diff --git a/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/geschichte/journeyitem/JourneyItemRepository.java b/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/geschichte/journeyitem/JourneyItemRepository.java
index 666681e6..a1b3baee 100644
--- a/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/geschichte/journeyitem/JourneyItemRepository.java
+++ b/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/geschichte/journeyitem/JourneyItemRepository.java
@@ -29,4 +29,13 @@ public interface JourneyItemRepository extends JpaRepository<JourneyItem, UUID>
 
     /** COUNT for the 100-item cap check — COUNT(*)-based, never MAX(position)-derived. */
     long countByGeschichteId(UUID geschichteId);
+
+    /**
+     * Loads journey items with their linked Document in a single JOIN FETCH query,
+     * eliminating the N+1 SELECT that would occur when accessing item.getDocument()
+     * lazily for each item. Items without a document (note-only) are included via
+     * LEFT JOIN. Ordered by position ASC.
+     */
+    @Query("SELECT ji FROM JourneyItem ji LEFT JOIN FETCH ji.document WHERE ji.geschichte.id = :geschichteId ORDER BY ji.position ASC")
+    List<JourneyItem> findByGeschichteIdWithDocument(@Param("geschichteId") UUID geschichteId);
 }
diff --git a/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/geschichte/journeyitem/JourneyItemService.java b/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/geschichte/journeyitem/JourneyItemService.java
index 4e0a78d8..38259047 100644
--- a/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/geschichte/journeyitem/JourneyItemService.java
+++ b/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/geschichte/journeyitem/JourneyItemService.java
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ public class JourneyItemService {
     }
 
     public List<JourneyItemView> getItems(UUID geschichteId) {
-        return journeyItemRepository.findByGeschichteIdOrderByPosition(geschichteId)
+        return journeyItemRepository.findByGeschichteIdWithDocument(geschichteId)
                 .stream().map(this::toView).toList();
     }
 
@@ -206,8 +206,8 @@ public class JourneyItemService {
 
     JourneyItemView toView(JourneyItem item) {
         DocumentSummary docSummary = null;
-        if (item.getDocumentId() != null) {
-            Document doc = documentService.getSummaryById(item.getDocumentId());
+        Document doc = item.getDocument();
+        if (doc != null) {
             docSummary = toSummary(doc);
         }
         return new JourneyItemView(item.getId(), item.getPosition(), docSummary, item.getNote());
diff --git a/backend/src/test/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/geschichte/journeyitem/JourneyItemServiceTest.java b/backend/src/test/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/geschichte/journeyitem/JourneyItemServiceTest.java
index 15ebcd87..d7b31be7 100644
--- a/backend/src/test/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/geschichte/journeyitem/JourneyItemServiceTest.java
+++ b/backend/src/test/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/geschichte/journeyitem/JourneyItemServiceTest.java
@@ -322,7 +322,6 @@ class JourneyItemServiceTest {
         Document doc = makeDoc(docId, null, List.of(), null, null);
         JourneyItem item = savedItemWithDoc(itemId, journey, 10, doc, "Old note");
         when(journeyItemRepository.findByIdAndGeschichteId(itemId, geschichteId)).thenReturn(Optional.of(item));
-        when(documentService.getSummaryById(docId)).thenReturn(doc);
         JourneyItem saved = savedItemWithDoc(itemId, journey, 10, doc, null);
         when(journeyItemRepository.save(item)).thenReturn(saved);
 
@@ -372,7 +371,6 @@ class JourneyItemServiceTest {
         Document doc = makeDoc(docId, null, List.of(), null, null);
         JourneyItem item = savedItemWithDoc(itemId, journey, 10, doc, "Old");
         when(journeyItemRepository.findByIdAndGeschichteId(itemId, geschichteId)).thenReturn(Optional.of(item));
-        when(documentService.getSummaryById(docId)).thenReturn(doc);
         JourneyItem saved = savedItemWithDoc(itemId, journey, 10, doc, null);
         when(journeyItemRepository.save(item)).thenReturn(saved);