diff --git a/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/service/UserService.java b/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/service/UserService.java
index eb136f71..971be5b3 100644
--- a/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/service/UserService.java
+++ b/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/service/UserService.java
@@ -80,6 +80,34 @@ public class UserService {
         return saved;
     }
 
+    @Transactional
+    public AppUser createUserForBootstrap(CreateUserRequest request) {
+        log.info("Bootstrap user creation (no audit): {}", request.getEmail());
+
+        Set<UserGroup> groups = new HashSet<>();
+        if (request.getGroupIds() != null && !request.getGroupIds().isEmpty()) {
+            groups.addAll(groupRepository.findAllById(request.getGroupIds()));
+        }
+
+        Optional<AppUser> existingUser = userRepository.findByEmail(request.getEmail());
+        if (existingUser.isPresent()) {
+            AppUser updated = existingUser.get().updateFromRequest(request, passwordEncoder, groups);
+            return userRepository.save(updated);
+        }
+
+        AppUser user = AppUser.builder()
+                .email(request.getEmail())
+                .password(passwordEncoder.encode(request.getInitialPassword()))
+                .groups(groups)
+                .firstName(request.getFirstName())
+                .lastName(request.getLastName())
+                .birthDate(request.getBirthDate())
+                .contact(request.getContact())
+                .enabled(true)
+                .build();
+        return userRepository.save(user);
+    }
+
     @Transactional
     public AppUser createUser(String email, String rawPassword, String firstName, String lastName, Set<UUID> groupIds) {
         userRepository.findByEmail(email).ifPresent(existing -> {
diff --git a/backend/src/test/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/service/UserServiceTest.java b/backend/src/test/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/service/UserServiceTest.java
index 2ff5ce27..c146323f 100644
--- a/backend/src/test/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/service/UserServiceTest.java
+++ b/backend/src/test/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/service/UserServiceTest.java
@@ -837,6 +837,26 @@ class UserServiceTest {
         verify(auditService, never()).logAfterCommit(any(), any(), any(), any());
     }
 
+    // ─── createUserForBootstrap ───────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+    @Test
+    void createUserForBootstrap_createsUserWithoutAuditEvent() {
+        CreateUserRequest req = new CreateUserRequest();
+        req.setEmail("bootstrap@example.com");
+        req.setInitialPassword("secret");
+        req.setGroupIds(List.of());
+
+        when(userRepository.findByEmail("bootstrap@example.com")).thenReturn(Optional.empty());
+        when(passwordEncoder.encode("secret")).thenReturn("encoded");
+        AppUser saved = AppUser.builder().id(UUID.randomUUID()).email("bootstrap@example.com").build();
+        when(userRepository.save(any())).thenReturn(saved);
+
+        AppUser result = userService.createUserForBootstrap(req);
+
+        assertThat(result).isEqualTo(saved);
+        verify(auditService, never()).logAfterCommit(any(), any(), any(), any());
+    }
+
     // ─── createGroup ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
     @Test