 1776-1786
(FHL catalog # 943.8 BH sw no. 22)

Schubert, Franz
Many books related to Mecklenburg and church records (see
FHL catalog
)

Wiese, Erich
Die Schwabensiedlungen im posener Kammerdepartment 1799-1804 (FHL catalog # 943.84 W2)

Other Publications:
Drefs, Reuben
"Germans from Poland and Prussia"
Heritage Review, issue 33-2, 2003

Some of these books/publications may be available at your local library or available from Amazon.com, Germans from Russia Heritage Collection, the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, or the Germans from Russia Heritage Society.

Maps
Frank, Jerry
German Settlements in Russian Poland
(Very comprehensive; available from
SGGEE)

Researching Poland/Prussia


Overview
Many German settlers, often called the "Warsaw Colonists," came to South Russia from Poland/Prussia. Many of these immigrated to Bessarabia. Others can be found in colonies in the Odessa region. 

Finding your Polish/Prussian Village
Most death records in South Russia will show the deceased's place of birth, and many of the South Russian villages have compiled lists of original settlers and where they came from. These are often the best clues to find your family's Polish/Prussian town.

Once you have a name, try Jewish Gen or this cross-reference list of German and Polish village names
Church Records Many church records for Poland are avilable at the Family History Library. In addition, indexes for many Polish parishes (especially the Protestant parishes) are available at the SGGEE website.

Many Protestant church records are available for Poland. However, the Catholic Church was the official registrar in Poland until about 1826, so many Protestant families are also recorded in the Catholic church records (especially when a Lutheran parish wasn't nearby). The Lutheran church books of Babiak, Wladyslawow and Ilow contain much information from around 1775 when many Germans immigrated to these areas.

Land Records

1793-1794 Land Records of South Prussia

West Prussian land records 1772-1773 and Netze District land records 1772