diff --git a/.specify/rtm.md b/.specify/rtm.md
index b7b8e54d..5dc41979 100644
--- a/.specify/rtm.md
+++ b/.specify/rtm.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 > Living document. One row per `REQ-NNN` across all in-flight and shipped features. The spec
 > itself lives in the **Gitea issue** (issue-only — there is no committed `spec.md`); this
-> matrix is the part of the spec that *is* committed: it links each requirement to its issue,
+> matrix is the part of the spec that _is_ committed: it links each requirement to its issue,
 > the code that implements it, and the test(s) that prove it — so any requirement traces end
 > to end, and any orphan (a requirement with no test) is visible on `main`.
 
@@ -24,30 +24,31 @@
 
 ## Matrix
 
-| REQ-ID | Requirement Summary | Issue | Feature | Implementation File(s) | Test(s) | Status |
-|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
-| REQ-001 | Store avatar at `avatars/{userId}`, overwrite | #example | profile-picture-upload (_example) | `UserService` (planned) | `UserServiceAvatarTest#storesUnderUserKey`, `#replaceLeavesNoOrphan` | Planned |
-| REQ-002 | Upload self avatar → 200 + avatarUrl | #example | profile-picture-upload (_example) | `UserAvatarController`, `UserService` (planned) | `UserAvatarControllerTest#uploadReturnsAvatarUrl` | Planned |
-| REQ-003 | Delete self avatar → avatarUrl null | #example | profile-picture-upload (_example) | `UserAvatarController` (planned) | `UserAvatarControllerTest#deleteClearsAvatar` | Planned |
-| REQ-004 | No avatar → null + initials placeholder | #example | profile-picture-upload (_example) | `UserProfileView`, avatar component (planned) | `avatar-placeholder.svelte.spec.ts` | Planned |
-| REQ-005 | ADMIN_USER may delete others' avatar | #example | profile-picture-upload (_example) | `UserAvatarController` (planned) | `UserAvatarControllerTest#adminDeletesOthersAvatar` | Planned |
-| REQ-006 | Unauthenticated → 401, store nothing | #example | profile-picture-upload (_example) | `SecurityConfig`, controller (planned) | `UserAvatarControllerTest#unauthenticatedReturns401` | Planned |
-| REQ-007 | Non-image → 400 UNSUPPORTED_FILE_TYPE | #example | profile-picture-upload (_example) | `UserService` (planned) | `UserAvatarControllerTest#rejectsNonImage` | Planned |
-| REQ-008 | Over 2 MB → 400 AVATAR_TOO_LARGE | #example | profile-picture-upload (_example) | `UserService`, `ErrorCode` (planned) | `UserAvatarControllerTest#rejectsOversize` | Planned |
-| REQ-009 | Non-admin on others → 403 FORBIDDEN | #example | profile-picture-upload (_example) | `UserAvatarController` (planned) | `UserAvatarControllerTest#nonAdminForbiddenOnOthers` | Planned |
-| REQ-001 | Render dated entry via shared `formatDocumentDate` (de/en/es) | #778 | timeline-date-label | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/dateLabel.ts` | `dateLabel.spec.ts` › `renders a DAY date localized in German`, `renders a SEASON date with the German season word`, `delegates a same-year RANGE to formatDocumentDate` | Done |
-| REQ-002 | Non-UNKNOWN + non-empty date → shared label, `raw=null`, `getLocale()` | #778 | timeline-date-label | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/dateLabel.ts` | `dateLabel.spec.ts` › `renders a DAY date localized in German`, `renders a DAY date localized in English` | Done |
-| REQ-003 | `UNKNOWN` → `null` (no chip) | #778 | timeline-date-label | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/dateLabel.ts` | `dateLabel.spec.ts` › `returns null for UNKNOWN precision even with a date`, `returns null for UNKNOWN precision without a date` | Done |
-| REQ-004 | `null`/`undefined`/`''` eventDate → `null`, no formatter call | #778 | timeline-date-label | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/dateLabel.ts` | `dateLabel.spec.ts` › `returns null for APPROX with a null eventDate, without calling the formatter`, `returns null for DAY with an empty-string eventDate`, `treats undefined eventDateEnd identically to null for RANGE` | Done |
-| REQ-005 | No rendering logic outside `documentDate.ts` | #778 | timeline-date-label | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/dateLabel.ts` (façade) | `dateLabel.spec.ts` › `delegates a same-year RANGE to formatDocumentDate` (asserts byte-identical delegation) | Done |
-| REQ-006 | `timeline` in coverage `include` (80% branch gate) | #778 | timeline-date-label | `frontend/vite.config.ts` | coverage `include` now lists `src/lib/timeline/**`; covered by all `dateLabel.spec.ts` cases | Done |
+| REQ-ID  | Requirement Summary                                                    | Issue    | Feature                            | Implementation File(s)                            | Test(s)                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | Status  |
+| ------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------- | ---------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- |
+| REQ-001 | Store avatar at `avatars/{userId}`, overwrite                          | #example | profile-picture-upload (\_example) | `UserService` (planned)                           | `UserServiceAvatarTest#storesUnderUserKey`, `#replaceLeavesNoOrphan`                                                                                                                                                       | Planned |
+| REQ-002 | Upload self avatar → 200 + avatarUrl                                   | #example | profile-picture-upload (\_example) | `UserAvatarController`, `UserService` (planned)   | `UserAvatarControllerTest#uploadReturnsAvatarUrl`                                                                                                                                                                          | Planned |
+| REQ-003 | Delete self avatar → avatarUrl null                                    | #example | profile-picture-upload (\_example) | `UserAvatarController` (planned)                  | `UserAvatarControllerTest#deleteClearsAvatar`                                                                                                                                                                              | Planned |
+| REQ-004 | No avatar → null + initials placeholder                                | #example | profile-picture-upload (\_example) | `UserProfileView`, avatar component (planned)     | `avatar-placeholder.svelte.spec.ts`                                                                                                                                                                                        | Planned |
+| REQ-005 | ADMIN_USER may delete others' avatar                                   | #example | profile-picture-upload (\_example) | `UserAvatarController` (planned)                  | `UserAvatarControllerTest#adminDeletesOthersAvatar`                                                                                                                                                                        | Planned |
+| REQ-006 | Unauthenticated → 401, store nothing                                   | #example | profile-picture-upload (\_example) | `SecurityConfig`, controller (planned)            | `UserAvatarControllerTest#unauthenticatedReturns401`                                                                                                                                                                       | Planned |
+| REQ-007 | Non-image → 400 UNSUPPORTED_FILE_TYPE                                  | #example | profile-picture-upload (\_example) | `UserService` (planned)                           | `UserAvatarControllerTest#rejectsNonImage`                                                                                                                                                                                 | Planned |
+| REQ-008 | Over 2 MB → 400 AVATAR_TOO_LARGE                                       | #example | profile-picture-upload (\_example) | `UserService`, `ErrorCode` (planned)              | `UserAvatarControllerTest#rejectsOversize`                                                                                                                                                                                 | Planned |
+| REQ-009 | Non-admin on others → 403 FORBIDDEN                                    | #example | profile-picture-upload (\_example) | `UserAvatarController` (planned)                  | `UserAvatarControllerTest#nonAdminForbiddenOnOthers`                                                                                                                                                                       | Planned |
+| REQ-001 | Render dated entry via shared `formatDocumentDate` (de/en/es)          | #778     | timeline-date-label                | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/dateLabel.ts`          | `dateLabel.spec.ts` › `renders a DAY date localized in German`, `renders a SEASON date with the German season word`, `delegates a same-year RANGE to formatDocumentDate`                                                   | Done    |
+| REQ-002 | Non-UNKNOWN + non-empty date → shared label, `raw=null`, `getLocale()` | #778     | timeline-date-label                | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/dateLabel.ts`          | `dateLabel.spec.ts` › `renders a DAY date localized in German`, `renders a DAY date localized in English`                                                                                                                  | Done    |
+| REQ-003 | `UNKNOWN` → `null` (no chip)                                           | #778     | timeline-date-label                | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/dateLabel.ts`          | `dateLabel.spec.ts` › `returns null for UNKNOWN precision even with a date`, `returns null for UNKNOWN precision without a date`                                                                                           | Done    |
+| REQ-004 | `null`/`undefined`/`''` eventDate → `null`, no formatter call          | #778     | timeline-date-label                | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/dateLabel.ts`          | `dateLabel.spec.ts` › `returns null for APPROX with a null eventDate, without calling the formatter`, `returns null for DAY with an empty-string eventDate`, `treats undefined eventDateEnd identically to null for RANGE` | Done    |
+| REQ-005 | No rendering logic outside `documentDate.ts`                           | #778     | timeline-date-label                | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/dateLabel.ts` (façade) | `dateLabel.spec.ts` › `delegates a same-year RANGE to formatDocumentDate` (asserts byte-identical delegation)                                                                                                              | Done    |
+| REQ-006 | `timeline` in coverage `include` (80% branch gate)                     | #778     | timeline-date-label                | `frontend/vite.config.ts`                         | coverage `include` now lists `src/lib/timeline/**`; covered by all `dateLabel.spec.ts` cases                                                                                                                               | Done    |
 
