I am working with some documents from the Arolsen Archives related to WWII; but I’m having trouble interpreting the handwriting in several entries; especially on the prisoner transport lists.
Can anyone recommend resources ; tools that could help with reading old handwriting styles?
Alternatively; if someone has experience reading these kinds of documents; I would appreciate any tips!
I am struggling with names & locations that are not clear; & I want to ensure I am not missing any important details. I have referred https://eguide.arolsen-archives.org/-Power Apps documentation guide .
Are there any experts / examples of similar documents that could help me better understand these records?
Have you already searched the internet for the old scripts „Suetterlin“ and „Kurrent“?
For example: http://www.kurrentschrift.net/index.php?s=download
(click on „Alphabet“ will open „translations“ into the current Latin alphabet.)
If you are stuck with the help mentioned by @routebleue, please contact us:
If the document is in our Online-Archive, you are welcome to ask a question in the comments section below the document. Our colleague will be happy to help you with the transcription of a document.
If you are suggested a document on the #enc indexing platform that you cannot read, please post it here.
Of course you can also submit a request with a link to the corresponding document. To do this, please select “Documents on a specific topic”.
It’s a matter of practice, it gets easier with time!
Having the same issues with handwritten old texts. The people creating the texts must have had problems i.e. in converting cyrillic to „our“ letters. Nowadays we have rules regarding the conversion but in the 1940-ties… I doubt they had
It sounds like you’re dealing with some challenging documents, especially with the difficulty of reading old handwriting in WWII-era prisoner transport lists from the Arolsen Archives. The handwriting in these types of records can often be hard to decipher due to factors like age, ink fading, and unique styles used during that period. For resources and tools to help with this, you might find online handwriting recognition tools or resources dedicated to historical handwriting helpful. Websites like the German Historical Institute or family history forums can offer guides to interpreting old German handwriting styles (such as Sütterlin). Additionally, if you haven’t already, consulting specialized software for document transcription, like Transkribus, can help automate some parts of the handwriting recognition process. For manual help, working with experienced archivists or historical linguists who have dealt with these types of documents can provide valuable insights. Since you’re focused on names and locations, it’s crucial to pay close attention to recurring letter patterns, and even using online databases or name search tools could assist in identifying places and individuals more accurately. If you’ve already referred to the Arolsen Archives’ e-guide, continuing to explore their resources or contacting their support might also give you further direction in clarifying these entries.
Interpreting old handwriting, especially in historical documents like those from the Arolsen Archives related to WWII, can indeed be challenging due to the variations in handwriting styles and the use of older scripts. One useful resource for deciphering such handwriting is the „Paleography“ field, which focuses on reading old handwriting. There are several online guides and tools available to help with this, such as the German Historical Archive paleography resources or Paleography.eu, which offer practical examples of different handwriting styles from the 19th and 20th centuries. Additionally, tools like Google Lens or Adobe Scan can assist in enhancing the clarity of text for better legibility.
If you’re specifically dealing with transport lists and prisoner records, it might help to familiarize yourself with common abbreviations and formats used in these records. Often, transport lists follow a similar structure, with prisoner names, locations, and transport details. Many archives, including the Arolsen Archives, also provide metadata or translated sample records that might offer clues about typical entries. Engaging with online communities or experts who specialize in historical documents, such as forums related to WWII or genealogical research (like Ancestry.com or Fold3), could also provide insight, as many individuals have experience with similar types of records. Lastly, the Power Apps documentation guide you referred to can be helpful for understanding the database format and structure, but for improving your handwriting interpretation skills, joining specialized groups or looking for professional transcription services might be beneficial.
I’m relatively good reading Kurrent (old German handwriting), at least good enough that coworkers come to me if they can’t read something.
But unfortunately I can’t give you much advice how to learn it, as I’m not totally sure how I learned it myself. I started with easy, well written Texts, comparing them to alphabets found in the internet. Everything else was just practice, lots of practice.
Interpreting old handwriting, especially from WWII-era documents like prisoner transport lists, can be challenging, but there are several resources and tools that can help. You might want to try using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) tools designed for historical handwriting, such as Transkribus, which specializes in recognizing and transcribing old scripts. Additionally, websites like The International Center for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property offer guidance on reading old records. If you’re still struggling with specific names or locations, you could connect with historical or archival experts, or consider joining online communities focused on historical document transcription, like those on Reddit or specialized forums. It could also help to compare entries with known examples from similar archives to get a better sense of common handwriting conventions. Keep at it, and don’t hesitate to ask for help from other researchers familiar with WWII records!
