RE CON CTIO International N STRU Archives Week Challenge 2025 Austria 01 Belgium 02 Bulgaria 03 Croatia 04 Cyprus 05 Czech Republic 06 Denmark 07 Estonia 08 Finland 09 France 10 Germany 11 Greece 12 Hungary 13 Ireland 14 Italy 15 Latvia 16 Lithuania 17 Luxembourg 18 Malta 19 The Netherlands 20 Poland 21 Romania 22 Slovakia 23 Slovenia 24 Spain 25 Sweden 26 Editorial For the sixth consecutive year, the Historical Archives of Celje (Slovenia) and the Town Archives of Ieper (Belgium) have proudly initiated the International Archives Week Challenge. Each year, we invite one archive from each EU country to respond to a clearly defined theme. This year’s theme, “Reconstruction,” promised rich content and diverse perspectives— and it delivered. The result is a compelling collection of 26 unique and meaningful archival approaches across Europe, showcasing not only the richness of archival holdings but also their vast interpretive potential. CON What makes this initiative particularly powerful is how archives—and the professionals behind them—engage with the theme. They do not simply send documents; they contribute understanding, perspective, and STRU narrative. Each entry tells a story, and together they form a broader mosaic CTIO RE reproductions. Each offers insight into shared experiences and diverse of our collective past, community resilience, and the vital role of archives in preserving memory. N International The materials explore the reconstruction of buildings after wars or Archives natural disasters, the restoration of architectural and urban heritage, Week and the revitalization of abandoned industrial areas. Some focus on the rehabilitation of vulnerable groups, the revival of cultural practices, Challenge reactions to political change, and the artistic and material value of archival 2025 preservation. Together, they reveal reconstruction as not only physical rebuilding, but also societal and symbolic renewal. This publication is a testament to the continuing relevance of archives. In a time when their importance is often overlooked, International Archives Week is a chance to raise awareness, elevate our profession, and remind society of the irreplaceable role archives play. With sincere appreciation for shared purpose and collaboration, we thank all our partners who contributed to this year’s initiative. It is through international cooperation and mutual dedication that we continue to Abbreviations strengthen and promote our archival mission. A / Archive R / Reference code T / Title D / Description AUSTRIA A / Steiermärkisches Landesarchiv / Styrian Provincial Archives, Graz 01 R / StLA-Dipl-0034-b T / A grant of arms from Count Palatine Dr. Sebastian Höflinger to the brothers Georg and Ruprecht Pichler (Salzburg, 11 February 1588). D / The diploma, a grant of arms issued in Salzburg on 11 February 1588, contains the insert of a document issued in Vienna on 26 June 1568. This diploma is part of the Styrian State Archives’ diploma series, which comprises more than 2.500 diplomas. The collection of documents in “diploma-format” includes, among other documents, patent letters, grant of arms, market regulations, and doctoral degrees. The collection is constantly updated and includes the certificates of municipal coats of arms awarded to Styrian municipalities. The diploma series and other archival documents were relocated from Graz to Stadl Castle (near St. Ruprecht an der Raab) during the final phase of World War II. Shortly after the war ended, the wooden containers holding archive documents were emptied by Soviet soldiers. Large portions of archive material were thus destroyed. Other materials were later recovered from the castle’s stables heavily damaged and contaminated, where some had even been used as bedding. Due to a lack of appropriate technical resources, restoration on some items could only be undertaken decades later. This diploma was restored in 1982 at the Styrian State Archives. Missing parts were filled in, and calloused parchment was (at least partially) repaired. https://www.landesarchiv.steiermark.at/ BELGIUM A / Stadsarchief Ieper / Town Archives of Ypres 02 R / SAI, C03_0030 T / Announcement of the sale of two destroyed houses and land in Poelkapelle (near Ypres), including the right to compensation for war damage, 1923 D / After World War I, the entire region around Ypres had to be rebuilt. The Belgian state provided compensation for Belgian victims. In a public sale in 1923 of two houses that were in ruins (“in puinen”), all compensation rights