 <!-- Append real features below this line, one row per REQ-NNN, with the real issue number. Keep the header row above. -->
+
 | REQ-001 | family-member Person with birthDate → 1 BIRTH event, precision passed through | #776 | derive-person-life-events | `timeline/TimelineEventService#buildBirthEvents` | `DerivedEventsAssemblyTest#should_emit_one_geburt_for_person_with_birthdate`, `#should_pass_birth_precision_through_unchanged` | Done |
 | REQ-002 | family-member Person with deathDate → 1 DEATH event | #776 | derive-person-life-events | `timeline/TimelineEventService#buildDeathEvents` | `DerivedEventsAssemblyTest#should_emit_one_tod_for_person_with_deathdate`, `#should_emit_one_tod_and_zero_geburt_for_person_with_deathdate_only` | Done |
 | REQ-003 | null birthDate → 0 Geburt events | #776 | derive-person-life-events | `timeline/TimelineEventService#buildBirthEvents` | `DerivedEventsAssemblyTest#should_emit_zero_tod_when_person_has_birthdate_but_no_deathdate`, `#should_emit_one_tod_and_zero_geburt_for_person_with_deathdate_only` | Done |
 | REQ-004 | null deathDate → 0 Tod events; no dates → 0 events | #776 | derive-person-life-events | `timeline/TimelineEventService#buildDeathEvents` | `DerivedEventsAssemblyTest#should_emit_no_events_for_person_with_neither_date` | Done |
-| REQ-005 | SPOUSE_OF edge with fromYear → MARRIAGE event, eventDate={fromYear}-01-01, precision=YEAR | #776 | derive-person-life-events | `timeline/TimelineEventService#buildMarriageEvents` | `DerivedEventsAssemblyTest#should_emit_one_heirat_for_spouse_edge_with_fromYear` | Done |
+| REQ-005 | SPOUSE*OF edge with fromYear → MARRIAGE event, eventDate={fromYear}-01-01, precision=YEAR | #776 | derive-person-life-events | `timeline/TimelineEventService#buildMarriageEvents` | `DerivedEventsAssemblyTest#should_emit_one_heirat_for_spouse_edge_with_fromYear` | Done |
 | REQ-006 | SPOUSE_OF edge with null fromYear → MARRIAGE emitted, eventDate=null, precision=UNKNOWN | #776 | derive-person-life-events | `timeline/TimelineEventService#buildMarriageEvents` | `DerivedEventsAssemblyTest#should_emit_unknown_precision_heirat_when_fromYear_is_null` | Done |
 | REQ-007 | exactly one MARRIAGE per SPOUSE_OF row (dedup on relationship id) | #776 | derive-person-life-events | `timeline/TimelineEventService#buildMarriageEvents` | `DerivedEventsAssemblyTest#should_emit_exactly_one_heirat_when_both_spouses_in_scope`, `#should_emit_two_heirat_for_person_married_to_two_partners` | Done |
 | REQ-008 | synthetic prefixed ids (birth:/death:/marriage:), never parseable as UUID | #776 | derive-person-life-events | `timeline/TimelineEventService#buildBirthEvents,#buildDeathEvents,#buildMarriageEvents` | `DerivedEventsAssemblyTest#should_mint_prefixed_synthetic_ids_never_uuid` | Done |
@@ -182,7 +183,7 @@
 | REQ-007 | sticky "Filter (N aktiv)" trigger; N from isDefaultState/hiddenLayerCount; 44px target | #780 | timeline-layer-filter | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineFilter.ts`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/TimelineFilters.svelte` | `timelineFilter.spec.ts#isDefaultState`, `#hiddenLayerCount`; `TimelineFilters.svelte.spec.ts#shows a plain trigger ... and a count`, `#gives the trigger a 44px touch target` | Done |
 | REQ-008 | reset text button restores all layers on; visibility tracks a $derived any-layer-off flag | #780 | timeline-layer-filter | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/TimelineFilters.svelte` | `TimelineFilters.svelte.spec.ts#hides the reset button by default and restores all layers when activated` | Done |
 | REQ-009 | prefers-reduced-motion → slide duration 0 (matchMedia guard reused from documents/[id]/+page.svelte:57) | #780 | timeline-layer-filter | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/TimelineFilters.svelte` | manual reduced-motion check + svelte-autofixer/code review (guard reused, only the slide `duration` zeroed) | Done |
-| REQ-010 | 8 timeline_filter_* keys in de/en/es; trigger vs trigger_active({count}) distinct | #780 | timeline-layer-filter | `frontend/messages/{de,en,es}.json` | `messages.spec.ts#zeitstrahl layer-filter keys are present in all locales (#780 REQ-010)` | Done |
+| REQ-010 | 8 timeline_filter*_ keys in de/en/es; trigger vs trigger*active({count}) distinct | #780 | timeline-layer-filter | `frontend/messages/{de,en,es}.json` | `messages.spec.ts#zeitstrahl layer-filter keys are present in all locales (#780 REQ-010)` | Done |
 | REQ-001 | WRITE_ALL viewer → "Ereignis hinzufügen" link to /zeitstrahl/events/new in the wrapping Zeitstrahl header | #842 | timeline-curator-affordances | `frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/+page.svelte`, `frontend/messages/{de,en,es}.json` | `zeitstrahl/page.svelte.spec.ts#renders the add-event CTA in a wrapping header when the viewer can write` | Done |
 | REQ-002 | viewer without WRITE_ALL → no add-event affordance on /zeitstrahl | #842 | timeline-curator-affordances | `frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/+page.svelte` | `zeitstrahl/page.svelte.spec.ts#renders no add-event CTA when the viewer cannot write` | Done |
 | REQ-003 | WRITE_ALL viewer → person-page "Ereignis für diese Person" link to /zeitstrahl/events/new?personId={id} | #842 | timeline-curator-affordances | `frontend/src/routes/persons/[id]/PersonCard.svelte`, `frontend/messages/{de,en,es}.json` | `PersonCard.svelte.spec.ts#shows an add-event link pre-seeded with the person to a curator` | Done |
@@ -194,3 +195,24 @@
 | REQ-009 | TimelineView threads canWrite through the year-band path and the undated bucket (identical gate) | #842 | timeline-curator-affordances | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/TimelineView.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte` | `TimelineView.svelte.spec.ts#threads canWrite to a curated event in both a year band and the undated bucket`, `#threads canWrite to a curated HISTORICAL world band in both paths` | Done |
 | REQ-010 | person add-event opens #781 create form prefilled with the person, returns to /persons/{id} on save | #842 | timeline-curator-affordances | `frontend/src/routes/persons/[id]/PersonCard.svelte`, `frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/events/new/+page.server.ts` (#781) | `PersonCard.svelte.spec.ts#shows an add-event link pre-seeded with the person to a curator` (URL), `zeitstrahl/events/new/page.server.spec.ts#redirects to /persons/{id} when originPersonId is a valid UUID` (#781) | Done |
 | REQ-011 | non-curator direct nav to /zeitstrahl/events/new or /{id}/edit → 403 (existing #781 route guard, regression) | #842 | timeline-curator-affordances | `frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/events/new/+page.server.ts`, `frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/events/[id]/edit/+page.server.ts` (#781, unchanged — both share `requireWriteAll`) | `zeitstrahl/events/new/page.server.spec.ts#throws 403 for an authenticated user without WRITE_ALL`, `zeitstrahl/events/[id]/edit/page.server.spec.ts#throws 403 for a user without WRITE_ALL` | Done |
+| REQ-001 | axis-fixed layers (life-events, pills, world-bands) render identically across all 3 modes; only loose letters re-bundle | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/TimelineView.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte` | `grouping-event-layer-identity.svelte.spec.ts#renders the event pills and world-bands identically across all three grouping modes`, `YearBand.svelte.spec.ts#still renders the event world-band in Ereignis mode` | Done |
+| REQ-002 | mode switch re-bundles loose letters over the layer-filtered view, no GET /api/timeline refetch | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/+page.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.ts`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/TimelineView.svelte` | `zeitstrahl/page.svelte.spec.ts#regroups loose letters under their event client-side`, `e2e/zeitstrahl-grouping.spec.ts#switching grouping modes issues no extra timeline fetch` | Done |
+| REQ-003 | Ereignis clusters each loose letter under the curated event whose documents contain it | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.ts#bucketLetters`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterBucket.svelte` | `timelineGrouping.spec.ts#clusters letters under the curated event named by linkedEventId`, `YearBand.svelte.spec.ts#clusters loose letters under their linked event in Ereignis mode` | Done |
+| REQ-004 | Thema buckets each loose letter per year under its primary root tag (rootTagId) | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.ts#bucketLetters`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterBucket.svelte` | `timelineGrouping.spec.ts#buckets letters under their primary root tag with name and colour`, `YearBand.svelte.spec.ts#buckets loose letters under their root tag in Thema mode` | Done |
+| REQ-005 | TimelineEntryDTO carries nullable linkedEventId, resolved in one batched membership pass | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `backend/.../timeline/TimelineEntryDTO.java`, `backend/.../timeline/TimelineService.java#resolveLetterEventLinks`, `frontend/src/lib/generated/api.ts` | `TimelineServiceTest#letter_in_a_curated_events_documents_carries_that_events_id` | Done |
+| REQ-005b | linkedEventId is nullable / not @Schema REQUIRED; null for non-letter entries | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `backend/.../timeline/TimelineEntryDTO.java`, `frontend/src/lib/generated/api.ts` (`linkedEventId?`) | `TimelineServiceTest#letter_in_no_curated_event_has_null_linkedEventId` | Done |
+| REQ-006 | Ereignis: letter with null linkedEventId → per-year "Weitere Briefe" bucket | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.ts`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterBucket.svelte` | `timelineGrouping.spec.ts#drops a letter with no linkedEventId into the fallback bucket`, `LetterBucket.svelte.spec.ts#uses the localized "Weitere Briefe" label` | Done |
+| REQ-007 | Thema: untagged letter → per-year "Ohne Thema" bucket | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.ts`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterBucket.svelte` | `timelineGrouping.spec.ts#drops an untagged letter into the "Ohne Thema" fallback bucket`, `LetterBucket.svelte.spec.ts#uses the localized "Ohne Thema" label` | Done |
+| REQ-008 | multi-tagged letter appears under exactly one root tag, never duplicated | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.ts` | `timelineGrouping.spec.ts#places a letter in exactly one bucket` | Done |
+| REQ-009 | tag names + hint render via `{...}` escaping; grep gate forbids `{@html}` in lib/timeline | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/BucketHeaderChip.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterCard.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/TagChip.svelte` | `BucketHeaderChip.svelte.spec.ts#renders an HTML-bearing name as inert text`, `timeline-no-raw-html.spec.ts#no timeline component contains the raw-HTML directive` | Done |
+| REQ-010 | grouping control is a keyboard-navigable role=radiogroup, ≥44px text segments, default Datum, dark-mode contrast | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/GroupingControl.svelte` | `GroupingControl.svelte.spec.ts#renders three radios inside a radiogroup`, `#moves the selection forward with the right arrow key`, `#each segment has a tap target of at least 44×44px`, `#defaults to Datum`; `e2e/zeitstrahl-grouping.spec.ts#no wcag2a/wcag2aa violations ... (light + dark)` | Done |
+| REQ-011 | ≤320px: control overflow-free + tap ≥44px, each abbreviation carries its full word as aria-label | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/GroupingControl.svelte` | `GroupingControl.svelte.spec.ts#exposes each segment full word as an aria-label`, `e2e/zeitstrahl-grouping.spec.ts#the control stays overflow-free and operable at 320px` | Done |
+| REQ-012 | new grouping/bucket Paraglide keys in de/en/es; no collision with existing timeline*_ keys | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/messages/{de,en,es}.json` | `messages.spec.ts#zeitstrahl grouping + bucket keys are present in all locales (#827 REQ-012)`, `messages.spec.ts#de, en, and es have identical key sets` | Done |
+| REQ-013 | failed timeline fetch → existing localized error via getErrorMessage; grouping has no independent failure mode | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/+page.server.ts` (#779, unchanged) | `zeitstrahl/page.server` error path (#779 — getErrorMessage(extractErrorCode)) | Done |
+| REQ-014 | Ereignis event-clustered letters live inside a **contained card whose header is the same-year curated event** (glyph, title, date, provenance, edit pencil) — the title reads once, no separate floating pill; letters render as the compact `.lcard.ev` variant, first 5 + show-more (redesign #847 → #827 grouped-card layout) | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterCard.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterBucket.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte` | `LetterCard.svelte.spec.ts#carries the .lcard.ev class in the event variant`, `LetterBucket.svelte.spec.ts#renders the curated event as the card header when given an `event` (no separate pill)`, `LetterBucket.svelte.spec.ts#shows no edit affordance in the header when canWrite is false`, `YearBand.svelte.spec.ts#renders a same-year curated event as one card header, with no separate pill and no duplicate title` | Done |
+| REQ-015 | Thema bucket-header chip tinted via rootTagColor `var(--c-tag-*)`, neutral fallback when null/unknown; **label kept in a fixed ink for ≥4.5:1 contrast** (redesign #847) | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/BucketHeaderChip.svelte` | `BucketHeaderChip.svelte.spec.ts#tints the chip with var(--c-tag-{token})`, `#renders a neutral chip with no --c-tag- binding when colour is null`, `#falls back to neutral for an unknown colour token`, `#paints the label in a fixed ink colour, never the saturated tag token` | Done |
+| REQ-016 | header meta-line grouping segment tracks the active mode (date/event/thema keys) | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/+page.svelte` | `zeitstrahl/page.svelte.spec.ts#updates the meta-line grouping label when a mode is chosen` | Done |
+| REQ-017 | Thema: per-letter TagChip suppressed inside its own bucket; still shown in Datum/Ereignis | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterCard.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterBucket.svelte` | `LetterCard.svelte.spec.ts#suppresses the per-letter tag chip when asked`, `#still shows the per-letter tag chip when not suppressed`, `LetterBucket.svelte.spec.ts#suppresses the per-letter tag chip inside its own root-tag bucket` | Done |
+| REQ-018 | Letters layer off → grouping control disabled (kept in place), mode retained | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/+page.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/GroupingControl.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.ts#hasLooseLetters` | `zeitstrahl/page.svelte.spec.ts#disables the grouping control when the Letters layer is off`, `GroupingControl.svelte.spec.ts#retains the active mode while disabled`, `timelineGrouping.spec.ts#hasLooseLetters` | Done |
+| REQ-019 | Ereignis: letter whose only linking event was filtered off → "Weitere Briefe" (never re-introduced) | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.ts#buildEventLookup`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/TimelineView.svelte` | `timelineGrouping.spec.ts#drops a letter whose linked event is absent from the lookup into fallback` | Done |
+| REQ-020 | Grouped clusters are **contained colour-railed cards** (bordered, rounded, surface) carrying compact cards; a cluster shows the first `CLUSTER_PREVIEW` (5) letters behind a show-more toggle, and the leftover bin is a **collapsed count-only drawer** revealed on demand — the month-density `YearLetterStrip` is no longer used in grouped mode (still used in Datum dense years) (redesign #847 → #827 grouped-card layout) | #827 | timeline-grouping-modes | `frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterBucket.svelte`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.ts#CLUSTER_PREVIEW`, `frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterCard.svelte` | `LetterBucket.svelte.spec.ts#renders the cluster as a contained card (bordered, rounded, surface)`, `#binds a tag bucket together with a coloured left rail from its token`, `#shows only the first 5 letters with a show-more toggle when the cluster is larger`, `#expands to all letters and collapses back on toggle`, `#renders collapsed — count + reveal, no letter cards — until opened`, `#reveals the first 5 letters when opened`, `LetterCard.svelte.spec.ts#renders the compact variant on a single tighter row` | Done |
diff --git a/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/timeline/TimelineEntryDTO.java b/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/timeline/TimelineEntryDTO.java
index 0739cbfb..6d5c5900 100644
--- a/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/timeline/TimelineEntryDTO.java
+++ b/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/timeline/TimelineEntryDTO.java
@@ -28,6 +28,13 @@ import java.util.UUID;
  * They are deliberately NOT {@code @Schema(requiredMode = REQUIRED)} so the generated TypeScript
  * types stay optional.
  *
+ * <p><b>Letter→event link ({@code linkedEventId}):</b> for a {@link Kind#LETTER} entry, the id of
+ * the curated {@link TimelineEvent} whose {@code documents} set contains the letter's document, or
+ * {@code null} when the letter is referenced by no curated event (#827). Computed on read from the
+ * existing {@code timeline_event_documents} join — no new column. {@code null} for non-letter
+ * entries. Deliberately NOT {@code @Schema(requiredMode = REQUIRED)} so the generated TypeScript
+ * type stays optional.
+ *
  * <p>Callers of {@code TimelineEventService.assembleDerivedEvents()} must independently enforce
  * {@code READ_ALL} authorization before invoking that method (see ADR-043).
  */
@@ -47,6 +54,7 @@ public record TimelineEntryDTO(
         DerivedEventType derivedType,
         UUID rootTagId,
         String rootTagName,
-        String rootTagColor
+        String rootTagColor,
+        UUID linkedEventId
 ) {
 }
diff --git a/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/timeline/TimelineEventService.java b/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/timeline/TimelineEventService.java
index f2ee6d7e..03092647 100644
--- a/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/timeline/TimelineEventService.java
+++ b/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/timeline/TimelineEventService.java
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ public class TimelineEventService {
                         p.getBirthDate(), null,
                         p.getDisplayName(), EventType.PERSONAL,
                         null, null, List.of(p.getId()), DerivedEventType.BIRTH,
-                        null, null, null))
+                        null, null, null, null))
                 .toList();
     }
 
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ public class TimelineEventService {
                         p.getDeathDate(), null,
                         p.getDisplayName(), EventType.PERSONAL,
                         null, null, List.of(p.getId()), DerivedEventType.DEATH,
-                        null, null, null))
+                        null, null, null, null))
                 .toList();
     }
 
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ public class TimelineEventService {
                         null, null,
                         List.of(r.getPerson().getId(), r.getRelatedPerson().getId()),
                         DerivedEventType.MARRIAGE,
-                        null, null, null));
+                        null, null, null, null));
             }
         }
         return result;
diff --git a/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/timeline/TimelineService.java b/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/timeline/TimelineService.java
index 7a084205..b63d9bb8 100644
--- a/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/timeline/TimelineService.java
+++ b/backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/timeline/TimelineService.java
@@ -80,9 +80,14 @@ public class TimelineService {
         // Resolve generation person IDs once — used across all three layers
         Set<UUID> genPersonIds = resolveGenerationPersonIds(filter.generation());
 
+        // Fetch curated events once — reused for both the event entries below and the
+        // batched letter→event link resolution (resolveLetterEventLinks), so the
+        // membership pass costs no extra query. REQ-005.
+        List<TimelineEvent> allEvents = eventRepository.findAll();
+
         // ── curated events ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
         List<TimelineEntryDTO> entries = new ArrayList<>();
-        for (TimelineEvent ev : eventRepository.findAll()) {
+        for (TimelineEvent ev : allEvents) {
             if (!passesTypeFilter(ev.getType(), filter.type())) continue;
             if (!passesPersonFilter(ev.getPersons(), filter.personId())) continue;
             if (!passesGenerationFilter(ev.getPersons(), genPersonIds)) continue;
@@ -107,8 +112,9 @@ public class TimelineService {
             letters.add(doc);
         }
         Map<UUID, RootTag> rootByDocId = resolveLetterRootTags(letters);
+        Map<UUID, UUID> eventByDocId = resolveLetterEventLinks(letters, allEvents);
         for (Document doc : letters) {
-            entries.add(mapDocument(doc, rootByDocId));
+            entries.add(mapDocument(doc, rootByDocId, eventByDocId));
         }
 
         return bucket(entries);
@@ -229,11 +235,13 @@ public class TimelineService {
                 null,
                 null,
                 null,
+                null,
                 null
         );
     }
 
-    private TimelineEntryDTO mapDocument(Document doc, Map<UUID, RootTag> rootByDocId) {
+    private TimelineEntryDTO mapDocument(Document doc, Map<UUID, RootTag> rootByDocId,
+                                         Map<UUID, UUID> eventByDocId) {
         RootTag root = rootByDocId.get(doc.getId());
         return new TimelineEntryDTO(
                 Kind.LETTER,
@@ -251,10 +259,38 @@ public class TimelineService {
                 null,
                 root == null ? null : root.id(),
                 root == null ? null : root.name(),
-                root == null ? null : root.color()
+                root == null ? null : root.color(),
+                eventByDocId.get(doc.getId())
         );
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Resolves each letter's linked curated event in one batched pass, keyed by document id: the
+     * event whose {@code documents} set contains the letter (REQ-005). A single doc→event map is
+     * built over the already-loaded events — no per-letter query ({@code TimelineEvent.documents}
+     * carries {@code @BatchSize(50)}). When a document is referenced by more than one curated
+     * event, the first by repository iteration order wins ({@code putIfAbsent}). The map is built
+     * from <em>all</em> events (not just the year/type-filtered ones) so the link is a stable
+     * property of the data; the frontend's filter-then-group decides whether the linked event is
+     * actually on screen (#827). Logs nothing — the assembly path keeps UUIDs out of logs (§2.7).
+     */
+    private Map<UUID, UUID> resolveLetterEventLinks(List<Document> letters, List<TimelineEvent> events) {
+        Set<UUID> letterDocIds = letters.stream().map(Document::getId).collect(Collectors.toSet());
+        if (letterDocIds.isEmpty()) return Map.of();
+
+        Map<UUID, UUID> eventByDocId = new HashMap<>();
+        for (TimelineEvent ev : events) {
+            Set<Document> linkedDocs = ev.getDocuments();
+            if (linkedDocs == null) continue;
+            for (Document linked : linkedDocs) {
+                if (letterDocIds.contains(linked.getId())) {
+                    eventByDocId.putIfAbsent(linked.getId(), ev.getId());
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        return eventByDocId;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Resolves each letter's primary root tag in one batched pass, keyed by document id — no
      * per-letter N+1: each letter contributes only its alphabetically-first assigned tag (#835),
diff --git a/backend/src/test/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/timeline/TimelineServiceTest.java b/backend/src/test/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/timeline/TimelineServiceTest.java
index 06255ecb..7b2597f6 100644
--- a/backend/src/test/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/timeline/TimelineServiceTest.java
+++ b/backend/src/test/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/timeline/TimelineServiceTest.java
@@ -69,10 +69,10 @@ class TimelineServiceTest {
         UUID id2 = UUID.fromString("00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000002");
         var e1 = new TimelineEntryDTO(Kind.LETTER, DatePrecision.DAY, false, "", "",
                 LocalDate.of(1914, 7, 28), null, "Same Title", null, null, id1, List.of(), null,
-                null, null, null);
+                null, null, null, null);
         var e2 = new TimelineEntryDTO(Kind.LETTER, DatePrecision.DAY, false, "", "",
                 LocalDate.of(1914, 7, 28), null, "Same Title", null, null, id2, List.of(), null,
-                null, null, null);
+                null, null, null, null);
 
         var sorted = List.of(e2, e1).stream()
                 .sorted(TimelineService.WITHIN_BAND_ORDER)
@@ -511,6 +511,44 @@ class TimelineServiceTest {
         verify(tagService, times(1)).resolveRootTags(anyList());
     }
 
