diff --git a/frontend/e2e/transcribe-shortcuts.spec.ts b/frontend/e2e/transcribe-shortcuts.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..40b03bd4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/e2e/transcribe-shortcuts.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,163 @@
+import { test, expect, type Page } from '@playwright/test';
+import path from 'path';
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'url';
+import fs from 'fs';
+import { AxeBuilder } from '@axe-core/playwright';
+
+const __dirname = path.dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url));
+const PDF_FIXTURE = path.resolve(__dirname, 'fixtures/minimal.pdf');
+
+/**
+ * E2E tests for the transcribe keyboard shortcuts + cheatsheet overlay — #327.
+ *
+ * Strategy mirrors annotations.spec: seed a document with two transcription
+ * blocks via API in beforeAll (no OCR, no manual drawing), then drive the
+ * keyboard. j/k navigation is exercised in read mode so no editable can trap
+ * focus — the active region's resize overlay renders regardless of read/edit.
+ */
+
+const RESIZE_AREA_LABEL = 'Annotationsgröße und -position ändern';
+
+let docHref: string;
+let docId: string;
+let annotAId: string;
+let annotBId: string;
+
+test.describe('Transcribe keyboard shortcuts', () => {
+	test.beforeAll(async ({ request }) => {
+		const baseURL = process.env.E2E_BASE_URL ?? 'http://localhost:3000';
+
+		const createRes = await request.post('/api/documents', {
+			multipart: { title: 'E2E Shortcuts Test', documentDate: '1945-05-08' }
+		});
+		if (!createRes.ok()) throw new Error(`Create document failed: ${createRes.status()}`);
+		const doc = await createRes.json();
+		docId = doc.id;
+		docHref = `${baseURL}/documents/${docId}`;
+
+		const uploadRes = await request.put(`/api/documents/${docId}`, {
+			multipart: {
+				title: doc.title,
+				documentDate: '1945-05-08',
+				file: {
+					name: 'minimal.pdf',
+					mimeType: 'application/pdf',
+					buffer: fs.readFileSync(PDF_FIXTURE)
+				}
+			}
+		});
+		if (!uploadRes.ok()) throw new Error(`Upload PDF failed: ${uploadRes.status()}`);
+
+		const blockARes = await request.post(`/api/documents/${docId}/transcription-blocks`, {
+			data: {
+				pageNumber: 1,
+				x: 0.1,
+				y: 0.1,
+				width: 0.3,
+				height: 0.1,
+				text: 'Erste Zeile.',
+				label: 'Anrede'
+			}
+		});
+		if (!blockARes.ok()) throw new Error(`Create block A failed: ${blockARes.status()}`);
+		annotAId = (await blockARes.json()).annotationId;
+
+		const blockBRes = await request.post(`/api/documents/${docId}/transcription-blocks`, {
+			data: {
+				pageNumber: 1,
+				x: 0.1,
+				y: 0.35,
+				width: 0.3,
+				height: 0.1,
+				text: 'Zweite Zeile.',
+				label: null
+			}
+		});
+		if (!blockBRes.ok()) throw new Error(`Create block B failed: ${blockBRes.status()}`);
+		annotBId = (await blockBRes.json()).annotationId;
+	});
+
+	async function openTranscribe(page: Page) {
+		await page.goto(docHref);
+		await page.waitForSelector('[data-hydrated]');
+		await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Transkribieren' }).click();
+		await page.locator('.tabular-nums').waitFor({ timeout: 15_000 });
+		await page.locator(`[data-testid="annotation-${annotAId}"]`).waitFor({ timeout: 10_000 });
+	}
+
+	function activeRegionOverlay(page: Page, annotationId: string) {
+		return page.locator(`[data-testid="annotation-${annotationId}"]`).getByLabel(RESIZE_AREA_LABEL);
+	}
+
+	test('? opens the cheatsheet; Esc closes it, then a second Esc closes the panel', async ({
+		page
+	}) => {
+		test.setTimeout(30_000);
+		await openTranscribe(page);
+
+		await page.keyboard.press('?');
+		const dialog = page.getByRole('dialog');
+		await expect(dialog).toBeVisible();
+		await expect(dialog.getByRole('heading', { name: 'Tastaturkürzel' })).toBeVisible();
+
+		await page.keyboard.press('Escape');
+		await expect(dialog).not.toBeVisible();
+
+		// Panel still open after closing only the cheatsheet (Esc ladder rung 1).
+		await expect(page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Fertig' })).toBeVisible();
+
+		await page.keyboard.press('Escape');
+		await expect(page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Transkribieren' })).toBeVisible();
+	});
+
+	test('e toggles between read and edit mode', async ({ page }) => {
+		test.setTimeout(30_000);
+		await openTranscribe(page);
+
+		// The "mark for training" section renders only in the edit view.
+		const editMarker = page.getByText('Für Training vormerken');
+
+		// Default for a writer with existing blocks is read mode.
+		await expect(editMarker).toHaveCount(0);
+
+		await page.keyboard.press('e');
+		await expect(editMarker).toBeVisible();
+
+		await page.keyboard.press('e');
+		await expect(editMarker).toHaveCount(0);
+	});
+
+	test('j and k walk forward and back through the regions', async ({ page }) => {
+		test.setTimeout(30_000);
+		await openTranscribe(page);
+
+		await page.keyboard.press('j');
+		await expect(activeRegionOverlay(page, annotAId)).toBeVisible();
+
+		await page.keyboard.press('j');
+		await expect(activeRegionOverlay(page, annotBId)).toBeVisible();
+		await expect(activeRegionOverlay(page, annotAId)).toHaveCount(0);
+
+		await page.keyboard.press('k');
+		await expect(activeRegionOverlay(page, annotAId)).toBeVisible();
+	});
+
+	test('the open cheatsheet has no critical accessibility violations', async ({ page }) => {
+		test.setTimeout(30_000);
+		await openTranscribe(page);
+
+		await page.keyboard.press('?');
+		await expect(page.getByRole('dialog')).toBeVisible();
+
+		const results = await new AxeBuilder({ page })
+			.include('dialog')
+			.withTags(['wcag2a', 'wcag2aa'])
+			.analyze();
+		const critical = results.violations.filter((v) => v.impact === 'critical');
+		expect(critical).toEqual([]);
+
+		// The dialog exposes a modal role with an accessible name (labelled heading).
+		const dialog = page.getByRole('dialog');
+		await expect(dialog).toHaveAttribute('aria-modal', 'true');
+	});
+});