were sold along with it (“alle oorlogsschade wordt medeverkocht”). An amount of 3.000 francs for each house had already been granted (“oorlogsschade der gebouwen”). Anyone who received this form of compensation was obliged to rebuild their house on the same site, thus accelerating the reconstruction of the so- called “devastated regions”. https://archief.ieper.be/ BULGARIA A / Цeнтралeн държавeн архив / Central State Archives, Sofia 03 R / CSA, Fonds 720, Inventory list 5, Archival Unit 24, Album 24.02, photos Inv. No. 45/400-11 T / Construction of the Beli Iskar Reservoir, 1945 D / After the end of World War II, Bulgaria embarked on a large-scale program of economic modernization. A key focus was the development and reconstruction of modern energy infrastructure. One of the first major projects was the construction of the Beli Iskar Reservoir near the capital, Sofia. The dam’s construction served as a model for similar infrastructure projects that followed. Today, the Beli Iskar Reservoir remains a vital component of the water supply and irrigation system for the Sofia region. https://www.archives.government.bg/ CROATIA A / Državni arhiv u Zagrebu / State Archives Zagreb 04 R / HR-DAZG-866 Collection of photographs, 3138_1 T / The building of the State Archive in Zagreb, early 1990’s D / The palace at Opatička Street 29, which houses the State Archives in Zagreb, is a protected cultural monument due to its historical and artistic value, both on the exterior and the interior. As such, it is under special protection from the City Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments and Nature and the Ministry of Culture and Media, classified as the Erdödy-Drašković Palace, Opatička 29 – Demetrova 17, a cultural property. The palace consists of two structures: an older two-story Baroque palace whose facade mainly faces Tuškanac, and a later-added single-story corner building in the neoclassical style, with facades facing Opatička and Demetrova streets. The buildings are interconnected and collectively enclose a courtyard of irregular, trapezoidal shape. It is presumed that the older late Baroque two-story building was constructed on the western city rampart at the turn of the 18th to the 19th century, during the ownership of Alexander Erdödy. The palace changed owners multiple times until the end of World War II. The City Council of Zagreb allocated this building for the city archive in 1947, when it was named the “Historical Archive in Zagreb.” The palace suffered significant damage in the Zagreb earthquake on 22 March 2020, resulting in numerous cracks in the walls, ceilings, and vaults. The chimneys on the late Baroque structure collapsed, penetrating the roof and creating openings above the storage space. The structural restoration work has been entirely completed, and comprehensive renovation has commenced since the beginning of 2025. The renovation will be completed in June 2026, when the palace will shine with a new vision unlike anything seen in over a century. https://daz.hr/ CYPRUS A / Κρατικό Αρχείο / Cyprus State Archives, Nicosia 05 R / Secretariat Archives, Minute Papers: SA1/1002/1944/1 T / Rehabilitation of World War II ex-servicemen, 1946 D / British brochure circulated in Cyprus by the Welfare Office in 1946 for the training and resettlement of disabled persons, September 1946. https://www.gov.cy/mjpo/ CZECH REPUBLIC A / Státní okresní archiv Cheb / State District Archive in Cheb 06 R / Slavík Jaroslav fonds, photograph no. 3108 T / The Celebrations of the Week of Children’s Joy in Cheb, 16 June 1946 D / The celebrations of the so-called Week of Children’s Joy, established mid-June 1946 and 1947 in the post-war Czechoslovak Republic, were intended to highlight the need for remedying the damage inflicted on children by the war. A significant number of children continued to suffer from malnutrition and remained vulnerable to disease at the time. The event served as a reminder to the entire nation that the successful development of the younger generation was a crucial element in post-war reconstruction. In Cheb, these celebrations included races for the youngest participants. As part of the festivities, up to 200 children competed for prizes on tricycles and scooters along the street in front of the municipal theatre. Improving children’s health, however, proved to be a long-term effort, and the overall figures in the Czech borderlands continued to be bleak. Even in 1948, the mortality rate in Cheb was high, with a total of 390 recorded deaths – 