+    // ─── letter→event link (#827, REQ-005/006) ───────────────────────────────
+
+    @Test
+    void letter_in_a_curated_events_documents_carries_that_events_id() {
+        // REQ-005: linkedEventId = the curated event whose documents set contains the letter.
+        Document letterDoc = docWithDate(LocalDate.of(1915, 5, 1), DatePrecision.MONTH);
+        UUID eventId = UUID.randomUUID();
+        TimelineEvent event = TimelineEvent.builder().id(eventId)
+                .title("Briefe von der Front").type(EventType.PERSONAL)
+                .documents(new HashSet<>(Set.of(letterDoc)))
+                .build(); // no eventDate → event lands undated, leaving the year band to the letter
+        when(eventRepository.findAll()).thenReturn(List.of(event));
+        when(timelineEventService.assembleDerivedEvents()).thenReturn(List.of());
+        when(documentService.getAllForTimeline()).thenReturn(List.of(letterDoc));
+
+        TimelineEntryDTO entry = onlyLetterEntry(timelineService.assemble(noFilters()));
+
+        assertThat(entry.linkedEventId()).isEqualTo(eventId);
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void letter_in_no_curated_event_has_null_linkedEventId() {
+        // REQ-006: a letter referenced by no curated event → linkedEventId null (frontend falls
+        // back to the per-year "Weitere Briefe" bucket).
+        Document letterDoc = docWithDate(LocalDate.of(1915, 5, 1), DatePrecision.MONTH);
+        TimelineEvent event = TimelineEvent.builder().id(UUID.randomUUID())
+                .title("Anderes Ereignis").type(EventType.PERSONAL)
+                .documents(new HashSet<>(Set.of(Document.builder().id(UUID.randomUUID()).build())))
+                .build();
+        when(eventRepository.findAll()).thenReturn(List.of(event));
+        when(timelineEventService.assembleDerivedEvents()).thenReturn(List.of());
+        when(documentService.getAllForTimeline()).thenReturn(List.of(letterDoc));
+
+        TimelineEntryDTO entry = onlyLetterEntry(timelineService.assemble(noFilters()));
+
+        assertThat(entry.linkedEventId()).isNull();
+    }
+
     private static TimelineEntryDTO onlyLetterEntry(TimelineDTO result) {
         assertThat(result.years()).hasSize(1);
         return result.years().get(0).entries().get(0);
@@ -523,7 +561,7 @@ class TimelineServiceTest {
     private static TimelineEntryDTO letter(LocalDate date, DatePrecision precision, String title) {
         return new TimelineEntryDTO(Kind.LETTER, precision, false, "", "",
                 date, null, title, null, null, UUID.randomUUID(), List.of(), null,
-                null, null, null);
+                null, null, null, null);
     }
 
