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After a short discussion of the term 'periglacial', for which in German two versions, "periglazial" and " periglaziar" coexist, the development of periglacial research as reflected in the German literature is outlined. This paper focuses on research activities in arctic, subarctic and alpine environments after the Second World War, a phase in which most attention has been devoted to alpine periglacial studies in various parts of the world. Regional studies rather than studies on specific periglacial phenomena prevail and show the geographical affiliations of German periglacial research. Traditionally a branch of descriptive climatic geomorphology research in actuoperiglacial environments, it has experienced a gradual shift towards more ecological approaches. This is reflected by an increasing consideration of the whole range of periglacial environmental factors and their complex interrelation. Research results in the field of periglacial climatic conditions and frozen ground, especially permafrost, are reviewed.