116 men, 67 women, and 207 children. https://www.soaplzen.cz/soka-ch DENMARK A / Kolding Stadsarkiv / Kolding City Archives 07 R / B4608_03251 T / German Wehrmacht soldiers seemingly celebrating New Year’s Eve, 1941/1942 D / This photograph appears to show German Wehrmacht soldiers celebrating New Year’s Eve as 1941 turned into 1942. However, the logbook of the photographers, Knudsen & Jochumsen, reveals it was taken a few days later—on 3 January 1942. The green highlighting of faces and decorations was added by the photographers themselves. Inger Knudsen and Frida Jochumsen, two female photographers from Kolding, operated under the name Knudsen & Jochumsen from 1932 to 1955. Both began their careers in the late 1920s as apprentices to the prominent female photographers Thyra Holt and Margrethe Madsen in Kolding, then studied in Germany in 1931. After returning to Denmark in 1932, they opened their own studio in Kolding. During World War II, they became the preferred photographers for the German Wehrmacht, thanks to their education in Germany and fluency in the language. Despite this association, their business continued to thrive after the war. In the post-war years, they rebuilt their reputation by photographing members of the Danish resistance. https://koldingstadsarkiv.dk/ ESTONIA A / Rahvusarhiiv / The National Archives of Estonia, Tallinn 08 R / RA, ERAF.130SM.1.6578-1, page 25 T / A postcard picturing Joseph Stalin with a thumbtack, 1945 D / Hand in hand with the society’s recovery after the end of World War II, Estonia was suffering under the Soviet occupation and repressions against civilians started once again. The postcard picturing Joseph Stalin with a thumbtack in the tip of his nose was sent by a young woman named Linda Selks to her lover who still was stationed in the Soviet Army in July 1945 and was assumingly the sender of the original postcard. As she was disappointed to receive a politically motivated love letter, she placed a thumbtack in Stalin’s nose and sent the postcard back with a short note at the backside: “I’m really sorry, but I don’t like to keep your generous gift, therefore, I’m returning it”. Someone discovered that personal joke and a few weeks later Linda was arrested for her “anti-Soviet” activity and sentenced to ten years in prison, locating in Magadan, Siberia. A total of over 75.000 people from Estonia were murdered, imprisoned or deported by the occupying communist regime. https://www.ra.ee/ FINLAND A / Kansallisarkisto / The National Archives of Finland, Helsinki 09 R / Iac. MKL 7 / 5874900856 (Archives of the Standard Building Plan Collection, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland) T / Standard Building Plan Designed for Finnish Karelia, 1943 D / In the Winter War of 1939-1940, Finland lost Karelia, eastern parts of Salla and Kuusamo and the outer islands of the Gulf of Finland to the Soviet Union. There were over 400.000 refugees. They were given land from the native population by the Emergency Settlement Act and standard building plans were designed for the construction of dwellings. The Continuation War started in 1941, and Karelia was retaken. The implementation of the Settlement Act was suspended. Half of the evacuees returned to their home areas, which meant intensive reconstruction work in Karelia. Again, standard building plans were needed. The reconstruction Office of the Finnish Association of Architects designed a series of building types that could be extended in stages. Six of the types were intended as ordinary farmhouses and two as “asevelitalo”’s (”brothers-in-arms-house”) to be built by the army at the front. The series was published as RT cards that included material input calculations (photo). Later, after the war, a wide variety of types of houses were designed by various actors for frontman and settler housing. https://kansallisarkisto.fi/etusivu FRANCE A / Archives de la Communauté d’Agglomération du Pays de Saint-Omer / Archives of Saint-Omer Urban District 10 R / Fonds Auguste Boitel, 41Fi 10/109 and 41Fi 10/143 T / The Saint-Omer library before and after its reconstruction. Photographs between 1890 and 1900. D / At the end of the 19th century, Saint-Omer’s municipal authorities were considering rebuilding the old Jesuit College, which dated back to the 16th century and had housed the library since 1799. The dilapidated state of the premises led to regular requests for work to be carried out, and even for the library to be moved. But it was not until 1891 that the town council decided