     private static Document docWithDate(LocalDate date, DatePrecision precision) {
diff --git a/docs/adr/045-timeline-client-side-regroup.md b/docs/adr/045-timeline-client-side-regroup.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..87ba6abd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/adr/045-timeline-client-side-regroup.md
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+# ADR-045 — The /zeitstrahl Ereignis/Thema regroup is client-side, over a computed letter→event link
+
+**Status:** Accepted
+**Date:** 2026-06-15
+**Issue:** #827 (Zeitstrahl milestone; deferred follow-up to #779, builds on #835/PR #838 and #780)
+
+## Context
+
+#779 shipped `/zeitstrahl` in **Datum** mode only and deferred the Concept-A
+**Datum · Ereignis · Thema** segmented control, because the other two modes need data the
+`TimelineEntryDTO` did not carry: a letter's curated-event association (Ereignis) and a letter's
+primary root tag + colour (Thema). #835 (merged in PR #838) added the Thema fields
+(`rootTagId`/`rootTagName`/`rootTagColor`) and the batched `TimelineService → TagService`
+resolver. Meanwhile #780 added the **layer filter** — `/zeitstrahl/+page.svelte` owns
+`personalOn`/`historicalOn`/`lettersOn` `$state` and renders `TimelineView` over a client-side
+`filterTimeline(data.timeline, …)` view.
+
+This ADR records the three forks specific to **#827** (the Thema enrichment + the
+`TimelineService → TagService` edge are #835's scope, not this one).
+
+## Decisions
+
+### 1. Grouping is a client-side presentation transform — no `grouping=` query param
+
+`GET /api/timeline` already returns the whole timeline in one payload. Regrouping the loose
+letters is an in-memory transform in `lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.ts` (`bucketLetters`,
+`buildEventLookup`, `hasLooseLetters`), driven by a `groupingMode` `$state` in `+page.svelte`.
+A server-side `grouping=DATE|EVENT|TOPIC` parameter was rejected: it would add lasting API
+surface and a bucket query for zero benefit on an already-loaded payload, and switching modes
+must issue **zero** extra fetches (REQ-002). The blast radius stays inside the read view.
+
+### 2. The letter→event link is computed, reusing `timeline_event_documents` — no new column
+
+A letter clusters under a curated event iff that event's `documents` set (ADR-040;
+`@ManyToMany @BatchSize(50)` over join table `timeline_event_documents`) contains the letter's
+document. `TimelineService.assemble` resolves this in **one batched membership pass** —
+`resolveLetterEventLinks` builds a single `docId → eventId` map over the already-loaded events
+(no per-letter query), reusing the same `eventRepository.findAll()` it already iterates for the
+event entries. The result is exposed as one nullable DTO field, `linkedEventId`. A new persisted
+FK on the document/letter row was rejected: it duplicates an existing capability and opens a
+mutating write path + Flyway migration for no gain. **No new column, no migration, no new
+cross-domain edge** (the field derives from data `TimelineService` already loads). `linkedEventId`
+is deliberately **not** `@Schema(requiredMode = REQUIRED)` — it is null for non-letter entries and
+for letters under no curated event — so the generated TypeScript type stays optional.
+
+### 3. Grouping composes with the #780 layer filter as **filter-then-group**
+
+The pipeline is `data.timeline → filterTimeline() (#780) → groupingMode transform → TimelineView`.
+The grouping `$state` lives in `+page.svelte` beside the filter `$state`, and the regroup runs over
+the layer-**filtered** view, never the raw `data.timeline`. Grouping the raw timeline and filtering
+afterward was rejected: the counts and buckets would disagree with the layer toggles, re-opening
+the #780 count-mismatch the page already closed. Two consequences fall out of filter-then-group:
+
+- **Letters layer off → the grouping control disables, kept in place (REQ-018).** With no loose
+  letters in the filtered view there is nothing to regroup; the control renders `aria-disabled`
+  (no header reflow), keeps its selected mode, and announces a screen-reader reason.
+- **A letter whose only linking event was filtered out falls back to "Weitere Briefe" (REQ-019).**
+  `buildEventLookup` is built from the events present in the _filtered_ view, so Ereignis clusters
+  only under events that survived the filter; everything else lands in the per-year fallback bucket.
+
+The control is a `role="radiogroup"` (single-select), deliberately distinct from #780's
+`aria-pressed` toggle filter, stacked above the filter trigger so the two read as one control
+cluster — the top-right corner stays the #842 add-event CTA.
+
+## Consequences
+
+- One nullable field (`linkedEventId`) is added to `TimelineEntryDTO` (17 components); the
+  regenerated `frontend/src/lib/generated/api.ts` is committed in the same PR. No table, column,
+  Flyway migration, endpoint, `ErrorCode`, or `Permission` changes.
+- The regroup is pure and fully unit-tested independently of the components; `TimelineView`/
+  `YearBand` render the axis-fixed event layer identically across all three modes (REQ-001) and
+  only swap the loose-letter rendering for per-year `LetterBucket`s off Datum.
+- The new Thema bucket-header chip (`BucketHeaderChip`) is a filled variant tinted from
+  `rootTagColor`; the shipped neutral per-letter `TagChip` (#838) is reused as-is and suppressed
+  inside its own bucket (REQ-017). All `lib/timeline` components keep the `{...}`-escaping
+  guarantee — a grep gate forbids `{@html}` (REQ-009).
+- Read-only feature: no new authn/authz surface beyond the existing `READ_ALL` on
+  `GET /api/timeline`.
diff --git a/docs/superpowers/specs/2026-06-15-zeitstrahl-grouped-view-layout-design.md b/docs/superpowers/specs/2026-06-15-zeitstrahl-grouped-view-layout-design.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b5420d37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/superpowers/specs/2026-06-15-zeitstrahl-grouped-view-layout-design.md
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+# Zeitstrahl grouped-view layout redesign
+
+**Date:** 2026-06-15
+**Feature:** #827 (regroup `/zeitstrahl` by Ereignis/Thema) — layout follow-up on PR #847
+**Status:** Approved (brainstorm), pending implementation plan
+
+> The REQ contract for #827 lives in the Gitea issue body (and the amendment comment of
+> 2026-06-15). This document records the **layout/visual design** agreed in the visual
+> brainstorm and the REQ deltas it implies. Mockups: `.superpowers/brainstorm/*/content/`.
+
+## Problem
+
+The first grouped-view implementation (PR #847) fixed the flood and the duplicate event title,
+but two issues remained on review of the live view:
+
+1. **Weak belonging.** A clustered event's letters dropped below its centered pill as a
+   full-width block with only a thin left rail. The connection between an event and its letters
+   read weakly — the eye couldn't tell the letters belonged to the pill above.
+2. **Layout inconsistency.** In Datum mode letters alternate left/right of the centered spine
+   (events/density centered). In grouped mode the letters became full-width, breaking that
+   rhythm with no clear reason.
+
+## Decision: a cluster is one contained card
+
+A clustered event (Ereignis) or root tag (Thema) renders as **one bordered card** whose header
+is the event/tag itself and whose body holds that cluster's letters. Belonging becomes
+structural (a single container), not positional guesswork. This replaces the full-width block.
+
+### Ereignis mode, per year band
+
+1. **Derived life-events** (Geburt/Tod/Heirat, `abgeleitet`) never cluster — they carry no
+   document links, so they are always **plain axis fixtures, unchanged from Datum mode**. A
+   **world-band** (`historisch`) is normally letterless and stays a plain band; on the rare
+   occasion a historical event has linked letters it follows rule 2 (becomes a card).
+2. **A curated event (PERSONAL or HISTORICAL) with letters in this band** → one mint-bordered card:
+   - **Header** = the event's glyph + title + date + `kuratiert` + edit-✎ + count (the pill's
+     content, laid out as a header bar). This *replaces* the separate floating pill for that
+     event in this band — killing the duplicate title.
+   - **Body** = the cluster's letters, **first 5 shown, then a "+ N weitere Briefe anzeigen"
+     toggle** that expands/collapses the rest. Letters use the compact `LetterCard` variant.
+3. **A curated event with no letters in this band** → stays a plain centered pill (no empty card).
+4. **A curated event whose letters fall in a different year than its pill** → those letters form a
+   labeled card in *their* year (header = event name as text, no ✎/pill since the pill lives
+   elsewhere); the pill stays in its own band. No adjacent duplication.
+5. **Leftover letters** (linked to no surviving curated event) → a collapsed neutral, dashed
+   **"✉ N Briefe ohne Ereignis · anzeigen ›"** drawer. Clicking expands to the same first-5 +
+   show-more list. No preview letters until opened.
+
+### Thema mode
+
+Identical shape. Each card's header is the **tinted root-tag chip** (`● Krieg · 24`,
+`BucketHeaderChip`, fixed-ink label per the contrast fix) instead of an event pill; there is no
+axis pill for a tag, so every tag cluster is a standalone card. The per-letter `TagChip` stays
+suppressed inside its own card (REQ-017). The leftover drawer reads **"Ohne Thema"**.
+
+### Layout / spine
+
+- Cluster cards are **centered on the spine** (like events already are), not full-width-flush —
+  consistent with how grouped units (events) relate to the axis. Individual chronological
+  letters keep alternating left/right only in **Datum** mode.
+- Each card carries a colour left rail: **mint** for an Ereignis cluster, the **tag colour** for
+  a Thema cluster, **neutral dashed** for the leftover drawer.
+
+## Components affected
+
+- `LetterBucket.svelte` — becomes the contained card: header slot (pill-content / tag chip /
+  drawer label / cross-year text label) + body with the first-5 cap and the show-more toggle.
+  Drop the `YearLetterStrip` (sparkline) branch from grouped mode.
+- `YearBand.svelte` — in Ereignis mode, a same-year curated event renders *as* the card header
+  (merge pill into the card) instead of pill-then-nested-bucket; derived/world/letterless events
+  stay plain; cross-year clusters and the leftover drawer render after the axis entries.
+- `LetterCard.svelte` — compact variant already exists (PR #847); reused inside cards.
+- `BucketHeaderChip.svelte` — reused as the Thema card header (contrast fix already shipped).
+- `timelineGrouping.ts` — the first-visible cap (`CLUSTER_PREVIEW = 5`) replaces
+  `BUCKET_DENSE_THRESHOLD`; helpers unchanged otherwise.
+- Possibly a small `ClusterCard`/header sub-component if `LetterBucket` grows too large.
+
+## REQ deltas (to fold into issue #827)
+
+- **REQ-001 (amended):** derived life-events, world-bands, and *letterless* curated event pills
+  render identically across modes; a curated event **that has letters** renders as its cluster
+  card's header in grouped mode (no longer byte-identical to its Datum pill). Every event keeps
+  its spine position (year).
+- **REQ-003 / REQ-014 (amended):** event-clustered letters live inside a contained card; the
+  header is the event (same-year) or a text label (cross-year). First 5 shown + show-more.
+- **REQ-020 (amended):** grouped clusters are contained colour-railed cards with a first-5
+  preview + show-more toggle; the leftover bin is a collapsed count-only drawer. The
+  month-density `YearLetterStrip` is **no longer used in grouped mode** (still used in Datum
+  dense years).
+
+## Out of scope
+
+- Datum mode (untouched — keeps the alternating-axis zigzag and the >12 sparkline strip).
+- Backend / DTO (`linkedEventId` and root-tag fields already shipped; no change).
+- New i18n beyond a show-more / drawer label string set.
+
+## Testing approach
+
+TDD per component, mirroring PR #847: `LetterBucket` (card header variants, first-5 cap,
+show-more expand/collapse, drawer collapsed-by-default, colour rail), `YearBand` (same-year merge
+= no duplicate title; cross-year keeps a label; derived/world pills unchanged), and the route
+spec for the assembled view. Run targeted `--project=client` / `--project=server` specs only.
diff --git a/frontend/CLAUDE.md b/frontend/CLAUDE.md
index 17823ad6..1209ad1f 100644
--- a/frontend/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/frontend/CLAUDE.md
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ src/
 │   │   ├── relationship/ # Relationship form + chip components
 │   │   └── genealogy/   # Stammbaum (family tree) components
 │   ├── tag/             # Tag domain: TagInput, TagChipList, TagParentPicker
-│   ├── timeline/        # Timeline (Zeitstrahl) domain: TimelineView, YearBand, EventPill, WorldBand, LetterCard, YearLetterStrip, GapSpan; dateLabel + timelineDensity + eventCardConfig (imports $lib/shared only, never document/)
+│   ├── timeline/        # Timeline (Zeitstrahl) domain: TimelineView, YearBand, EventPill, WorldBand, LetterCard, LetterBucket, BucketHeaderChip, GroupingControl, TagChip, YearLetterStrip, GapSpan; dateLabel + timelineDensity + timelineFilter + timelineGrouping + eventCardConfig (imports $lib/shared only, never document/)
 │   ├── geschichte/      # Geschichte (story) domain: editor + card
 │   ├── notification/    # Notification bell + dropdown + store
 │   ├── activity/        # Activity feed (Chronik) components
diff --git a/frontend/e2e/zeitstrahl-grouping.spec.ts b/frontend/e2e/zeitstrahl-grouping.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d49de9cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/e2e/zeitstrahl-grouping.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+import AxeBuilder from '@axe-core/playwright';
+import { test, expect, type APIRequestContext } from '@playwright/test';
+
+/**
+ * Global /zeitstrahl grouping toggle (#827). Runs against the real stack with the seeded admin
+ * session (auth.setup). Covers REQ-002 (switching modes issues zero extra GET /api/timeline
+ * requests — the regroup is client-side), REQ-011 (the control stays usable and overflow-free at
+ * 320px with full-word aria-labels and ≥44px tap targets), and REQ-010g (a 320px axe pass over
+ * the control in both light and dark mode).
+ *
+ * Per e2e/CLAUDE.md, E2E is not yet wired into CI — this gate runs locally for now, like the
+ * #780 layer-filter spec it mirrors.
+ */
+
+const stamp = () => new Date().toISOString().replace(/[^0-9]/g, '');
+
+async function createPerson(request: APIRequestContext, firstName: string, lastName: string) {
+	const res = await request.post('/api/persons', {
+		data: { personType: 'PERSON', firstName, lastName }
+	});
+	if (!res.ok()) throw new Error(`create person failed: ${res.status()}`);
+	return (await res.json()).id as string;
+}
+
+/** Seeds one dated letter so the timeline has a loose letter and the grouping control is enabled. */
+async function seedDatedLetter(request: APIRequestContext, isoDate: string, title: string) {
+	const senderId = await createPerson(request, 'Group-Test', `Absender ${stamp()}`);
+	const receiverId = await createPerson(request, 'Group-Test', `Empfaenger ${stamp()}`);
+
+	const createRes = await request.post('/api/documents', { multipart: { title } });
+	if (!createRes.ok()) throw new Error(`create document failed: ${createRes.status()}`);
+	const docId = (await createRes.json()).id as string;
+
+	const put = await request.put(`/api/documents/${docId}`, {
+		multipart: {
+			title,
+			documentDate: isoDate,
+			metaDatePrecision: 'DAY',
+			senderId,
+			receiverIds: receiverId
+		}
+	});
+	if (!put.ok()) throw new Error(`update document failed: ${put.status()}`);
+}
+
+test.describe('Zeitstrahl — grouping toggle (#827)', () => {
+	test('switching grouping modes issues no extra timeline fetch (REQ-002)', async ({
+		page,
+		request
+	}) => {
+		await seedDatedLetter(request, '1909-05-05', `E2E Group Brief ${stamp()}`);
+
+		let timelineRequests = 0;
+		page.on('request', (req) => {
+			if (req.url().includes('/api/timeline')) timelineRequests++;
+		});
+
+		await page.goto('/zeitstrahl');
+		await page.waitForSelector('[data-hydrated]');
+		await expect(page.getByTestId('grouping-control')).toBeVisible();
+
+		const afterLoad = timelineRequests;
+		await page.locator('[data-value="event"]').click();
+		await page.locator('[data-value="thema"]').click();
+		await page.locator('[data-value="date"]').click();
+
+		// the regroup is a pure client-side transform — not one more GET /api/timeline
+		expect(timelineRequests).toBe(afterLoad);
+	});
+
+	test('the control stays overflow-free and operable at 320px (REQ-011)', async ({
+		page,
+		request
+	}) => {
+		await seedDatedLetter(request, '1911-02-02', `E2E Group 320 ${stamp()}`);
+
+		await page.setViewportSize({ width: 320, height: 800 });
+		await page.goto('/zeitstrahl');
+		await page.waitForSelector('[data-hydrated]');
+
+		const control = page.getByTestId('grouping-control');
+		await expect(control).toBeVisible();
+
+		// the control fits inside the 320px viewport — no horizontal overflow
+		const box = await control.boundingBox();
+		expect(box).not.toBeNull();
+		expect(box!.x + box!.width).toBeLessThanOrEqual(321);
+
+		for (const [value, fullWord] of [
+			['date', 'Datum'],
+			['event', 'Ereignis'],
+			['thema', 'Thema']
+		]) {
+			const radio = page.locator(`[data-value="${value}"]`);
+			const radioBox = await radio.boundingBox();
+			expect(radioBox!.height).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(44);
+			expect(radioBox!.width).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(44);
+			// the abbreviated segment still announces its full word
+			expect(await radio.getAttribute('aria-label')).toBe(fullWord);
+		}
+	});
+
+	test('no wcag2a/wcag2aa violations on the grouping control at 320px (light + dark) (REQ-010g)', async ({
+		page,
+		request
+	}) => {
+		await seedDatedLetter(request, '1915-06-15', `E2E Group A11y ${stamp()}`);
+
+		await page.setViewportSize({ width: 320, height: 800 });
+		await page.goto('/zeitstrahl');
+		await page.waitForSelector('[data-hydrated]');
+		await expect(page.getByTestId('grouping-control')).toBeVisible();
+
+		const scan = () => new AxeBuilder({ page }).withTags(['wcag2a', 'wcag2aa']).analyze();
+
+		const light = await scan();
+		expect(light.violations, JSON.stringify(light.violations, null, 2)).toEqual([]);
+
+		await page.evaluate(() => document.documentElement.setAttribute('data-theme', 'dark'));
+		const dark = await scan();
+		expect(dark.violations, JSON.stringify(dark.violations, null, 2)).toEqual([]);
+	});
+});
diff --git a/frontend/messages/de.json b/frontend/messages/de.json
index 6be0122c..84632358 100644
--- a/frontend/messages/de.json
+++ b/frontend/messages/de.json
@@ -1050,6 +1050,21 @@
 	"timeline_derived_death": "Tod",
 	"timeline_derived_marriage": "Heirat",
 	"timeline_grouping_date": "Gruppierung: Datum",
+	"timeline_grouping_event": "Gruppierung: Ereignis",
+	"timeline_grouping_thema": "Gruppierung: Thema",
+	"timeline_grouping_aria_label": "Gruppierung",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_date": "Datum",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_event": "Ereignis",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_thema": "Thema",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_date_short": "Dat.",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_event_short": "Ereig.",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_thema_short": "Thema",
+	"timeline_grouping_disabled_reason": "Briefe sind ausgeblendet – es gibt nichts zu gruppieren.",
+	"timeline_grouping_multitag_hint": "Brief mit mehreren Tags erscheint unter seinem primären Tag.",
+	"timeline_bucket_other_letters": "Weitere Briefe",
+	"timeline_bucket_no_topic": "Ohne Thema",
+	"timeline_bucket_show_more": "+ {count} weitere Briefe anzeigen",
+	"timeline_bucket_show_less": "Weniger anzeigen",
 	"timeline_provenance_derived": "abgeleitet",
 	"timeline_provenance_curated": "kuratiert",
 	"timeline_letter_glyph_label": "Brief",
diff --git a/frontend/messages/en.json b/frontend/messages/en.json
index b07fe58e..0899da7d 100644
--- a/frontend/messages/en.json
+++ b/frontend/messages/en.json
@@ -1050,6 +1050,21 @@
 	"timeline_derived_death": "Death",
 	"timeline_derived_marriage": "Marriage",
 	"timeline_grouping_date": "Grouping: Date",
+	"timeline_grouping_event": "Grouping: Event",
+	"timeline_grouping_thema": "Grouping: Topic",
+	"timeline_grouping_aria_label": "Grouping",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_date": "Date",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_event": "Event",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_thema": "Topic",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_date_short": "Date",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_event_short": "Event",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_thema_short": "Topic",
+	"timeline_grouping_disabled_reason": "Letters are hidden — there is nothing to group.",
+	"timeline_grouping_multitag_hint": "A letter with several tags appears under its primary tag.",
+	"timeline_bucket_other_letters": "More letters",
+	"timeline_bucket_no_topic": "No topic",
+	"timeline_bucket_show_more": "+ {count} more letters",
+	"timeline_bucket_show_less": "Show fewer",
 	"timeline_provenance_derived": "derived",
 	"timeline_provenance_curated": "curated",
 	"timeline_letter_glyph_label": "Letter",
diff --git a/frontend/messages/es.json b/frontend/messages/es.json
index 2048c1f6..5d3c6aaa 100644
--- a/frontend/messages/es.json
+++ b/frontend/messages/es.json
@@ -1050,6 +1050,21 @@
 	"timeline_derived_death": "Fallecimiento",
 	"timeline_derived_marriage": "Matrimonio",
 	"timeline_grouping_date": "Agrupación: Fecha",
+	"timeline_grouping_event": "Agrupación: Evento",
+	"timeline_grouping_thema": "Agrupación: Tema",
+	"timeline_grouping_aria_label": "Agrupación",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_date": "Fecha",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_event": "Evento",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_thema": "Tema",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_date_short": "Fecha",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_event_short": "Evento",
+	"timeline_grouping_segment_thema_short": "Tema",
+	"timeline_grouping_disabled_reason": "Las cartas están ocultas: no hay nada que agrupar.",
+	"timeline_grouping_multitag_hint": "Una carta con varias etiquetas aparece bajo su etiqueta principal.",
+	"timeline_bucket_other_letters": "Más cartas",
+	"timeline_bucket_no_topic": "Sin tema",
+	"timeline_bucket_show_more": "+ {count} cartas más",
+	"timeline_bucket_show_less": "Mostrar menos",
 	"timeline_provenance_derived": "derivado",
 	"timeline_provenance_curated": "curado",
 	"timeline_letter_glyph_label": "Carta",
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/generated/api.ts b/frontend/src/lib/generated/api.ts
index 33f9b3ab..e994e031 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/generated/api.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/generated/api.ts
@@ -2467,6 +2467,8 @@ export interface components {
             rootTagId?: string;
             rootTagName?: string;
             rootTagColor?: string;
+            /** Format: uuid */
+            linkedEventId?: string;
         };
         TimelineYearDTO: {
             /** Format: int32 */
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/messages.spec.ts b/frontend/src/lib/messages.spec.ts
index 155ae1a3..22f1527b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/messages.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/messages.spec.ts
@@ -133,4 +133,33 @@ describe('message key parity', () => {
 			expect(es, `missing key in es: ${key}`).toHaveProperty(key);
 		}
 	});
+
+	// #827 REQ-012: the grouping toggle + bucket strings are new Paraglide keys in
+	// every locale; the pre-existing timeline_grouping_date / timeline_tag_chip_label /
+	// timeline_filter_* set is reused, never re-added.
+	it('zeitstrahl grouping + bucket keys are present in all locales (#827 REQ-012)', () => {
+		const requiredKeys = [
+			'timeline_grouping_event',
+			'timeline_grouping_thema',
+			'timeline_grouping_aria_label',
+			'timeline_grouping_segment_date',
+			'timeline_grouping_segment_event',
+			'timeline_grouping_segment_thema',
+			'timeline_grouping_segment_date_short',
+			'timeline_grouping_segment_event_short',
+			'timeline_grouping_segment_thema_short',
+			'timeline_grouping_disabled_reason',
+			'timeline_grouping_multitag_hint',
+			'timeline_bucket_other_letters',
+			'timeline_bucket_no_topic'
+		];
+		for (const key of requiredKeys) {
+			expect(de, `missing key in de: ${key}`).toHaveProperty(key);
+			expect(en, `missing key in en: ${key}`).toHaveProperty(key);
+			expect(es, `missing key in es: ${key}`).toHaveProperty(key);
+		}
+		// the pre-existing meta-line + chip keys are reused by #827, not re-declared
+		expect(de).toHaveProperty('timeline_grouping_date');
+		expect(de).toHaveProperty('timeline_tag_chip_label');
+	});
 });
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/BucketHeaderChip.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/BucketHeaderChip.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c5bdeb98
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/BucketHeaderChip.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+import * as m from '$lib/paraglide/messages.js';
+
+/**
+ * The header chip of a Thema-mode root-tag bucket (#827, REQ-015): a *fully-tinted* chip whose
+ * fill and label both derive from the root tag's `--c-tag-*` colour token — distinct from the
+ * neutral per-letter {@link TagChip} (a surface pill with a tiny colour square). The label uses
+ * the saturated token as text over a subtle `color-mix` wash of the same token, so the ≥4.5:1
+ * label contrast holds in both light and dark themes. A `null` colour — or any value outside the
+ * known token set (the §2 `krieg`/`weih`/`fam` are demo class names, not tokens) — falls back to a
+ * neutral chip with no `var(--c-tag-)` reference, never a broken colour. The name is
+ * curator/import-derived and rendered through default `{...}` escaping, never the raw-HTML
+ * directive (REQ-009).
+ */
+const TAG_COLORS = new Set([
+	'sage',
+	'sienna',
+	'amber',
+	'slate',
+	'violet',
+	'rose',
+	'cobalt',
+	'moss',
+	'sand',
+	'coral'
+]);
+
+let { name, color }: { name: string; color: string | null } = $props();
+
+const token = $derived(color && TAG_COLORS.has(color) ? color : null);
+// The tint paints the chip's fill + dot only — never the label text. The saturated
+// --c-tag-* tokens used AS text over their own wash drop below WCAG AA 4.5:1 for the
+// light tokens (amber ≈3.0, sand ≈3.2, sage ≈3.4); a fixed dark ink keeps every token
+// legible while the 18% wash still reads as a genuinely tinted chip (REQ-015).
+const chipStyle = $derived(
+	token ? `background-color: color-mix(in srgb, var(--c-tag-${token}) 18%, transparent)` : ''
+);
+const dotStyle = $derived(token ? `background-color: var(--c-tag-${token})` : '');
+</script>
+
+<span
+	data-testid="bucket-header-chip"
+	title={name}
+	style={chipStyle}
+	class="inline-flex max-w-full items-center gap-1.5 rounded-full px-2.5 py-0.5 font-sans text-xs font-semibold"
+	class:border={!token}
+	class:border-line={!token}
+	class:bg-surface={!token}
+>
+	<span class="sr-only">{m.timeline_tag_chip_label()}: </span>
+	<span
+		data-testid="bucket-header-chip-dot"
+		aria-hidden="true"
+		style={dotStyle}
+		class="inline-block h-2 w-2 flex-shrink-0 rounded-sm"
+		class:bg-ink-3={!token}
+	></span>
+	<span
+		data-testid="bucket-header-chip-label"
+		style="overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; min-width: 0"
+		class:text-ink={token}
+		class:text-ink-3={!token}>{name}</span
+	>
+</span>
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/BucketHeaderChip.svelte.spec.ts b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/BucketHeaderChip.svelte.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..24a60ba4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/BucketHeaderChip.svelte.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, afterEach } from 'vitest';
+import { cleanup, render } from 'vitest-browser-svelte';
+import * as m from '$lib/paraglide/messages.js';
+import BucketHeaderChip from './BucketHeaderChip.svelte';
+
+afterEach(() => cleanup());
+
+describe('BucketHeaderChip (REQ-015/009)', () => {
+	it('renders the root-tag name', () => {
+		render(BucketHeaderChip, { name: 'Krieg', color: 'sienna' });
+		expect(document.body.textContent).toContain('Krieg');
+	});
+
+	it('tints the chip with var(--c-tag-{token}) for a known colour token (REQ-015)', () => {
+		render(BucketHeaderChip, { name: 'Krieg', color: 'sienna' });
+		const chip = document.querySelector('[data-testid="bucket-header-chip"]') as HTMLElement;
+		expect(chip.getAttribute('style')).toContain('var(--c-tag-sienna)');
+	});
+
+	it('renders a neutral chip with no --c-tag- binding when colour is null (REQ-015)', () => {
+		render(BucketHeaderChip, { name: 'Ohne Thema', color: null });
+		expect(document.body.textContent).toContain('Ohne Thema');
+		expect(document.body.innerHTML).not.toContain('var(--c-tag-');
+	});
+
+	it('falls back to neutral for an unknown colour token, never a broken var (REQ-015)', () => {
+		// "krieg" is a §2 demo class name, not a real --c-tag-* token.
+		render(BucketHeaderChip, { name: 'Krieg', color: 'krieg' });
+		expect(document.body.innerHTML).not.toContain('var(--c-tag-');
+	});
+
+	it('prefixes the name with an sr-only theme label so colour is never the only cue', () => {
+		render(BucketHeaderChip, { name: 'Krieg', color: 'sienna' });
+		const srOnly = document.querySelector('.sr-only');
+		expect(srOnly?.textContent).toContain(m.timeline_tag_chip_label());
+	});
+
+	it('renders an HTML-bearing name as inert text, never markup (REQ-009)', () => {
+		const evil = '<img src=x onerror="alert(1)">';
+		render(BucketHeaderChip, { name: evil, color: null });
+		expect(document.body.textContent).toContain(evil);
+		expect(document.querySelector('img')).toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('paints the label in a fixed ink colour, never the saturated tag token (contrast, REQ-015)', () => {
+		// A saturated --c-tag-* token used as TEXT over its own wash fails 4.5:1 for the
+		// light tokens (amber/sand/sage ≈ 3:1). The tint must go to the background + dot;
+		// the label keeps a guaranteed-contrast ink token.
+		render(BucketHeaderChip, { name: 'Weihnachten', color: 'amber' });
+		const chip = document.querySelector('[data-testid="bucket-header-chip"]') as HTMLElement;
+		expect(chip.getAttribute('style') ?? '').not.toContain('color: var(--c-tag-');
+		const label = document.querySelector('[data-testid="bucket-header-chip-label"]') as HTMLElement;
+		expect(label.className).toContain('text-ink');
+		// still genuinely tinted — the token paints the wash and the dot
+		expect(document.body.innerHTML).toContain('var(--c-tag-amber)');
+	});
+});
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/GroupingControl.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/GroupingControl.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..681c289d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/GroupingControl.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+import * as m from '$lib/paraglide/messages.js';
+import type { GroupingMode } from './timelineGrouping';
+
+/**
+ * The Datum·Ereignis·Thema segmented control (#827, REQ-010/011/018). An ARIA radiogroup with
+ * roving tabindex — single selection, arrow-key navigable — deliberately distinct from #780's
+ * `aria-pressed` layer-filter toggles. Defaults to Datum. Each segment is ≥44×44px, carries a
+ * text label (full word as `aria-label`, an abbreviated label shown ≤360px so the control never
+ * overflows at 320px), and uses semantic tokens so the selected/unselected contrast holds in dark
+ * mode. When `disabled` (the Letters layer is off, nothing to regroup) the control stays in place
+ * — no reflow — keeps its `aria-checked` selection so re-enabling restores the mode, and announces
+ * a screen-reader reason.
+ */
+let {
+	mode = $bindable('date'),
+	disabled = false,
+	ariaLabel = m.timeline_grouping_aria_label()
+}: { mode?: GroupingMode; disabled?: boolean; ariaLabel?: string } = $props();
+
+interface Segment {
+	value: GroupingMode;
+	full: string;
+	short: string;
+}
+
+const segments: Segment[] = [
+	{
+		value: 'date',
+		full: m.timeline_grouping_segment_date(),
+		short: m.timeline_grouping_segment_date_short()
+	},
+	{
+		value: 'event',
+		full: m.timeline_grouping_segment_event(),
+		short: m.timeline_grouping_segment_event_short()
+	},
+	{
+		value: 'thema',
+		full: m.timeline_grouping_segment_thema(),
+		short: m.timeline_grouping_segment_thema_short()
+	}
+];
+
+function select(value: GroupingMode) {
+	if (disabled) return;
+	mode = value;
+}
+
+function onKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent) {
+	if (disabled) return;
+	const forward = event.key === 'ArrowRight' || event.key === 'ArrowDown';
+	const backward = event.key === 'ArrowLeft' || event.key === 'ArrowUp';
+	if (!forward && !backward) return;
+	event.preventDefault();
+	const index = segments.findIndex((s) => s.value === mode);
+	const delta = forward ? 1 : -1;
+	const next = segments[(index + delta + segments.length) % segments.length];
+	mode = next.value;
+	const groupEl = event.currentTarget as HTMLElement;
+	groupEl.querySelector<HTMLElement>(`[data-value="${next.value}"]`)?.focus();
+}
+</script>
+
+<div
+	role="radiogroup"
+	tabindex="-1"
+	aria-label={ariaLabel}
+	aria-disabled={disabled}
+	data-testid="grouping-control"
+	class="inline-flex overflow-hidden rounded-md border border-line"
+	onkeydown={onKeydown}
+>
+	{#each segments as segment (segment.value)}
+		<button
+			type="button"
+			role="radio"
+			data-value={segment.value}
+			aria-label={segment.full}
+			aria-checked={mode === segment.value}
+			tabindex={mode === segment.value ? 0 : -1}
+			disabled={disabled}
+			onclick={() => select(segment.value)}
+			style="display: inline-flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; min-height: 44px; min-width: 44px"
+			class="px-3 py-2 font-sans text-xs font-semibold focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-brand-navy focus-visible:ring-inset"
+			class:bg-brand-navy={mode === segment.value && !disabled}
+			class:text-white={mode === segment.value && !disabled}
+			class:bg-surface={mode !== segment.value || disabled}
+			class:text-ink-3={mode !== segment.value || disabled}
+		>
+			<span class="seg-full">{segment.full}</span>
+			<span class="seg-short">{segment.short}</span>
+		</button>
+	{/each}
+</div>
+{#if disabled}
+	<span class="sr-only" role="status" data-testid="grouping-disabled-reason"
+		>{m.timeline_grouping_disabled_reason()}</span
+	>
+{/if}
+
+<style>
+.seg-short {
+	display: none;
+}
+@media (max-width: 360px) {
+	.seg-full {
+		display: none;
+	}
+	.seg-short {
+		display: inline;
+	}
+}
+</style>
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/GroupingControl.svelte.spec.ts b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/GroupingControl.svelte.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6516881d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/GroupingControl.svelte.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, afterEach } from 'vitest';
+import { cleanup, render } from 'vitest-browser-svelte';
+import { tick } from 'svelte';
+import * as m from '$lib/paraglide/messages.js';
+import GroupingControl from './GroupingControl.svelte';
+
+afterEach(() => cleanup());
+
+const radios = () => Array.from(document.querySelectorAll('[role="radio"]')) as HTMLElement[];
+const group = () => document.querySelector('[role="radiogroup"]') as HTMLElement;
+const checkedValue = () =>
+	radios()
+		.find((r) => r.getAttribute('aria-checked') === 'true')
+		?.getAttribute('data-value');
+
+describe('GroupingControl (REQ-010)', () => {
+	it('renders three radios inside a radiogroup, each with aria-checked (a)', () => {
+		render(GroupingControl, {});
+		expect(group()).not.toBeNull();
+		const r = radios();
+		expect(r).toHaveLength(3);
+		r.forEach((radio) => expect(radio.hasAttribute('aria-checked')).toBe(true));
+	});
+
+	it('defaults to Datum (f)', () => {
+		render(GroupingControl, {});
+		expect(radios().filter((r) => r.getAttribute('aria-checked') === 'true')).toHaveLength(1);
+		expect(checkedValue()).toBe('date');
+	});
+
+	it('exposes a text label on every segment, not colour alone (d)', () => {
+		render(GroupingControl, {});
+		radios().forEach((r) => expect((r.textContent ?? '').trim().length).toBeGreaterThan(0));
+	});
+
+	it('gives the radiogroup an accessible name (e)', () => {
+		render(GroupingControl, {});
+		expect(group().getAttribute('aria-label')).toBe(m.timeline_grouping_aria_label());
+	});
+
+	it('each segment has a tap target of at least 44×44px (c)', () => {
+		render(GroupingControl, {});
+		radios().forEach((r) => {
+			const rect = r.getBoundingClientRect();
+			expect(rect.width).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(44);
+			expect(rect.height).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(44);
+		});
+	});
+
+	it('exposes each segment full word as an aria-label (REQ-011)', () => {
+		render(GroupingControl, {});
+		const labels = radios().map((r) => r.getAttribute('aria-label'));
+		expect(labels).toEqual([
+			m.timeline_grouping_segment_date(),
+			m.timeline_grouping_segment_event(),
+			m.timeline_grouping_segment_thema()
+		]);
+	});
+
+	it('moves the selection forward with the right arrow key (b)', async () => {
+		render(GroupingControl, { mode: 'date' });
+		group().dispatchEvent(new KeyboardEvent('keydown', { key: 'ArrowRight', bubbles: true }));
+		await tick();
+		expect(checkedValue()).toBe('event');
+	});
+
+	it('wraps to the last segment with the left arrow from Datum (b)', async () => {
+		render(GroupingControl, { mode: 'date' });
+		group().dispatchEvent(new KeyboardEvent('keydown', { key: 'ArrowLeft', bubbles: true }));
+		await tick();
+		expect(checkedValue()).toBe('thema');
+	});
+
+	it('selects a segment on click', async () => {
+		render(GroupingControl, { mode: 'date' });
+		const thema = radios().find((r) => r.getAttribute('data-value') === 'thema')!;
+		thema.click();
+		await tick();
+		expect(thema.getAttribute('aria-checked')).toBe('true');
+	});
+});
+
+describe('GroupingControl — disabled (REQ-018)', () => {
+	it('marks the radiogroup aria-disabled and keeps all radios in the DOM', () => {
+		render(GroupingControl, { mode: 'event', disabled: true });
+		expect(group().getAttribute('aria-disabled')).toBe('true');
+		expect(radios()).toHaveLength(3);
+	});
+
+	it('announces a screen-reader reason that letters are hidden', () => {
+		render(GroupingControl, { disabled: true });
+		const reason = document.querySelector('[data-testid="grouping-disabled-reason"]');
+		expect(reason?.textContent).toContain(m.timeline_grouping_disabled_reason());
+	});
+
+	it('retains the active mode while disabled (no reset to Datum)', () => {
+		render(GroupingControl, { mode: 'thema', disabled: true });
+		expect(checkedValue()).toBe('thema');
+	});
+
+	it('ignores arrow keys while disabled', () => {
+		render(GroupingControl, { mode: 'event', disabled: true });
+		group().dispatchEvent(new KeyboardEvent('keydown', { key: 'ArrowRight', bubbles: true }));
+		expect(checkedValue()).toBe('event');
+	});
+});
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterBucket.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterBucket.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0c86c43c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterBucket.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,195 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+import * as m from '$lib/paraglide/messages.js';
+import LetterCard from './LetterCard.svelte';
+import BucketHeaderChip from './BucketHeaderChip.svelte';
+import { entryKey } from './entryKey';
+import { getAccentConfig } from './eventCardConfig';
+import { timelineDateLabel } from './dateLabel';
+import { CLUSTER_PREVIEW, tagColorVar, type LetterBucket } from './timelineGrouping';
+import type { components } from '$lib/generated/api';
+
+type TimelineEntryDTO = components['schemas']['TimelineEntryDTO'];
+
+/**
+ * One cluster of loose letters, bound together by a coloured left rail so the group reads as a
+ * unit (#827). The axis-fixed world-band layer is rendered elsewhere — this is only the
+ * loose-letter bundling.
+ *
+ * - Thema: a tinted root-tag header chip + a rail in the tag colour, over compact cards whose own
+ *   tag chip is suppressed (REQ-004/015/017).
+ * - Ereignis: a same-year curated `event` becomes the card header (glyph, title, date,
+ *   provenance, edit pencil) so its title reads once — no separate floating pill (#827 redesign,
+ *   REQ-001/014). A cross-year cluster keeps a plain text header. The standalone "Weitere Briefe"
+ *   / "Ohne Thema" fallback keeps its label and a neutral dashed rail (REQ-006/007).
+ *
+ * A cluster shows its first `CLUSTER_PREVIEW` letters, then a show-more toggle reveals the rest
+ * instead of flooding the timeline with every card (#827 redesign).
+ */
+let {
+	bucket,
+	mode,
+	// `year` is the band's year — accepted for the cross-year label card seam (#827) but no
+	// longer consumed here now the in-bucket month-density strip is gone (the year frames the
+	// time from the band heading). Kept in the prop contract for callers/tests.
+	// eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-unused-vars
+	year = 0,
+	nested = false,
+	event = undefined,
+	canWrite = false
+}: {
+	bucket: LetterBucket;
+	mode: 'event' | 'thema';
+	year?: number;
+	nested?: boolean;
+	/** The same-year curated event whose letters this card holds — renders as the header. */
+	event?: TimelineEntryDTO;
+	canWrite?: boolean;
+} = $props();
+
+const count = $derived(bucket.letters.length);
+const fallbackLabel = $derived(
+	mode === 'event' ? m.timeline_bucket_other_letters() : m.timeline_bucket_no_topic()
+);
+
+// Event-as-header (#827 redesign): a same-year curated event renders as this card's header,
+// mirroring EventPill — glyph + title + date · provenance + an edit pencil for a curator. The
+// title is never repeated as a separate floating pill.
+const accent = $derived(event ? getAccentConfig(event) : null);
+const eventDateLabel = $derived(
+	event ? timelineDateLabel(event.eventDate, event.precision, event.eventDateEnd) : null
+);
+const provenance = $derived(
+	event?.derived ? m.timeline_provenance_derived() : m.timeline_provenance_curated()
+);
+const eventSubtitle = $derived(eventDateLabel ? `${eventDateLabel} · ${provenance}` : provenance);
+const canEdit = $derived(canWrite && !!event && !event.derived && event.eventId != null);
+// The left rail binds the cluster: the tag colour in Thema, mint for an Ereignis cluster,
+// neutral for the fallback (and for a colourless/unknown tag token).
+const railColor = $derived(bucket.kind === 'tag' ? tagColorVar(bucket.color) : null);
+const railStyle = $derived(railColor ? `border-left-color: ${railColor}` : '');
+const isEventCluster = $derived(nested || bucket.kind === 'event');
+const cardVariant = $derived(mode === 'event' && isEventCluster ? 'event' : 'plain');
+
+// First-5 preview + show-more (#827 redesign): a large cluster stays readable instead of
+// dumping every card into the timeline.
+let expanded = $state(false);
+const visible = $derived(expanded ? bucket.letters : bucket.letters.slice(0, CLUSTER_PREVIEW));
+const hiddenCount = $derived(bucket.letters.length - CLUSTER_PREVIEW);
+
+// The catch-all "Weitere Briefe" / "Ohne Thema" bin is a junk drawer: render it count-only
+// behind a reveal control so it never floods the timeline; every other cluster starts open
+// (#827 redesign). The view re-creates a bucket per `{#each}` key, so the initial capture is
+// the right lifetime — `revealed` belongs to this bucket instance.
+const isDrawer = $derived(bucket.kind === 'fallback');
+// svelte-ignore state_referenced_locally
+let revealed = $state(bucket.kind !== 'fallback');
+</script>
+
+<section
+	class="my-3 overflow-hidden rounded-md border border-l-2 border-line bg-surface shadow-sm"
+	class:border-l-brand-mint={isEventCluster}
+	class:border-dashed={isDrawer}
+	style={railStyle}
+	data-testid="letter-bucket"
+	data-bucket-kind={bucket.kind}
+>
+	{#if !nested}
+		{#if event && accent}
+			<!-- A same-year curated event IS the card header — its title reads once here, never
+			     also as a floating pill (#827 redesign, REQ-001/014). Glyph is aria-hidden with an
+			     sr-only label sibling (REQ-018); the edit pencil mirrors EventPill's gate. -->
+			<header
+				data-testid="bucket-event-header"
+				class="flex items-center gap-2 border-b border-line bg-canvas px-3 py-2"
+			>
+				<span
+					class="flex h-7 w-7 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full {accent.accent ===
+					'curated'
+						? 'bg-brand-mint text-brand-navy'
+						: 'bg-brand-navy text-brand-mint'}"
+				>
+					<span aria-hidden="true">{accent.glyph}</span>
+					<span class="sr-only">{accent.label}</span>
+				</span>
+				<span class="min-w-0 text-left">
+					<span class="block font-serif text-sm font-bold whitespace-pre-line text-brand-navy"
+						>{event.title}</span
+					>
+					<span class="block font-sans text-xs text-ink-3">
+						{eventSubtitle} <span data-testid="bucket-count">· {count}</span>
+					</span>
+				</span>
+				{#if canEdit}
+					<a
+						data-testid="event-edit"
+						href="/zeitstrahl/events/{event.eventId}/edit"
+						class="ml-auto rounded-sm px-1 font-sans text-xs text-ink-3 hover:text-brand-navy focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-brand-navy"
+					>
+						<span aria-hidden="true">✎</span>
+						<span class="sr-only">{m.btn_edit()}</span>
+					</a>
+				{/if}
+			</header>
+		{:else}
+			<header
+				class="flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-2"
+				class:bg-canvas={isEventCluster}
+				class:border-b={!isDrawer}
+				class:border-line={!isDrawer}
+			>
+				{#if mode === 'thema' && bucket.kind === 'tag'}
+					<BucketHeaderChip name={bucket.title ?? ''} color={bucket.color} />
+				{:else if mode === 'event' && bucket.kind === 'event'}
+					<span class="font-serif text-sm font-bold text-ink">
+						<span aria-hidden="true">✉</span>
+						{bucket.title}
+					</span>
+				{:else}
+					<span class="font-sans text-xs font-semibold text-ink-3">{fallbackLabel}</span>
+				{/if}
+				<span data-testid="bucket-count" class="font-sans text-xs text-ink-3">· {count}</span>
+			</header>
+		{/if}
+	{/if}
+
+	<div class="px-3 py-2">
+		{#if !revealed}
+			<button
+				type="button"
+				data-testid="bucket-reveal"
+				onclick={() => (revealed = true)}
+				style="display: inline-flex; align-items: center; min-height: 44px"
+				class="px-1 font-sans text-xs font-semibold text-brand-navy hover:underline focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-brand-navy"
+			>
+				{m.timeline_bucket_show_more({ count: bucket.letters.length })}
+			</button>
+		{:else}
+			<ul class="space-y-1.5">
+				{#each visible as letter (entryKey(letter))}
+					<li>
+						<LetterCard
+							entry={letter}
+							variant={cardVariant}
+							suppressTagChip={mode === 'thema'}
+							compact={true}
+						/>
+					</li>
+				{/each}
+			</ul>
+			{#if hiddenCount > 0}
+				<button
+					type="button"
+					data-testid="bucket-show-more"
+					aria-expanded={expanded}
+					onclick={() => (expanded = !expanded)}
+					style="display: inline-flex; align-items: center; min-height: 44px"
+					class="mt-1 px-1 font-sans text-xs font-semibold text-brand-navy hover:underline focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-brand-navy"
+				>
+					{expanded
+						? m.timeline_bucket_show_less()
+						: m.timeline_bucket_show_more({ count: hiddenCount })}
+				</button>
+			{/if}
+		{/if}
+	</div>
+</section>
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterBucket.svelte.spec.ts b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterBucket.svelte.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..326a4683
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterBucket.svelte.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,232 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, afterEach } from 'vitest';
+import { cleanup, render } from 'vitest-browser-svelte';
+import { tick } from 'svelte';
+import * as m from '$lib/paraglide/messages.js';
+import LetterBucket from './LetterBucket.svelte';
+import { makeEntry } from './test-factories';
+import type { LetterBucket as Bucket } from './timelineGrouping';
+
+afterEach(() => cleanup());
+
+const eventBucket: Bucket = {
+	key: 'event:e1',
+	kind: 'event',
+	title: 'Briefe von der Front',
+	color: null,
+	letters: [makeEntry({ documentId: 'a' }), makeEntry({ documentId: 'b' })]
+};
+
+const tagBucket: Bucket = {
+	key: 'tag:t1',
+	kind: 'tag',
+	title: 'Krieg',
+	color: 'sienna',
+	letters: [makeEntry({ documentId: 'c', rootTagName: 'Krieg', rootTagColor: 'sienna' })]
+};
+
+describe('LetterBucket — Ereignis mode (REQ-003/006/014)', () => {
+	it('shows the event title and the cluster count', () => {
+		render(LetterBucket, { bucket: eventBucket, mode: 'event' });
+		expect(document.body.textContent).toContain('Briefe von der Front');
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="bucket-count"]')?.textContent).toContain('2');
+	});
+
+	it('renders its letters as .lcard.ev event cards (REQ-014)', () => {
+		render(LetterBucket, { bucket: eventBucket, mode: 'event' });
+		expect(document.querySelectorAll('a.lcard.ev')).toHaveLength(2);
+	});
+
+	it('uses the localized "Weitere Briefe" label and plain cards for the fallback bucket (REQ-006)', () => {
+		const fb: Bucket = {
+			key: '__fallback__',
+			kind: 'fallback',
+			color: null,
+			letters: [makeEntry({ documentId: 'x' })]
+		};
+		render(LetterBucket, { bucket: fb, mode: 'event' });
+		expect(document.body.textContent).toContain(m.timeline_bucket_other_letters());
+		// fallback letters are not clustered under a curated event → plain card, never .lcard.ev
+		expect(document.querySelector('a.ev')).toBeNull();
+	});
+});
+
+describe('LetterBucket — Thema mode (REQ-004/007/015/017)', () => {
+	it('renders a tinted bucket-header chip carrying the root-tag name (REQ-015)', () => {
+		render(LetterBucket, { bucket: tagBucket, mode: 'thema' });
+		const chip = document.querySelector('[data-testid="bucket-header-chip"]');
+		expect(chip?.textContent).toContain('Krieg');
+	});
+
+	it('suppresses the per-letter tag chip inside its own root-tag bucket (REQ-017)', () => {
+		render(LetterBucket, { bucket: tagBucket, mode: 'thema' });
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="tag-chip"]')).toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('uses the localized "Ohne Thema" label for the untagged fallback bucket (REQ-007)', () => {
+		const fb: Bucket = {
+			key: '__fallback__',
+			kind: 'fallback',
+			color: null,
+			letters: [makeEntry({ documentId: 'y', rootTagName: undefined })]
+		};
+		render(LetterBucket, { bucket: fb, mode: 'thema' });
+		expect(document.body.textContent).toContain(m.timeline_bucket_no_topic());
+	});
+});
+
+const manyLetters = (n: number) =>
+	Array.from({ length: n }, (_, i) =>
+		makeEntry({ documentId: `d${i}`, eventDate: `1916-0${(i % 9) + 1}-01` })
+	);
+
+describe('LetterBucket — preview cap + show-more (#827 redesign)', () => {
+	it('shows only the first 5 letters with a show-more toggle when the cluster is larger', () => {
+		const bucket: Bucket = {
+			key: 'tag:t1',
+			kind: 'tag',
+			title: 'Krieg',
+			color: 'sienna',
+			letters: manyLetters(8)
+		};
+		render(LetterBucket, { bucket, mode: 'thema', year: 1916 });
+		expect(document.querySelectorAll('a.lcard')).toHaveLength(5);
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="bucket-show-more"]')).not.toBeNull();
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="strip-expand"]')).toBeNull(); // sparkline gone
+	});
+
+	it('expands to all letters and collapses back on toggle', async () => {
+		const bucket: Bucket = {
+			key: 'tag:t1',
+			kind: 'tag',
+			title: 'Krieg',
+			color: 'sienna',
+			letters: manyLetters(8)
+		};
+		render(LetterBucket, { bucket, mode: 'thema', year: 1916 });
+		(document.querySelector('[data-testid="bucket-show-more"]') as HTMLButtonElement).click();
+		await tick();
+		expect(document.querySelectorAll('a.lcard')).toHaveLength(8);
+		(document.querySelector('[data-testid="bucket-show-more"]') as HTMLButtonElement).click();
+		await tick();
+		expect(document.querySelectorAll('a.lcard')).toHaveLength(5);
+	});
+
+	it('shows all letters and no toggle for a small cluster (<= 5)', () => {
+		const bucket: Bucket = {
+			key: 'tag:t1',
+			kind: 'tag',
+			title: 'Tod',
+			color: null,
+			letters: manyLetters(3)
+		};
+		render(LetterBucket, { bucket, mode: 'thema', year: 1916 });
+		expect(document.querySelectorAll('a.lcard')).toHaveLength(3);
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="bucket-show-more"]')).toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('binds a tag bucket together with a coloured left rail from its token', () => {
+		const bucket: Bucket = {
+			key: 'tag:t1',
+			kind: 'tag',
+			title: 'Krieg',
+			color: 'sienna',
+			letters: manyLetters(1)
+		};
+		render(LetterBucket, { bucket, mode: 'thema', year: 1916 });
+		const section = document.querySelector('[data-testid="letter-bucket"]') as HTMLElement;
+		expect(section.getAttribute('style') ?? '').toContain('var(--c-tag-sienna)');
+	});
+});
+
+describe('LetterBucket — leftover drawer (#827 redesign)', () => {
+	const fb = (n: number): Bucket => ({
+		key: '__fallback__',
+		kind: 'fallback',
+		color: null,
+		letters: Array.from({ length: n }, (_, i) =>
+			makeEntry({ documentId: `f${i}`, eventDate: `1916-01-0${(i % 9) + 1}` })
+		)
+	});
+	it('renders collapsed — count + reveal, no letter cards — until opened', () => {
+		render(LetterBucket, { bucket: fb(20), mode: 'event', year: 1916 });
+		expect(document.querySelector('a.lcard')).toBeNull();
+		expect(document.body.textContent).toContain(m.timeline_bucket_other_letters());
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="bucket-reveal"]')).not.toBeNull();
+	});
+	it('reveals the first 5 letters when opened', async () => {
+		render(LetterBucket, { bucket: fb(20), mode: 'event', year: 1916 });
+		(document.querySelector('[data-testid="bucket-reveal"]') as HTMLButtonElement).click();
+		await tick();
+		expect(document.querySelectorAll('a.lcard')).toHaveLength(5);
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="bucket-show-more"]')).not.toBeNull();
+	});
+});
+
+describe('LetterBucket — card chrome (#827 redesign)', () => {
+	it('renders the cluster as a contained card (bordered, rounded, surface)', () => {
+		const bucket: Bucket = {
+			key: 'tag:t1',
+			kind: 'tag',
+			title: 'Krieg',
+			color: 'sienna',
+			letters: [makeEntry({ documentId: 'a' })]
+		};
+		render(LetterBucket, { bucket, mode: 'thema', year: 1916 });
+		const card = document.querySelector('[data-testid="letter-bucket"]') as HTMLElement;
+		expect(card.className).toMatch(/\brounded\b|rounded-/);
+		expect(card.className).toContain('border');
+		expect(card.className).toContain('bg-surface');
+	});
+});
+
+describe('LetterBucket — event-as-header (#827 redesign)', () => {
+	it('renders the curated event as the card header when given an `event` (no separate pill)', () => {
+		const event = makeEntry({
+			kind: 'EVENT',
+			type: 'PERSONAL',
+			derived: false,
+			eventId: 'e1',
+			title: 'Ein gewaltiger Stadtbrand',
+			eventDate: '1916-07-06',
+			senderName: '',
+			receiverName: '',
+			documentId: undefined
+		});
+		const bucket: Bucket = {
+			key: 'event:e1',
+			kind: 'event',
+			title: 'Ein gewaltiger Stadtbrand',
+			color: null,
+			letters: [makeEntry({ documentId: 'a', linkedEventId: 'e1' })]
+		};
+		render(LetterBucket, { bucket, mode: 'event', year: 1916, event, canWrite: true });
+		const header = document.querySelector('[data-testid="bucket-event-header"]') as HTMLElement;
+		expect(header.textContent).toContain('Ein gewaltiger Stadtbrand');
+		expect(header.textContent).toContain(m.timeline_provenance_curated());
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="event-edit"]')?.getAttribute('href')).toBe(
+			'/zeitstrahl/events/e1/edit'
+		);
+	});
+
+	it('shows no edit affordance in the header when canWrite is false', () => {
+		const event = makeEntry({
+			kind: 'EVENT',
+			type: 'PERSONAL',
+			derived: false,
+			eventId: 'e1',
+			title: 'X',
+			senderName: '',
+			receiverName: '',
+			documentId: undefined
+		});
+		const bucket: Bucket = {
+			key: 'event:e1',
+			kind: 'event',
+			title: 'X',
+			color: null,
+			letters: [makeEntry({ documentId: 'a' })]
+		};
+		render(LetterBucket, { bucket, mode: 'event', year: 1916, event, canWrite: false });
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="event-edit"]')).toBeNull();
+	});
+});
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterCard.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterCard.svelte
index 593156fc..df586f79 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterCard.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterCard.svelte
@@ -12,10 +12,30 @@ type TimelineEntryDTO = components['schemas']['TimelineEntryDTO'];
  * precision-aware date chip, linking to the document. Names/titles are
  * OCR/import-derived — rendered via default `{...}` escaping with
  * `whitespace-pre-line` for line breaks (REQ-021); never the raw-HTML directive.
+ *
+ * In Ereignis mode the card sits inside an event cluster and renders as the
+ * `.lcard.ev` variant (#827, REQ-014). In Thema mode the per-letter tag chip is
+ * suppressed inside its own root-tag bucket, where the bucket header already
+ * carries the topic (`suppressTagChip`, REQ-017).
  */
-let { entry }: { entry: TimelineEntryDTO } = $props();
+let {
+	entry,
+	variant = 'plain',
+	suppressTagChip = false,
+	compact = false
+}: {
+	entry: TimelineEntryDTO;
+	variant?: 'plain' | 'event';
+	suppressTagChip?: boolean;
+	compact?: boolean;
+} = $props();
 
