GWZO – Understanding Central and Eastern Europe
The Leibniz Institute for the History and Culture of Eastern Europe (GWZO) is one of the world’s leading research and educational institutions for the study of the history and culture of Eastern Europe. Our wide-ranging, interdisciplinary exchange and large historical scope are distinctive: From antiquity to the present day, we explore the unique features and transformations of this historically and geopolitically significant region. The GWZO’s research focuses on some of the most urgent issues of our time: dynamics of globalisation and migration, knowledge systems and competing historical narratives, environmental challenges and violence.
Researchers at the GWZO conduct foundational research within four permanent departments and a number of rotating junior research groups. While our core expertise lies in Central and Eastern Europe, our work also extends to adjacent regions – from the Balkans and the Caucasus to Northern Europe. The GWZO’s research is marked by a commitment to global perspectives and critical reflection on regional concepts. Across Central and Eastern Europe and beyond, we maintain a dense network of long-standing academic partnerships.
For more than 30 years, we have been presenting our research findings at national and international levels. In addition to academic publications and exhibitions, we develop digital formats to share our research with both specialist audiences and the general public. In so doing, we make history – and the way it is narrated – accessible and relevant, helping to make sense of Central and Eastern Europe in light of both its cultural diversity and the global challenges it faces, past and present.
News
Leipzig Declaration
»Leipzig as a scientific centre takes a stance against anti-democracy and right-wing extremism: For academic freedom, human rights and democracy«
The academic institutions in the region of Leipzig, including the Leibniz Institute for the History and Culture of Eastern Europe (GWZO), are taking a firm stand against attacks on our democracy. Respect for the dignity of all people, the free and democratic basic order, plurality, tolerance, international exchange and diversity are prerequisites for our coexistence on campus, for successful research and the best study conditions.
Habilitationsprojekt erfolgreich abgeschlossen
Wir gratulieren: Unsere GWZO-Kollegin Sabine Stach hat am 24. Juni 2025 an der Fakultät für Sozialwissenschaften und Philosophie der Universität Leipzig ihr Habilitationsverfahren erfolgreich abgeschlossen. Die Habilitationsschrift widmet sich der Art und Weise, wie im kommerziellen Städtetourismus die Zeit des Staatssozialismus vermittelt wird. Am Beispiel von »communism tours« in Warschau, Prag und Bratislava werden ökonomische, narrative und performative Aspekte des touristischen »Doing History« analysiert. Das Buch mit dem Titel »Original Ostblock. Der Staatssozialismus in touristischen Stadtführungen« erscheint Ende diesen Jahres im Wallstein-Verlag.
30 Years of GWZO: Anniversary Celebrations Look to the Future
The Leibniz Institute for the History and Culture of Eastern Europe (GWZO) celebrated its 30th anniversary on 22 and 23 May 2025. As part of the anniversary conference entitled »On not knowing: Thirty Years of Research on Central and Eastern Europe«, numerous guests from academia, politics and society came together to honour three decades of interdisciplinary, cross-epochal research and international academic exchange. There was also a focus on upcoming projects, including the new Leipzig-based Junior Research Group »Global Armenia/ns. Entangled Histories of Central and Eastern Europe and the Caucasus« and the new GWZO department »Knowledge and Participation«, which will begin its work in Prague in late summer 2025.
A new promotional film, released during the celebrations, provides an overview of the GWZO’s history, key areas of focus and organisational structure.
Online exhibition »Destroyed Ukrainian Heritage«
Since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Ukraine's cultural heritage has also suffered immense losses. Kyiv architectural historian Dr. Semen Shyrochyn, in collaboration with the GWZO, has curated the English-language online exhibition »Destroyed Ukrainian Heritage. Ukraine's Built Heritage since February 24, 2022. A Record of Destruction«. It uses 40 selected examples from across Ukraine to show the extent and scope of the systematic destruction of Ukraine's built heritage. A podcast with further detailed information can be found here. Additionally, an analogue, roll-up version of the digital exhibition is touring Leipzig's district libraries. It is currently on display at the Volkmarsdorf district library.
Newly published: Brochure »Leibniz Research Network Central and Eastern Europe Expertise – Collaborations – Knowledge Transfer«
Since 2015, the Leibniz Research Network Eastern Europe has brought together over twenty institutes of the Leibniz Association that focus on or work on projects related to Eastern Europe or with Eastern European partners. This means that the network has the strongest expertise in research related to Central and Eastern Europe within German non-university science.