to undertake the work. After the demolition of the old college in 1893, the architect Ernest Decroix built a building with a facade that harmoniously blend stone and red brick, suggesting both the Renaissance and 17th-century styles. The building, located in an educational district, included seven high school classrooms on the ground floor, the library on the first floor, and the city archives were to be housed in the attic. The latter, then housed in the city hall, were moved to the library in 1898, reinforcing the building’s scholarly identity. The building works were handed over on 14 March 1895. https://www.bibliotheque-agglo-stomer.fr/ GERMANY A / Stadtarchiv Lehrte / Lehrte City Archives 11 R / Photo collection Lehrte 1990/557 and 2007/036 T / Sugar factory 1990 and Sugar factory area after the demolition of the buildings, 26 April 2006 D / The Lehrte sugar factory was founded in 1883 in the agricultural environment of the municipality of Lehrte. The parish did not gain town rights until 1898. The first railroad line ran from Lehrte to Hanover as early as 1843. The town developed into a railroad junction. As a result, the population increased from 755 in 1842 to 6551 in 1900. This rapid industrial and urban development meant that the sugar factory was in the middle of the town at the end of the 20th century. Every year in September, the sugar beet harvest and the transport of the beets to the sugar factory began. This regularly led to traffic obstructions, which were particularly severe due to the location of the factory in Lehrte. For economic reasons, beets were processed into sugar for the last time in 1998. In 2001 and 2002, except for a few historic buildings and a sugar silo, all conveying and production facilities were demolished and the rubble removed. Today, the area around the water tower forms part of the city park. Retail trade and services settled on the larger part. Next to the railroad junction, the sugar factory shaped the Lehrter cityscape for more than a hundred years until it disappeared in 2002. https://www.lehrte.de/de/stadtarchiv/stadtarchiv.html GREECE A / Γενικά Αρχεία του Κράτους / General State Archives of Greece. Central Service, Athens 12 R / Private Collections, K 318, Album “Greece during the 1896 Olympic Games” T / The Panathenaic Stadium of Athens on the Day of the Marathon Race during the 1896 Olympic Games D / On 16 June 1894, Pierre de Coubertin, along with cultural and athletic delegates, convened the first International Athletic Congress in the grand amphitheatre of the Sorbonne in Paris. The congress, attended by participants from thirteen countries, aimed to revive the ancient Olympic Games in a modern format. Greek perspectives on the organisation and conduct of the Games were presented in a detailed memorandum by Ioannis Fokianos, one of Greece’s pioneering gymnasts. The memorandum was delivered to the Congress by the Greek writer Dimitrios Vikelas. The Congress unanimously agreed to revive the Olympic Games as an international event to be held every four years in different cities around the world. The inaugural modern Olympic Games were scheduled for 1896, with Athens—the capital of modern Greece and the historic birthplace of the Games—chosen as the host city for this landmark occasion. http://www.gak.gr/ HUNGARY A / Magyar Nemzeti Levéltár Bács-Kiskun Megyei Levéltára / Hungarian National Archives, Bács-Kiskun County Archives, Kecskemét 13 R / HU-MNL-BKML-X.15.a.152-5 T / Architectural plan for the renovation of the synagogue (facade drawing, 1913) D / On 8 July, 1911, at 2:00 am, the earth shook in Kecskemét. All houses of the city were damaged to some extent, almost all public buildings suffered significant harm, including the town hall and churches of various denominations. There were casualties as well, but fortunately no deaths. The dome of the huge synagogue, built in the 1860s by the town’s large Jewish community, collapsed in the earthquake, and the walls of the building cracked. The restoration took years. The synagogue’s ruined dome was demolished in July 1911. Restoration plans were drawn up in 1913, and the entire reconstruction was completed in the summer of 1914, when the building received a new dome in the shape of a lotus bud, replacing the old onion dome. https://mnl.gov.hu/bkml IRELAND A / Seirbhís Chartlainne Chathair agus Chontae Phort Láirge / Waterford City and County Archives Service 14 R / IE-WCA-MRD-285 T / Drawing of the Reconstruction of Lismore Courthouse by J. Bowen, Borough Engineer, 25 