diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte
index a612a750..64a19fdd 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte
@@ -46,10 +46,13 @@ const rows = $derived.by<Row[]>(() => {
 </script>
 
 <section class="py-2">
-	<h2
-		class="year-heading w-fit rounded-full bg-brand-navy px-4 py-1 font-serif text-sm font-bold text-white"
-	>
-		{year.year}
+	<h2 class="year-heading">
+		<span data-testid="year-node" class="year-node bg-brand-navy" aria-hidden="true"></span>
+		<span
+			data-testid="year-label"
+			class="year-label rounded-full bg-brand-navy px-4 py-1 font-serif text-sm font-bold text-white"
+			>{year.year}</span
+		>
 	</h2>
 
 	<div class="mt-3 space-y-3">
@@ -62,6 +65,7 @@ const rows = $derived.by<Row[]>(() => {
 				{/if}
 			{:else if row.t === 'letter'}
 				<div class="letter-row" data-side={row.side}>
+					<span data-testid="letter-dot" class="letter-dot bg-surface" aria-hidden="true"></span>
 					<LetterCard entry={row.entry} />
 				</div>
 			{:else}
@@ -73,19 +77,69 @@ const rows = $derived.by<Row[]>(() => {
 
 <style>
 /* Sticky offset in scoped CSS so it holds in unit tests too (the global
-	   header is a 64px sticky nav). REQ-006. */
+	   header is a 64px sticky nav). #779 REQ-006 / #833 REQ-003. The sticky
+	   element is also the positioning context for the year-node marker. */
 .year-heading {
 	position: sticky;
 	top: 4rem;
 	z-index: 1;
 }
 
-/* Phone (< 1024px): single left-anchored column, all letters on one side
-	   (REQ-005). Desktop (≥ 1024px): centered axis, letters alternate left/right
-	   so consecutive cards sit on opposite sides of the spine (REQ-004). */
+/* Spine geometry below mirrors TimelineView's .timeline-axis::before
+	   (left: 0.5rem phone / left: 50% desktop) — keep the two in sync so the
+	   markers never desync from the spine. #833 REQ-003/004/005. */
+
+/* Phone (< 1024px): badge sits at the left spine, clearing the node marker. */
+.year-label {
+	display: inline-block;
+	margin-left: 1.75rem;
+}
+
+/* Navy node marker on the spine so the badge visibly interrupts the axis. */
+.year-node {
+	position: absolute;
+	top: 50%;
+	left: 0.5rem;
+	width: 11px;
+	height: 11px;
+	border-radius: 9999px;
+	transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
+	z-index: 2;
+}
+
+/* Per-letter connector dot (white fill via bg-surface, mint ring) on the spine. */
+.letter-row {
+	position: relative;
+	padding-left: 1.75rem;
+}
+.letter-dot {
+	position: absolute;
+	top: 0.9rem;
+	left: 0.5rem;
+	width: 13px;
+	height: 13px;
+	border-radius: 9999px;
+	border: 2.5px solid var(--palette-mint);
+	transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
+	z-index: 2;
+}
+
+/* Desktop (≥ 1024px): centered axis. The badge centers on the spine, the node
+	   sits at the spine centre, and letters alternate left/right with the
+	   connector dot on the centred spine between card and axis. #833 REQ-003/004/005. */
 @media (min-width: 1024px) {
+	.year-label {
+		display: block;
+		width: fit-content;
+		margin-left: auto;
+		margin-right: auto;
+	}
+	.year-node {
+		left: 50%;
+	}
 	.letter-row {
 		width: 50%;
+		padding-left: 0;
 	}
 	.letter-row[data-side='left'] {
 		margin-right: auto;
@@ -95,5 +149,15 @@ const rows = $derived.by<Row[]>(() => {
 		margin-left: auto;
 		padding-left: 1.75rem;
 	}
+	.letter-row[data-side='left'] .letter-dot {
+		left: auto;
+		right: 0;
+		transform: translate(50%, -50%);
+	}
+	.letter-row[data-side='right'] .letter-dot {
+		left: 0;
+		right: auto;
+		transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
+	}
 }
 </style>
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte.spec.ts b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte.spec.ts
index 5d43a6e5..ce1abff0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte.spec.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
 import { describe, it, expect, afterEach } from 'vitest';
 import { cleanup, render } from 'vitest-browser-svelte';
+import { page } from 'vitest/browser';
 import YearBand from './YearBand.svelte';
 import { makeEntry, makeYear } from './test-factories';
 
