EN
The study points to various examples from Europe of varied and rather scandalous relationships between the historian and the historical source. Political aims and absence of historical self-reflection are usually hidden behind them. Slovak experience is no better in this area. It includes a whole series of negative examples of both older and very recent cases. One of the new trends is the continuing superficial publication of sources. Absence of theoretical consideration of the methodological questions of historiography still persists. Texts remain on the empirical level and do not progress towards generalization. In conclusion, the German example shows how to productively work with sources, and how this can harmonize theoretical findings with examples from practice.