January 1930. D / Lismore Courthouse was badly damaged during the Irish War of Independence and was reconstructed in 1930 by Waterford County Council. The Main Hall was used by the community as a Dance Hall and a theatre. The building is now home to Lismore Heritage Centre and still provides a theatre venue in Lismore. https://waterfordcouncil.ie/services/culture-heritage/archives/ ITALY A / Archivio di Stato di Gorizia / State Archive of Gorizia 15 R / Prefettura di Gorizia – Archivio Generale (1927- 1962), box 333, file 1214 (year 1923) T / Letter from the Ministry of Justice and Worship to the Udine Prefecture regarding the restoration of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Gorizia, 1923 D / The Metropolitan Cathedral of Gorizia was severely damaged between 1915 and 1917 by Italian and Austrian artillery fire as they fought over control of the city. After the end of the World War I, the church was rebuilt by the Italian government, but the process sparked debate between those who supported the construction of a substantially different building, characterized by a 17th century Venetian-inspired style, and those who, on the contrary, wanted to remain faithful to the original design. After several years of debate, a project that echoed the earliest forms prevailed, carried out by Edoardo Caraman, a close collaborator of the renowned architect Max Fabiani. Due to tensions between the civil and ecclesiastical authorities, the cathedral was inaugurated with two separate ceremonies - one civil and one religious - highlighting the strained relationship between the two powers at the time. The first took place on the sixth anniversary of the fascist “March on Rome” (28 October 1928), while construction was still unfinished. The consecration of the main altar, on the other hand, occurred nine months later, by the prince- archbishop of Gorizia, dr. Frančišek Borgia Sedej. https://archiviodistatogorizia.cultura.gov.it/ LATVIA A / Latvijas Nacionālais arhīvs – Latvijas Valsts Kinofotofonodokumentu arhīvs / The National Archives of Latvia – Latvian State Archive of Audiovisual Documents, Riga 16 R / LNA_KFFDA_ F1_4_26602-2 T / Old Town Square with Saint Peter’s Church in background. 29 September 1964. Photo: Sergejs Daņilovs D / The skyline of Riga Old Town is dominated by church towers, with Saint Peter’s Church being the tallest. Before World War II it was the highest wooden construction tower in Europe. On 29 June 1941 Saint Peter’s Church and the nearby Town Hall Square were destroyed by artillery fire. The Soviet government decided not to rebuild the tower or the destroyed buildings around the Town Hall Square. Only in 1954, when the church was declared an architectural monument, did conservation and restoration work begin. Some had suggested converting the church into a public gym and swimming pool, but thanks to architect Andrejs Holcmanis, it was decided to make it a museum with a sightseeing platform on the new metal-construction tower with a built-in elevator. The rebuilding of the tower started in 1967 and was finished in 1973. Today, the church has returned to its original function, but anyone can still visit and admire the views from the tower gallery. https://www.redzidzirdilatviju.lv/lv/ LITHUANIA A / Kauno regioninis valstybes archyvas / Kaunas Regional State Archives, Kaunas 17 R / Fond R-292, inv. 1, file 83, l. 7-17. - Executive Committee of the Kaunas City Council of Working People’s Deputies of the Lithuanian SSR. Minutes of the first session of the first convocation of the City Council of Working People’s Deputies T / Kaunas City Municipality Council Decision concerning reconstruction of Kaunas City after World War II, 1948 D / As we know, World War II caused enormous losses: many people died, entire cities and villages were destroyed, infrastructure was destroyed, etc. We present the document adopted in January 1948 by Kaunas City Municipality Council concerning reconstruction of Kaunas City after the war. The document lists the huge losses suffered by the city of Kaunas during World War II and the city’s reconstruction plan for 1949. https://kaunas.archyvai.lrv.lt/en/ LUXEMBOURG A / Archives de la Ville d’Esch-sur-Alzette / Archives of the city of Esch-sur-Alzette 18 R / EV-1-k-009 T / Demolition of the synagogue D / On 10 May 1940 the German forces occupied the city of Esch-sur-Alzette. Shortly after, the citizens noticed a change in the society and above all the Jewish community started to suffer under the new administration. In the course