+const isEventVariant = $derived(variant === 'event');
 const dateLabel = $derived(timelineDateLabel(entry.eventDate, entry.precision, entry.eventDateEnd));
+// Inside a per-year bucket the year frames the time, and these archive titles already
+// embed the date — so the compact in-bucket card drops the redundant date chip when a
+// title is present, halving the row height and killing the duplicate date (#827).
+const showDate = $derived(!compact || !entry.title);
 const sender = $derived(entry.senderName === '' ? m.timeline_unknown_person() : entry.senderName);
 const receiver = $derived(
 	entry.receiverName === '' ? m.timeline_unknown_person() : entry.receiverName
@@ -28,28 +48,37 @@ const receiver = $derived(
 <a
 	href="/documents/{entry.documentId}"
 	style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; justify-content: center; min-height: 44px"
-	class="rounded-sm border border-l-[3px] border-line border-l-brand-mint bg-surface px-3 py-2 shadow-sm transition-colors hover:border-brand-mint focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-brand-navy"
+	class="lcard rounded-sm border border-l-[3px] border-line border-l-brand-mint bg-surface px-3 shadow-sm transition-colors hover:border-brand-mint focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-brand-navy"
+	class:py-2={!compact}
+	class:py-1={compact}
+	class:ev={isEventVariant}
+	class:compact={compact}
 >
 	{#if entry.title}
 		<!-- ✉ + sr-only label are static chrome rendered as sibling nodes, NEVER
 		     interpolated into the escaped user title; the title keeps its own
 		     pre-line span for multi-line OCR text (REQ-008/016/021). -->
-		<span class="font-serif text-sm font-bold break-words text-ink">
+		<span
+			class="font-serif font-bold break-words text-ink"
+			class:text-sm={!compact}
+			class:text-xs={compact}
+		>
 			<GlyphLabel glyph="✉" label={m.timeline_letter_glyph_label()} />
 			<span class="whitespace-pre-line">{entry.title}</span>
 		</span>
 	{/if}
-	<span class="mt-0.5 font-sans text-xs break-words text-ink-3">
+	<span class="font-sans text-xs break-words text-ink-3" class:mt-0.5={!compact}>
 		<span class="font-serif whitespace-pre-line">{sender}</span>
 		<span aria-hidden="true">→</span>
 		<span class="font-serif whitespace-pre-line">{receiver}</span>
-		{#if dateLabel}
+		{#if dateLabel && showDate}
 			<span data-testid="letter-date"> · {dateLabel}</span>
 		{/if}
 	</span>
-	{#if entry.rootTagName}
+	{#if entry.rootTagName && !suppressTagChip}
 		<!-- The primary root-tag chip sits on its own line beneath the meta line
-		     (#835 §3); absent when the letter has no tag (REQ-005). -->
+		     (#835 §3); absent when the letter has no tag (REQ-005), and suppressed in
+		     Thema mode inside its own root-tag bucket where the header conveys it (REQ-017). -->
 		<TagChip name={entry.rootTagName} color={entry.rootTagColor ?? null} />
 	{/if}
 </a>
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterCard.svelte.spec.ts b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterCard.svelte.spec.ts
index b60c0f5f..7821ff7e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterCard.svelte.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/LetterCard.svelte.spec.ts
@@ -127,3 +127,46 @@ describe('LetterCard', () => {
 		expect(chip?.textContent).toContain('Familie');
 	});
 });
+
+describe('LetterCard — grouping variants (#827, REQ-014/017)', () => {
+	it('carries the .lcard.ev class in the event variant (REQ-014)', () => {
+		render(LetterCard, { entry: makeEntry(), variant: 'event' });
+		expect(document.querySelector('a.lcard.ev')).not.toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('is a plain card with no .ev marker by default (REQ-014)', () => {
+		render(LetterCard, { entry: makeEntry() });
+		expect(document.querySelector('a.ev')).toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('suppresses the per-letter tag chip when asked, even with a root tag (REQ-017)', () => {
+		render(LetterCard, {
+			entry: makeEntry({ rootTagName: 'Krieg', rootTagColor: 'sienna' }),
+			suppressTagChip: true
+		});
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="tag-chip"]')).toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('still shows the per-letter tag chip when not suppressed — Datum/Ereignis (REQ-017)', () => {
+		render(LetterCard, { entry: makeEntry({ rootTagName: 'Krieg', rootTagColor: 'sienna' }) });
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="tag-chip"]')).not.toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('drops the redundant date line in the compact variant when a title is present (#827)', () => {
+		// Inside a per-year bucket the year already frames the time, and these archive
+		// titles embed the date — so the compact in-bucket card omits the date chip.
+		render(LetterCard, { entry: makeEntry({ title: 'H-0023 – 6. Juli 1916' }), compact: true });
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="letter-date"]')).toBeNull();
+		expect(document.body.textContent).toContain('Karl Raddatz'); // sender still shown
+	});
+
+	it('keeps the date in the compact variant when the letter has no title (#827)', () => {
+		render(LetterCard, { entry: makeEntry({ title: undefined }), compact: true });
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="letter-date"]')).not.toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('renders the compact variant on a single tighter row (#827)', () => {
+		render(LetterCard, { entry: makeEntry(), compact: true });
+		expect(document.querySelector('a.lcard.compact')).not.toBeNull();
+	});
+});
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/TimelineView.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/TimelineView.svelte
index c3008e90..aac64896 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/TimelineView.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/TimelineView.svelte
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import LetterCard from './LetterCard.svelte';
 import EventPill from './EventPill.svelte';
 import WorldBand from './WorldBand.svelte';
 import { entryKey } from './entryKey';
+import { buildEventLookup, type GroupingMode } from './timelineGrouping';
 import type { components } from '$lib/generated/api';
 
