Der Atlas Deutsche Demokratische Republik

Summary

This article provides a comprehensive account of the publication, editing, and structure of the “Atlas Deutsche Demokratische Republik” (Atlas DDR), a national atlas of the German Democratic Republic. Produced by the Academy of Sciences of the GDR in cooperation with the VEB Hermann Haack publishing house, the atlas aims to present a spatially differentiated overview of the natural, economic, and social conditions of the GDR territory. The article first describes the editorial organization: a commission led by Prof. Edgar Lehmann, with the Institute for Geography and Geoecology in Leipzig serving as the central coordinating body. Around 200 authors contributed to the map content, and nearly 20 cartographers were involved in map editing. The map contents were largely based on new scientific research conducted over several years, and in turn, the atlas work influenced the directions of geographical research. The atlas comprises 106 maps on 58 sheets at scales from 1:750,000 to 1:2,000,000, organized into seven sections: introductory and overview maps, natural conditions, population and settlement, industry, agriculture and forestry, transport and trade, and education/social/health services. Legends are provided in German, Russian, English, French, and Spanish to underline the atlas's role as an international reference. The atlas was issued in two deliveries, the first in 1976 and the second in 1980. The article then discusses the conceptual and cartographic design principles, emphasizing the use of complex-analytical representations instead of fragmenting phenomena into numerous elementary maps. The final part uses the “Economy — Overview” map as an example to illustrate how careful selection of indicators, consistent application of design rules, and coordination with detailed special maps allow a synthetic view of the regional economic structure. The Atlas DDR is presented as a model of national atlas production, whose methodological approaches also stimulated the development of medium- and small-scale thematic cartography in the GDR.