of the following days, weeks and months 125 Jewish citizens from Esch-sur-Alzette had been deported to the concentration camps and many of them didn’t survive. On 18 June 1941, the German occupants engaged in the destruction of the synagogue originally built in 1898, as this glass plate photography depicts. Following the end of World War II, the city of Esch-sur-Alzette decided to build a new synagogue close to the original site (56, Rue du Canal). The inauguration took place on 17 October 1954. In addition, a public space was created on the exact location of the destroyed synagogue to commemorate the deported members of the Jewish community. Still today ceremonies are held there to pay respect to the victims of World War II. https://administration.esch.lu/archives-ville-desch/ MALTA A / L-Arkivji Nazzjonali ta’ Malta / National Archives of Malta, Rabat 19 R / NAM/Gino Theuma Collection/PDE0042 /1061 T / Works on Floriana School D / After World War II Malta faced significant challenges. The Island had suffered relentless aerial attacks, causing widespread devastation as well as hunger and depravation. Besides reconstruction challenges, post-war Malta was facing mass unemployment after the demobilization of thousands of servicemen, acute housing shortage and constitutional issues with the return of internal self-government. Another significant development was the introduction of compulsory education in February 1946. This required great infrastructural development. The Gino Theuma Collection at the National Archives sheds light on this seminal period. Post World War II reconstruction is a series within this collection made up of photos, probably shot by George Fabri, and typed notes on the envelopes containing these photographs. This photo and its note show the works on Floriana school within Malta’s journey toward recovery that included resilience, reconstruction and constitutional reforms, shaping its path in the following decades. Within 20 years Malta achieved independence, became a republic within 30 years and joined the European Union 50 years later. https://nationalarchives.gov.mt/ THE NETHERLANDS A / Regionaal Historisch Centrum Eindhoven / Regional Historic Center Eindhoven 20 R / 10463 Collectie Van Poppel (194365) T / Panoramic view of the Philips industrial complex - Strijp-S, 1930-1935 D / Strijp-S was still a “forbidden city” at the beginning of this century: only accessible to 30.000 Philips employees. Nowadays it is an iconic hotspot of international allure. The first Philips factory was situated in the city center of Eindhoven, where Philips started manufacturing light bulbs in 1891. After 10 years, production got to a level that they had to expand and move to a location (at the time) outside the city of Eindhoven: Strijp-S. The first Philips building there was the glass factory in 1916. Many more buildings followed. Strijp-S is the birthplace of millions of radios, televisions and other devices. After Philips left, the site was transformed into a lively and creative place. Strijp-S changed the norm from ‘demolition’ to ‘conservation’ of industrial heritage. Industrial buildings became valuable instead of worthless. The old Philips territory became an example for many other sites that would later be built in the Netherlands. Several historical factory buildings have been preserved: including “de Hoge Rug” (Apparatenfabriek, Anton en Gerard), “het Ketelhuis”, “Glasgebouw”, “Veemgebouw”, “Natlab”, “Klokgebouw” and “de Machinekamer”. The intact pipeline street emphasizes the industrial roots of the area. Together with the plants that grow on the pipes, Strijp-S has a good vibe and offers a space for creative companies, loft apartments, catering, shops and (internationally renowned) events such as light festival GLOW and the Dutch Design Week. The area reflects both the industrial past and the innovative spirit of Eindhoven. https://www.rhc-eindhoven.nl/ POLAND A / Archiwum Państwowego w Warszawie / The State Archive in Warsaw 21 R / 72/25/0/8312/0017 T / Detailed project of the East–West Route (Trasa W-Z). Perspective of the eastern entrance to the tunnel, 1948 D / Drawing of the tunnel of the East–West Route under Krakowskie Przedmieście, Senatorska and Miodowa streets in Warsaw, based on the Saint-Cloud Tunnel near Paris, photosensitive print, 1948, author: Zygmunt Stępiński. The East–West Route was built from 1947 to 1949 and measured 6.760 meters. It was the first major transport investment in Warsaw after World War II. The construction of the tunnel