-afterEach(() => cleanup());
+afterEach(async () => {
+	cleanup();
+	await page.viewport(1280, 720);
+});
 
 function manyLetters(year: number, count: number) {
 	return Array.from({ length: count }, (_, i) =>
@@ -81,4 +85,59 @@ describe('YearBand', () => {
 		expect(document.body.textContent).toContain('Heirat');
 		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="world-range"]')).not.toBeNull();
 	});
+
+	it('centers the year badge on the axis at desktop (REQ-003)', async () => {
+		await page.viewport(1440, 900);
+		render(YearBand, { year: makeYear(1914, [makeEntry()]) });
+		const section = document.querySelector('section') as HTMLElement;
+		const badge = document.querySelector('[data-testid="year-label"]') as HTMLElement;
+		const s = section.getBoundingClientRect();
+		const b = badge.getBoundingClientRect();
+		const sectionCenter = s.left + s.width / 2;
+		const badgeCenter = b.left + b.width / 2;
+		expect(Math.abs(badgeCenter - sectionCenter)).toBeLessThan(8);
+	});
+
+	it('left-aligns the year badge at phone width (REQ-003)', async () => {
+		await page.viewport(375, 800);
+		render(YearBand, { year: makeYear(1914, [makeEntry()]) });
+		const section = document.querySelector('section') as HTMLElement;
+		const badge = document.querySelector('[data-testid="year-label"]') as HTMLElement;
+		const s = section.getBoundingClientRect();
+		const b = badge.getBoundingClientRect();
+		// hugs the left spine — clearly not centered
+		expect(b.left - s.left).toBeLessThan(s.width / 3);
+	});
+
+	it('keeps the sticky year heading at top:4rem (REQ-003)', () => {
+		render(YearBand, { year: makeYear(1914, [makeEntry()]) });
+		const h2 = document.querySelector('h2') as HTMLElement;
+		const cs = getComputedStyle(h2);
+		expect(cs.position).toBe('sticky');
+		expect(cs.top).toBe('64px');
+	});
+
+	it('renders a year-badge node marker that clears the badge text on phone (REQ-004)', async () => {
+		await page.viewport(375, 800);
+		render(YearBand, { year: makeYear(1914, [makeEntry()]) });
+		const node = document.querySelector('[data-testid="year-node"]') as HTMLElement;
+		const label = document.querySelector('[data-testid="year-label"]') as HTMLElement;
+		expect(node).not.toBeNull();
+		const n = node.getBoundingClientRect();
+		const l = label.getBoundingClientRect();
+		expect(n.right).toBeLessThanOrEqual(l.left + 0.5);
+	});
+
+	it('renders one connector dot per letter row, each clearing its card on phone (REQ-005)', async () => {
+		await page.viewport(375, 800);
+		render(YearBand, { year: makeYear(1909, manyLetters(1909, 3)) });
+		const dots = document.querySelectorAll('[data-testid="letter-dot"]');
+		expect(dots).toHaveLength(3);
+		const row = document.querySelector('.letter-row') as HTMLElement;
+		const dot = row.querySelector('[data-testid="letter-dot"]') as HTMLElement;
+		const card = row.querySelector('a') as HTMLElement;
+		expect(dot.getBoundingClientRect().right).toBeLessThanOrEqual(
+			card.getBoundingClientRect().left + 0.5
+		);
+	});
 });