 type TimelineDTO = components['schemas']['TimelineDTO'];
@@ -18,12 +19,28 @@ type TimelineYearDTO = components['schemas']['TimelineYearDTO'];
  * empty timeline shows a calm message (REQ-017). `personId` is a declared seam
  * for the per-person rail (issue #10) and is undefined here; it is not passed to
  * leaf cards (REQ-025). Owns no <main> — the layout does.
+ *
+ * `groupingMode` (#827) flows down to each YearBand to re-bundle its loose letters;
+ * the event lookup — the curated events present in this (already layer-filtered)
+ * view — is resolved once here so Ereignis clusters never reference a filtered-out
+ * event (filter-then-group, REQ-019). The undated bucket renders unchanged in every
+ * mode (its letters have no year, so the per-year bucketing does not apply).
  */
 let {
 	timeline,
 	personId = undefined,
-	canWrite = false
-}: { timeline: TimelineDTO; personId?: string; canWrite?: boolean } = $props();
+	canWrite = false,
+	groupingMode = 'date'
+}: {
+	timeline: TimelineDTO;
+	personId?: string;
+	canWrite?: boolean;
+	groupingMode?: GroupingMode;
+} = $props();
+
+const eventLookup = $derived(
+	groupingMode === 'date' ? new Map<string, string>() : buildEventLookup(timeline)
+);
 