was completed on 7 December 1948. The East–West Route quickly became a significant part of Warsaw culture and... pop culture. It was the main character of Mieczysław Fogg’s song “Pójdę z tobą na spacer nową trasą W-Z”, also the famous Warsaw cake “wuzetka” was named after it. The drawing shows, among other elements, the tenement houses, rebuilt at the same time on Krakowskie Przedmieście, and Sigismund’s Column. The drawing is part of the Archive of Warsaw Reconstruction Office, a collection of documentation included on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. https://warszawa.ap.gov.pl/ ROMANIA A / Arhivele Naţionale ale României / National Archives of Romania, Bucharest 22 R / Fond Royal House – Michael, file 67/1947, page 1 T / King Michael I of Romania: the act of abdication signed on 30 December 1947 D / The act of abdication signed by King Michael I of Romania, the last leader representing the pre- World War II regime throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Early in November Michael traveled to London to attend the wedding of the future Queen Elizabeth II, where he met Princess Anne of Bourbon- Parma, who was to become his wife. After his return, instead of receiving the Romanian government’s response on this marriage, as New Year’s Eve draws near, the last King of Romania was forced to sign the abdication act. It was not of his own free will but under the threat that over 1.000 students arrested during a pro-monarchy demonstration would be executed. In Romania, the dictatorship formally began with the forced abdication of King Michael I on 30 December 1947 and the proclamation of the Republic. The document represents the end of an era and the beginning of another unfortunate one: the communism which lasted almost half a century. https://arhivelenationale.ro/site/ SLOVAKIA A / Štátny archív v Bratislave / The State Archive in Bratislava 23 R / SK_1530_440 : Ministerstvo vnútra Slovenskej republiky, Štátny archív v Bratislave, fond Milosrdní bratia v Bratislave 1727 – 1950 T / Excerpt from the chronicle of the Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God (1944 – 1945) D / The chronicle faithfully captures the horrors of World War II from the perspective of the monks and the impact it had on their everyday lives. As is written in an article from 1944, the war “also has an impact on life in the religious order, because the weaker ones lose the spirit of zeal...” The number of novices was also decreasing due to military service. At the same time, however, it also provides factual notes and various details about the course of the war, aircraft flights, bombing of the capital of Slovakia, Bratislava, loss of life and material damage, as well as mentions of the Slovak National Uprising. The chronicle also includes photographs documenting the damage after the bombing of Bratislava in June 1944. The situation is reflected in the sentence: “... it seems that humanity is heading for extinction.” Even in the records from 1945, despair is noticeable, and the progress of the front is described, the sad celebration of Easter, or frequent alarms and escapes to shelters, but also the capitulation of Germany and the end of the war. Subsequently, reconstruction work on the convent and hospital buildings immediately began. Already in the second half of 1945, an unceasing effort for restoration and correction is noticeable, not only material, but especially mental. https://www.minv.sk/?statny-archiv-v-bratislave SLOVENIA A / Zgodovinski arhiv Celje / Historical Archives Celje 24 R / SI_ZAC/1025/086_00013 Fototeka Pelikan T / Title: Clearing the Rubble in Celje, 1945 D / During World War II, Celje was part of the German occupation zone. Between 25 February 1944 and 5 April 1945, the city was subjected to 38 air raids by Allied forces. These attacks claimed the lives of at least 83 people. The primary targets of fighter planes were transit railway hubs, although significant material damage was also inflicted by bomber strikes. The photograph – taken either by the renowned photographer Josip Pelikan or one of his collaborators – shows a heavily damaged building in the city centre (now Kocbekova Street), where exclusively young women are seen clearing debris. The careful arrangement of the women suggests that the photograph was not merely documentary in nature but also served a propagandistic purpose. It reflects the spirit and collective enthusiasm of the post-war society, in which women increasingly took on prominent public roles. On the site