The network's new brochure has been published and is now available for digital viewing in both English and German. It offers a compact overview of the diverse activities of the institutes connected in the network. The network's spokesperson is GWZO Director Prof. Dr. Maren Röger, and it is coordinated by our GWZO colleague Dr. Magda Wlostowska.
New podcast episode of the »Forschungsquartett« released
What are the tasks and goals of the modern humanities? And why is a career in the humanities valuable – despite all the challenges – for both society and researchers? These questions are explored by GWZO researchers Maren Röger, Dorothee Riese and Lenka Panušková in a discussion held as part of the Long Night of the Sciences 2025 in Leipzig. The conversation was moderated by Karoline Breitschädel and featured in the »Forschungsquartett« programme on the Detektor.fm podcast platform.
Now out: Volume 5 of the GWZO Handbook on the History of Art
How does art react to war, destruction and upheaval? Volume 5 of the GWZO Handbook on the History of Art in Central and Eastern Europe, entitled »1570–1670: From the Renaissance to the Baroque«, is dedicated to art created during the transition from the Renaissance to the Baroque in the region. This period was characterised by numerous conflicts and migratory movements, leading to intensive artistic exchange. The volume explores a multifaceted artistic landscape resulting from these processes.
This comprehensive work was edited by Agnieszka Gąsior, Director of the Silesian Museum in Görlitz and a former GWZO member of staff, and Marius Winzeler, Director of the Green Vault and the Armoury at the Dresden State Art Collections (SKD). Published by the Deutscher Kunstverlag, the book is available for purchase here:
Looking Back on the VOH Colloquium »Teaching Eastern European History in Times of Crisis«
This year's colloquium of the Verband der Osteuropahistorikerinnen und -historiker (VOH) took place in Marburg from 20 to 22 February 2025. Organised by our deputy director, Prof. Dr Julia Herzberg, and Ingrid Schierle (University of Tübingen), the colloquium focused on an interdisciplinary exchange of views on university teaching in times of war, disinformation and AI. The event captured the perspectives of students and people engaged in Slavic studies. Our GWZO colleagues Svitlana Telukha and Dorothee Riese presented the oral history project on the history of the city of Kharkiv and their contribution has been published with the title ‘The wounded city’ in the online journal Copernico.
Visit by the State Secretary to the GWZO
Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming Prof. Dr. Heike Graßmann, State Secretary at the Saxon State Ministry for Science, Culture and Tourism (SMWK), to the GWZO. She was accompanied by Dr. Tim Metje, Chairman of our Board of Trustees. Following an initial exchange with the institute’s management, the visit continued with a tour of our institute and an in-depth discussion. The focus was on our key research areas, knowledge transfer, and current challenges. Prof. Dr. Graßmann has held office since February 2025. We would like to thank her for the constructive dialogue and look forward to continuing our collaboration in the future.
Awarded article
Congratulations: The article »Early mediaeval lead glass bangles from Czerno, Poland: Results of elemental and lead isotopes analyses«, by our GWZO colleague Prof. Dr. Marcin Wołoszyn, among others, was awarded an honour. Published in April 2024 (Vol. 66, Issue 2), it is one of the most frequently cited articles in the renowned journal »Archeometry« in 2024.
The article examines the origin of 30 glass bangles dating from the 12th to 13th centuries. The international team of scientists successfully classified two types of lead glass. Using isotopic analyses, they were able to prove, among other things, that the lead flow for one of the glasses probably originated from the Kraków-Upper Silesia region in southern Poland.
Frieden für die Ukraine
Unsere Gedanken sind bei unseren ukrainischen Kolleg*innen und Freund*innen. Auf Befehl Putins hat das russische Militär am 24. Februar 2022 ein Land im Herzen Europas angegriffen, mit dessen Wissenschaftler*innen wir vielfältige Kooperationen pflegen, in dem Freund*innen, Kolleg*innen und Familienmitglieder unserer Mitarbeiter*innen leben. Wir sind in Sorge als Menschen und alarmiert als Wissenschaftler*innen, dass massive Geschichtsklitterung als Vorwand für eine völkerrechtswidrige Invasion dient. Wir appellieren an die deutsche Öffentlichkeit, beim Blick auf das östliche Europa ihren Expert*innen und nicht Geschichtsfälschungen zuzuhören. Wir hoffen mit den Menschen in der Ukraine auf das Ende der Aggression, verbeugen uns vor ihrem Einsatz und vor den vielen Menschen in Russland und Belarus, die trotz aller Gefahren offen Kritik üben.