 type Row = { t: 'band'; year: TimelineYearDTO } | { t: 'gap'; from: number; to: number };
 
@@ -54,7 +71,12 @@ const isEmpty = $derived(timeline.years.length === 0 && timeline.undated.length
 		{#each rows as row (row.t === 'band' ? `band-${row.year.year}` : `gap-${row.from}`)}
 			<li>
 				{#if row.t === 'band'}
-					<YearBand year={row.year} canWrite={canWrite} />
+					<YearBand
+						year={row.year}
+						canWrite={canWrite}
+						groupingMode={groupingMode}
+						eventLookup={eventLookup}
+					/>
 				{:else}
 					<GapSpan from={row.from} to={row.to} />
 				{/if}
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte
index fafa0b4c..f643885b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte
@@ -3,8 +3,14 @@ import EventPill from './EventPill.svelte';
 import WorldBand from './WorldBand.svelte';
 import LetterCard from './LetterCard.svelte';
 import YearLetterStrip from './YearLetterStrip.svelte';
+import LetterBucket from './LetterBucket.svelte';
 import { isDense } from './timelineDensity';
 import { entryKey } from './entryKey';
+import {
+	bucketLetters,
+	type GroupingMode,
+	type LetterBucket as LetterBucketModel
+} from './timelineGrouping';
 import type { components } from '$lib/generated/api';
 
 type TimelineYearDTO = components['schemas']['TimelineYearDTO'];
@@ -15,19 +21,80 @@ type TimelineEntryDTO = components['schemas']['TimelineEntryDTO'];
  * render in DTO order as pills/bands; letters render as individual cards while
  * the band holds ≤ 12 (REQ-011) or collapse to a single density strip above that
  * (REQ-012). Entries are never re-sorted — DTO order is preserved (REQ-003).
+ *
+ * In Ereignis/Thema mode (#827) the event pills/world-bands render identically
+ * (REQ-001); only the loose letters re-bundle into per-year buckets below them
+ * (REQ-002/003/004). Datum mode is the original individual-card / density-strip
+ * path, untouched.
  */
-let { year, canWrite = false }: { year: TimelineYearDTO; canWrite?: boolean } = $props();
+let {
+	year,
+	canWrite = false,
+	groupingMode = 'date',
+	eventLookup = new Map<string, string>()
+}: {
+	year: TimelineYearDTO;
+	canWrite?: boolean;
+	groupingMode?: GroupingMode;
+	eventLookup?: Map<string, string>;
+} = $props();
 
 type Row =
 	| { t: 'event'; entry: TimelineEntryDTO }
+	| { t: 'eventcard'; entry: TimelineEntryDTO; bucket: LetterBucketModel }
 	| { t: 'letter'; entry: TimelineEntryDTO; side: 'left' | 'right' }
-	| { t: 'strip' };
+	| { t: 'strip' }
+	| { t: 'bucket'; bucket: LetterBucketModel; nested: boolean };
 
 const letters = $derived(year.entries.filter((e) => e.kind === 'LETTER'));
 const dense = $derived(isDense(letters.length));
+const bucketMode = $derived(groupingMode === 'thema' ? 'thema' : 'event');
 
 const rows = $derived.by<Row[]>(() => {
 	const out: Row[] = [];
+
+	// Ereignis: events stay on the axis (REQ-001). A curated event WITH letters in this band
+	// becomes the contained card's header (no separate pill — its title reads once, #827
+	// redesign); a letterless/derived/world event stays a plain pill/band. A cluster whose event
+	// lives in another year band (or was filtered out) renders as a text-header card here, and
+	// the unlinked letters fall to the single "Weitere Briefe" drawer (REQ-003/006/019).
+	if (groupingMode === 'event') {
+		const buckets = bucketLetters(letters, 'event', eventLookup);
+		const sameYearBucket = (id: string | undefined) =>
+			id ? buckets.find((b) => b.kind === 'event' && b.key === `event:${id}`) : undefined;
+		for (const entry of year.entries) {
+			if (entry.kind !== 'EVENT') continue;
+			const bucket = sameYearBucket(entry.eventId);
+			// A curated event with same-year letters becomes the card header (card replaces pill);
+			// otherwise it stays a plain pill/world-band.
+			if (bucket) out.push({ t: 'eventcard', entry, bucket });
+			else out.push({ t: 'event', entry });
+		}
+		// Cross-year clusters (no matching event entry in this band) and the fallback drawer
+		// render after the axis entries, with their own text header.
+		for (const bucket of buckets) {
+			if (
+				bucket.kind === 'fallback' ||
+				!year.entries.some((e) => e.kind === 'EVENT' && `event:${e.eventId}` === bucket.key)
+			) {
+				out.push({ t: 'bucket', bucket, nested: false });
+			}
+		}
+		return out;
+	}
+
+	// Thema: events stay on the axis (REQ-001); loose letters re-bundle into per-year root-tag
+	// buckets below them (REQ-004) — no axis pill exists for a tag, so every bucket keeps a header.
+	if (groupingMode === 'thema') {
+		for (const entry of year.entries) {
+			if (entry.kind === 'EVENT') out.push({ t: 'event', entry });
+		}
+		for (const bucket of bucketLetters(letters, 'thema', eventLookup)) {
+			out.push({ t: 'bucket', bucket, nested: false });
+		}
+		return out;
+	}
+
 	let stripInserted = false;
 	let letterIndex = 0;
 	for (const entry of year.entries) {
@@ -43,6 +110,12 @@ const rows = $derived.by<Row[]>(() => {
 	}
 	return out;
 });
+
+function rowKey(row: Row): string {
+	if (row.t === 'strip') return `strip-${year.year}`;
+	if (row.t === 'bucket') return row.bucket.key;
+	return entryKey(row.entry);
+}
 </script>
 
 <section class="py-2">
@@ -56,18 +129,28 @@ const rows = $derived.by<Row[]>(() => {
 	</h2>
 