of the ruins, a new building was later constructed, which today houses the headquarters of the Celje Agricultural Cooperative. https://zac.si/ SPAIN A / Archivos Estatales de España. Archivo General de la Administración / Spanish State Archives. General Administration Archive, Madrid 25 R / AGA_33_04245_009_001 T / Start of work on the reconstruction of the Guernica Courts (Vizcaya), 1941 D / The destruction of Guernica by the air raid of the German Legion Condor and the Italian Aviazione Legionaria was one of the most tragic and mournful actions of the Spanish Civil War. The town of 5.000 inhabitants was devastated, killing approximately a third of its population. The town center was totally razed to the ground, 85.22% of the buildings – a total of 271 – were totally destroyed by 31 tonnes of bombs. Devastated Regions was the organization created by Franco’s dictatorship to rebuild towns destroyed by the conflict, using the forced labour of political prisoners and Republican prisoners of war. Guernica was the first European town to be methodically and conscientiously demolished, inaugurating a new category of destruction that Pablo Picasso denounced in his masterpiece. https://www.cultura.gob.es/cultura/areas/archivos/mc/archivos/aga/portada.html SWEDEN A / Karlskrona kommunarkiv / Karlskrona municipal archive 26 R / Tekniska nämndens arkiv, serie J2, volume 65 T / Blueprint KA 2 Artillery hall D / The former coastal artillery regiment of Karlskrona (also known as KA 2) has a long history that dates to the early 1900s. Here, the Coastal Artillery has had its base and has played an important role in Sweden’s defense. KA 2’s artillery hall, which was once part of the coastal artillery’s infrastructure, underwent extensive renovations and reconstructions to be adapted for various educational activities. In the picture, you can see a renovation blueprint from 1980 when the hall was set to be used as a sports hall. https://www.karlskrona.se/kommun-och-politik/sa-fungerar-kommunen/kommunarkiv/ Impressum RECONSTRUCTION International Archives Week Challenge 2025 (Electronic edition) Edited by: Borut Batagelj / Zgodovinski arhiv Celje / Slovenia Rik Opsommer / Stadsarchief Ieper / Belgium Contributors: Peter Wiesflecker / Steiermärkisches Landesarchiv / AUSTRIA Rik Opsommer / Stadsarchief Ieper / BELGIUM Margaret Poppetrova / Цeнтралeн държавeн архив / BULGARIA Željka Dmitrus Purić / Državni arhiv u Zagrebu / CROATIA Koula Pieri / Κρατικό Αρχείο / CYPRUS Karel Halla / Státní okresní archiv Cheb / CZECH REPUBLIC Henriette Bornemann Baudtler / Kolding Stadsarkiv / DENMARK Birgit Kibal / Rahvusarhiiv Filmiarhiiv / ESTONIA Teemu Perhiö / Kansallisarkisto / FINLAND Matthieu Becuwe / Archives de la Communauté d’Agglomération du Pays de Saint-Omer / FRANCE Jens Mastnak / Stadtarchiv Lehrte / GERMANY Yannis Glavinas / Γενικά Αρχεία του Κράτους / GREECE Ágota Tánczos-Szabó / Magyar Nemzeti Levéltár Bács-Kiskun Megyei Levéltára / HUNGARY Joanne Rothwell / Seirbhís Chartlainne Chathair agus Chontae Phort Láirge / IRELAND Marco Plesnicar / Archivio di Stato di Gorizia / ITALY Sanita Grīna / Latvijas Nacionālais arhīvs – Latvijas Valsts Kinofotofonodokumentu arhīvs / LATVIA Gintaras Dručkus / Kauno regioninis valstybes archyvas / LITHUANIA Yannick Kieffer / Archives de la Ville d’Esch-sur-Alzette / LUXEMBOURG Leonard Callus / L-Arkivji Nazzjonali ta’ Malta / MALTA Manon Van der Linden – Kitslaar / Regionaal Historisch Centrum Eindhoven / THE NETHERLANDS Maciej Aleksiejuk, Marek Teler / Archiwum Państwowe w Warszawie / POLAND Codruta Mihailovici / Arhivele Naţionale ale României / ROMANIA Alena Macková / Štátny archív v Bratislave / SLOVAKIA Borut Batagelj / Zgodovinski arhiv Celje / SLOVENIA Mercedes Martín-Palomino, Cristina Díaz Martínez / Subdirección General de los Archivos Estatales / SPAIN Mikaela Larsson, Lina Risheim / Karlskrona kommun / SWEDEN Design: Filter, Celje URL: https://zac.si/2025/06/06/reconstruction/ #IAW2025 International Publisher: Archives Zgodovinski arhiv Celje Week 2025 Stadsarchief Ieper 9—13th Celje / Ieper, June 2025 June 2025 Athens Bratislava Bucureşti Celje Cheb Eindhoven Esch-sur-Alzette Gorizia Graz Helsinki Ieper Karlskrona Kaunas Kecskemét Kolding Lehrte Madrid Nicosia Rabat Riga Saint-Omer Sofia Tallinn Warszawa Waterford Zagreb Kataložni zapis o publikaciji (CIP) pripravili v Narodni in univerzitetni knjižnici v Ljubljani COBISS.SI-ID 237210627 ISBN 978-961-6448-66-6 (Zgodovinski arhiv, PDF) #IAW2025 International Archives Week 2025 9—13th June 2025