 	<div class="mt-3 space-y-3">
-		{#each rows as row (row.t === 'strip' ? `strip-${year.year}` : entryKey(row.entry))}
+		{#each rows as row (rowKey(row))}
 			{#if row.t === 'event'}
 				{#if row.entry.type === 'HISTORICAL'}
 					<WorldBand entry={row.entry} canWrite={canWrite} />
 				{:else}
 					<EventPill entry={row.entry} canWrite={canWrite} />
 				{/if}
+			{:else if row.t === 'eventcard'}
+				<LetterBucket
+					bucket={row.bucket}
+					mode="event"
+					year={year.year}
+					event={row.entry}
+					canWrite={canWrite}
+				/>
 			{: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 if row.t === 'bucket'}
+				<LetterBucket bucket={row.bucket} mode={bucketMode} year={year.year} nested={row.nested} />
 			{:else}
 				<YearLetterStrip letters={letters} year={year.year} />
 			{/if}
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte.spec.ts b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte.spec.ts
index 45845080..c8fdae0f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/YearBand.svelte.spec.ts
@@ -165,3 +165,100 @@ describe('YearBand', () => {
 		}
 	});
 });
+
+describe('YearBand — grouping modes (#827)', () => {
+	it('keeps individual letter cards and no buckets in Datum mode (default)', () => {
+		render(YearBand, { year: makeYear(1915, manyLetters(1915, 3)) });
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="letter-bucket"]')).toBeNull();
+		expect(document.querySelectorAll('a')).toHaveLength(3);
+	});
+
+	it('clusters loose letters under their linked event in Ereignis mode (REQ-002/003)', () => {
+		const a = makeEntry({ documentId: 'a', linkedEventId: 'e1', eventDate: '1915-03-01' });
+		const b = makeEntry({ documentId: 'b', linkedEventId: 'e1', eventDate: '1915-04-01' });
+		render(YearBand, {
+			year: makeYear(1915, [a, b]),
+			groupingMode: 'event',
+			eventLookup: new Map([['e1', 'Briefe von der Front']])
+		});
+		expect(document.querySelectorAll('[data-testid="letter-bucket"]')).toHaveLength(1);
+		expect(document.body.textContent).toContain('Briefe von der Front');
+		// no alternating individual letter rows in grouped mode
+		expect(document.querySelector('.letter-row')).toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('still renders the event world-band in Ereignis mode (REQ-001)', () => {
+		const band = makeEntry({
+			kind: 'EVENT',
+			type: 'HISTORICAL',
+			precision: 'RANGE',
+			eventDate: '1914-01-01',
+			eventDateEnd: '1918-12-31',
+			title: 'Erster Weltkrieg',
+			senderName: '',
+			receiverName: '',
+			documentId: undefined
+		});
+		const letter = makeEntry({ documentId: 'a', linkedEventId: 'e1', eventDate: '1914-05-01' });
+		render(YearBand, {
+			year: makeYear(1914, [band, letter]),
+			groupingMode: 'event',
+			eventLookup: new Map([['e1', 'Front']])
+		});
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="world-range"]')).not.toBeNull();
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="letter-bucket"]')).not.toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('buckets loose letters under their root tag in Thema mode (REQ-004)', () => {
+		const a = makeEntry({
+			documentId: 'a',
+			rootTagId: 't1',
+			rootTagName: 'Krieg',
+			rootTagColor: 'sienna',
+			eventDate: '1915-03-01'
+		});
+		render(YearBand, { year: makeYear(1915, [a]), groupingMode: 'thema', eventLookup: new Map() });
+		const chip = document.querySelector('[data-testid="bucket-header-chip"]');
+		expect(chip?.textContent).toContain('Krieg');
+	});
+
+	it('renders a same-year curated event as one card header, with no separate pill and no duplicate title (#827)', () => {
+		const pill = makeEntry({
+			kind: 'EVENT',
+			type: 'PERSONAL',
+			derived: false,
+			eventId: 'e1',
+			title: 'Ein gewaltiger Stadtbrand',
+			eventDate: '1916-07-06',
+			senderName: '',
+			receiverName: '',
+			documentId: undefined
+		});
+		const letter = makeEntry({ documentId: 'a', linkedEventId: 'e1', eventDate: '1916-07-06' });
+		render(YearBand, {
+			year: makeYear(1916, [pill, letter]),
+			groupingMode: 'event',
+			eventLookup: new Map([['e1', 'Ein gewaltiger Stadtbrand']]),
+			canWrite: true
+		});
+		// the title appears exactly once — in the card header, not also as a separate pill
+		const occurrences =
+			(document.body.textContent ?? '').split('Ein gewaltiger Stadtbrand').length - 1;
+		expect(occurrences).toBe(1);
+		// the event renders as the card header, with its letter clustered inside
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="bucket-event-header"]')).not.toBeNull();
+		expect(document.querySelector('a.lcard.ev')).not.toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('keeps a header on an event cluster whose pill is in another year (#827)', () => {
+		// the letter links to e1, but e1's pill lives in a different band — so the cluster
+		// keeps its own header here (no pill nearby to duplicate).
+		const letter = makeEntry({ documentId: 'a', linkedEventId: 'e1', eventDate: '1917-02-01' });
+		render(YearBand, {
+			year: makeYear(1917, [letter]),
+			groupingMode: 'event',
+			eventLookup: new Map([['e1', 'Briefe von der Front']])
+		});
+		expect(document.body.textContent).toContain('Briefe von der Front');
+	});
+});
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/grouping-event-layer-identity.svelte.spec.ts b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/grouping-event-layer-identity.svelte.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7f2a724d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/grouping-event-layer-identity.svelte.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, afterEach } from 'vitest';
+import { cleanup, render } from 'vitest-browser-svelte';
+import TimelineView from './TimelineView.svelte';
+import { makeEntry, makeYear, makeTimelineDTO } from './test-factories';
+import type { GroupingMode } from './timelineGrouping';
+
+afterEach(() => cleanup());
+
+const worldBand = (title: string) =>
+	makeEntry({
+		kind: 'EVENT',
+		type: 'HISTORICAL',
+		derived: false,
+		precision: 'RANGE',
+		eventDate: '1914-01-01',
+		eventDateEnd: '1918-12-31',
+		eventId: 'h1',
+		title,
+		senderName: '',
+		receiverName: '',
+		documentId: undefined
+	});
+
+const eventPill = (title: string) =>
+	makeEntry({
+		kind: 'EVENT',
+		type: 'PERSONAL',
+		derived: false,
+		eventId: 'p1',
+		title,
+		senderName: '',
+		receiverName: '',
+		documentId: undefined
+	});
+
+// A signature of the axis-fixed event layer: the curated/world-band titles, the world-range
+// marker count, and the event-pill count — everything REQ-001 requires to stay constant when
+// only the loose letters re-bundle. (No pixel-diff harness in the repo; this is the structural
+// equivalent — the event-layer DOM is byte-for-byte built from the same entries in every mode.)
+function eventLayerSignature(): string {
+	const body = document.body.textContent ?? '';
+	return JSON.stringify({
+		weltkrieg: body.includes('Erster Weltkrieg'),
+		hochzeit: body.includes('Hochzeit'),
+		worldRange: document.querySelectorAll('[data-testid="world-range"]').length
+	});
+}
+
+// Brief A links to the curated event p1 (Hochzeit), not the world band — so the world band
+// stays letterless and renders as a plain band in every mode (REQ-001). Under the #827 redesign
+// a curated event WITH letters becomes its cluster card's header, so the signature tracks the
+// stable layer: the letterless world band's marker count and the two titles, which all survive
+// regardless of whether Hochzeit renders as a pill (Datum) or a card header (grouped).
+const mixed = () =>
+	makeTimelineDTO({
+		years: [
+			makeYear(1915, [
+				worldBand('Erster Weltkrieg'),
+				eventPill('Hochzeit'),
+				makeEntry({ documentId: 'a', title: 'Brief A', linkedEventId: 'p1' }),
+				makeEntry({
+					documentId: 'b',
+					title: 'Brief B',
+					rootTagId: 't1',
+					rootTagName: 'Krieg',
+					rootTagColor: 'sienna'
+				})
+			])
+		]
+	});
+
+function signatureFor(mode: GroupingMode): string {
+	render(TimelineView, { timeline: mixed(), groupingMode: mode });
+	const sig = eventLayerSignature();
+	cleanup();
+	return sig;
+}
+
+describe('TimelineView event layer (REQ-001)', () => {
+	it('renders the event pills and world-bands identically across all three grouping modes', () => {
+		const dateSig = signatureFor('date');
+		const eventSig = signatureFor('event');
+		const themaSig = signatureFor('thema');
+
+		expect(eventSig).toBe(dateSig);
+		expect(themaSig).toBe(dateSig);
+		// sanity: the world-band actually rendered, so the assertion is not vacuously equal on ""
+		expect(dateSig).toContain('"worldRange":1');
+	});
+
+	it('regroups only the loose letters — buckets appear off Datum, not in it', () => {
+		render(TimelineView, { timeline: mixed(), groupingMode: 'date' });
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="letter-bucket"]')).toBeNull();
+		cleanup();
+		render(TimelineView, { timeline: mixed(), groupingMode: 'event' });
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="letter-bucket"]')).not.toBeNull();
+	});
+});
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/timeline-no-raw-html.spec.ts b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/timeline-no-raw-html.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..99b68152
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/timeline-no-raw-html.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
+import { readdirSync, readFileSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url';
+import { dirname, join } from 'node:path';
+
+const timelineDir = dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url));
+
+/**
+ * REQ-009 / CWE-79: the regroup touches every component under lib/timeline (the reused TagChip,
+ * the .lcard.ev card, and the new tinted bucket-header chip). Curator/import-derived text must
+ * always render through Svelte's default `{...}` escaping — never `{@html}`. This grep gate fails
+ * loudly the moment any timeline component reaches for the raw-HTML directive.
+ */
+describe('lib/timeline never uses {@html} (REQ-009)', () => {
+	it('no timeline component contains the raw-HTML directive', () => {
+		const components = readdirSync(timelineDir).filter((file) => file.endsWith('.svelte'));
+		expect(components.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+		const offenders = components.filter((file) =>
+			readFileSync(join(timelineDir, file), 'utf8').includes('{@html')
+		);
+		expect(offenders).toEqual([]);
+	});
+});
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.spec.ts b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7a050ec4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
+import { buildEventLookup, bucketLetters, hasLooseLetters } from './timelineGrouping';
+import { makeEntry, makeYear, makeTimelineDTO } from './test-factories';
+
+// Entry factories pinned to the shapes the grouping transform discriminates (#827).
+const letter = (overrides = {}) => makeEntry({ kind: 'LETTER', ...overrides });
+
+const curatedEvent = (id: string, title: string, overrides = {}) =>
+	makeEntry({
+		kind: 'EVENT',
+		type: 'PERSONAL',
+		derived: false,
+		documentId: undefined,
+		eventId: id,
+		title,
+		senderName: '',
+		receiverName: '',
+		...overrides
+	});
+
+describe('buildEventLookup (REQ-019)', () => {
+	it('collects curated events (eventId set) from year bands and the undated bucket', () => {
+		const dto = makeTimelineDTO({
+			years: [makeYear(1915, [curatedEvent('e1', 'Briefe von der Front'), letter()])],
+			undated: [curatedEvent('e2', 'Unbekanntes Ereignis')]
+		});
+		const lookup = buildEventLookup(dto);
+		expect(lookup.get('e1')).toBe('Briefe von der Front');
+		expect(lookup.get('e2')).toBe('Unbekanntes Ereignis');
+		expect(lookup.size).toBe(2);
+	});
+
+	it('ignores letters and derived life-events (no eventId)', () => {
+		const dto = makeTimelineDTO({
+			years: [
+				makeYear(1915, [
+					letter({ linkedEventId: 'e1' }),
+					makeEntry({ kind: 'EVENT', type: 'PERSONAL', derived: true, eventId: undefined })
+				])
+			]
+		});
+		expect(buildEventLookup(dto).size).toBe(0);
+	});
+});
+
+describe('hasLooseLetters (REQ-018)', () => {
+	it('is true when a year band or the undated bucket holds a letter', () => {
+		expect(hasLooseLetters(makeTimelineDTO({ years: [makeYear(1915, [letter()])] }))).toBe(true);
+		expect(hasLooseLetters(makeTimelineDTO({ undated: [letter({ documentId: 'u1' })] }))).toBe(
+			true
+		);
+	});
+
+	it('is false when only events remain', () => {
+		const dto = makeTimelineDTO({ years: [makeYear(1915, [curatedEvent('e1', 'Ereignis')])] });
+		expect(hasLooseLetters(dto)).toBe(false);
+	});
+});
+
+describe('bucketLetters — Ereignis mode (REQ-003/006/019)', () => {
+	const lookup = new Map([
+		['e1', 'Briefe von der Front'],
+		['e2', 'Weihnachten 1915']
+	]);
+
+	it('clusters letters under the curated event named by linkedEventId, with matching counts', () => {
+		const letters = [
+			letter({ documentId: 'a', linkedEventId: 'e1' }),
+			letter({ documentId: 'b', linkedEventId: 'e1' }),
+			letter({ documentId: 'c', linkedEventId: 'e2' })
+		];
+		const buckets = bucketLetters(letters, 'event', lookup);
+		const front = buckets.find((b) => b.title === 'Briefe von der Front');
+		expect(front?.kind).toBe('event');
+		expect(front?.letters).toHaveLength(2);
+		expect(buckets.find((b) => b.title === 'Weihnachten 1915')?.letters).toHaveLength(1);
+	});
+
+	it('drops a letter with no linkedEventId into the fallback bucket (REQ-006)', () => {
+		const letters = [letter({ documentId: 'a', linkedEventId: undefined })];
+		const buckets = bucketLetters(letters, 'event', lookup);
+		expect(buckets).toHaveLength(1);
+		expect(buckets[0].kind).toBe('fallback');
+		expect(buckets[0].letters).toHaveLength(1);
+	});
+
+	it('drops a letter whose linked event is absent from the lookup into fallback (REQ-019)', () => {
+		// e9 is not in the filtered view (its layer was toggled off) → no cluster.
+		const letters = [letter({ documentId: 'a', linkedEventId: 'e9' })];
+		const buckets = bucketLetters(letters, 'event', lookup);
+		expect(buckets).toHaveLength(1);
+		expect(buckets[0].kind).toBe('fallback');
+	});
+
+	it('keeps the fallback bucket last', () => {
+		const letters = [
+			letter({ documentId: 'a', linkedEventId: undefined }),
+			letter({ documentId: 'b', linkedEventId: 'e1' })
+		];
+		const buckets = bucketLetters(letters, 'event', lookup);
+		expect(buckets[buckets.length - 1].kind).toBe('fallback');
+	});
+});
+
+describe('bucketLetters — Thema mode (REQ-004/007/008)', () => {
+	const noEvents = new Map<string, string>();
+
+	it('buckets letters under their primary root tag with name and colour', () => {
+		const letters = [
+			letter({ documentId: 'a', rootTagId: 't1', rootTagName: 'Krieg', rootTagColor: 'sienna' }),
+			letter({ documentId: 'b', rootTagId: 't1', rootTagName: 'Krieg', rootTagColor: 'sienna' }),
+			letter({
+				documentId: 'c',
+				rootTagId: 't2',
+				rootTagName: 'Weihnachten',
+				rootTagColor: 'amber'
+			})
+		];
+		const buckets = bucketLetters(letters, 'thema', noEvents);
+		const krieg = buckets.find((b) => b.title === 'Krieg');
+		expect(krieg?.kind).toBe('tag');
+		expect(krieg?.color).toBe('sienna');
+		expect(krieg?.letters).toHaveLength(2);
+		expect(buckets.find((b) => b.title === 'Weihnachten')?.color).toBe('amber');
+	});
+
+	it('drops an untagged letter into the "Ohne Thema" fallback bucket (REQ-007)', () => {
+		const letters = [letter({ documentId: 'a', rootTagId: undefined })];
+		const buckets = bucketLetters(letters, 'thema', noEvents);
+		expect(buckets).toHaveLength(1);
+		expect(buckets[0].kind).toBe('fallback');
+		expect(buckets[0].color).toBeNull();
+	});
+
+	it('places a letter in exactly one bucket (REQ-008)', () => {
+		const letters = [
+			letter({ documentId: 'a', rootTagId: 't1', rootTagName: 'Krieg', rootTagColor: 'sienna' })
+		];
+		const buckets = bucketLetters(letters, 'thema', noEvents);
+		const occurrences = buckets.flatMap((b) => b.letters).filter((l) => l.documentId === 'a');
+		expect(occurrences).toHaveLength(1);
+	});
+
+	it('carries a null colour through for a colourless root tag', () => {
+		const letters = [
+			letter({
+				documentId: 'a',
+				rootTagId: 't3',
+				rootTagName: 'Allgemein',
+				rootTagColor: undefined
+			})
+		];
+		const buckets = bucketLetters(letters, 'thema', noEvents);
+		expect(buckets[0].kind).toBe('tag');
+		expect(buckets[0].color).toBeNull();
+	});
+});
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.ts b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6b487213
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/timeline/timelineGrouping.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,152 @@
+import type { components } from '$lib/generated/api';
+
+type TimelineDTO = components['schemas']['TimelineDTO'];
+type TimelineEntryDTO = components['schemas']['TimelineEntryDTO'];
+
+/**
+ * The three ways a reader can bundle the loose letters on `/zeitstrahl` (#827). The
+ * axis-fixed layers (life-events, event pills, world-bands) are identical in every mode
+ * — only loose-letter bundling changes. Grouping runs over the *already layer-filtered*
+ * timeline (#780): filter-then-group.
+ */
+export type GroupingMode = 'date' | 'event' | 'thema';
+
+/** The default mode — chronological, as #779 shipped. */
+export const DEFAULT_GROUPING: GroupingMode = 'date';
+
+/** Letters shown before a cluster needs a "show more" toggle (#827 redesign). */
+export const CLUSTER_PREVIEW = 5;
+
+/** The `--c-tag-*` colour-name tokens (sage/sienna/…); shared by the chip and the rail. */
+const TAG_COLOR_TOKENS = new Set([
+	'sage',
+	'sienna',
+	'amber',
+	'slate',
+	'violet',
+	'rose',
+	'cobalt',
+	'moss',
+	'sand',
+	'coral'
+]);
+
+/**
+ * Maps a root-tag colour-name token to its CSS variable reference, or `null` for an absent
+ * or unknown token (so a colourless/unrecognised tag falls back to a neutral rail, never a
+ * broken `var(--c-tag-undefined)`).
+ */
+export function tagColorVar(token: string | null | undefined): string | null {
+	return token && TAG_COLOR_TOKENS.has(token) ? `var(--c-tag-${token})` : null;
+}
+
+/**
+ * One bundle of loose letters under a single header, within a year (Ereignis/Thema modes).
+ * `kind` decides the header: a curated-event title, a tinted root-tag chip, or the localized
+ * fallback ("Weitere Briefe" / "Ohne Thema") the view supplies for `kind === 'fallback'`.
+ */
+export interface LetterBucket {
+	/** Stable `{#each}` key, unique within a year's bucket list. */
+	key: string;
+	kind: 'event' | 'tag' | 'fallback';
+	/** Header label for `event`/`tag` buckets; absent for `fallback` (view supplies a localized label). */
+	title?: string;
+	/** Root-tag colour token for a `tag` bucket; `null` for `event`/`fallback` (neutral). */
+	color: string | null;
+	letters: TimelineEntryDTO[];
+}
+
+/**
+ * Maps each curated event present in the (already-filtered) timeline to its title. These are the
+ * only events a letter may cluster under — a letter whose `linkedEventId` is absent here links to
+ * an event the layer filter removed, so it falls back to "Weitere Briefe" (filter-then-group,
+ * REQ-019). Curated events carry an `eventId`; derived life-events and letters do not.
+ */
+export function buildEventLookup(timeline: TimelineDTO): Map<string, string> {
+	const lookup = new Map<string, string>();
+	const collect = (entries: TimelineEntryDTO[]) => {
+		for (const entry of entries) {
+			if (entry.kind === 'EVENT' && entry.eventId) lookup.set(entry.eventId, entry.title ?? '');
+		}
+	};
+	for (const band of timeline.years) collect(band.entries);
+	collect(timeline.undated);
+	return lookup;
+}
+
+/**
+ * True when the timeline still holds at least one loose letter. Drives the grouping control's
+ * enabled state: with the Letters layer filtered off there is nothing to regroup (REQ-018).
+ */
+export function hasLooseLetters(timeline: TimelineDTO): boolean {
+	const holdsLetter = (entries: TimelineEntryDTO[]) => entries.some((e) => e.kind === 'LETTER');
+	return timeline.years.some((band) => holdsLetter(band.entries)) || holdsLetter(timeline.undated);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Buckets one year's loose letters for Ereignis/Thema mode. The caller passes only that year's
+ * `LETTER` entries; events stay on the axis untouched (REQ-001). Buckets keep first-seen order and
+ * the fallback bucket, if any, always sorts last.
+ *
+ * - `event`: cluster under `linkedEventId` when it is set AND survives in `eventLookup`; otherwise
+ *   the fallback "Weitere Briefe" bucket (REQ-003/006/019).
+ * - `thema`: bucket under `rootTagId` (header = `rootTagName`, tint = `rootTagColor`); an untagged
+ *   letter goes to the fallback "Ohne Thema" bucket (REQ-004/007). A letter carries exactly one
+ *   `rootTagId`, so it lands in exactly one bucket (REQ-008).
+ */
+export function bucketLetters(
+	letters: TimelineEntryDTO[],
+	mode: Exclude<GroupingMode, 'date'>,
+	eventLookup: Map<string, string>
+): LetterBucket[] {
+	const byKey = new Map<string, LetterBucket>();
+	let fallback: LetterBucket | null = null;
+
+	const fallbackBucket = (): LetterBucket => {
+		if (!fallback) fallback = { key: '__fallback__', kind: 'fallback', color: null, letters: [] };
+		return fallback;
+	};
+
+	const namedBucket = (id: string, build: () => LetterBucket): LetterBucket => {
+		let bucket = byKey.get(id);
+		if (!bucket) {
+			bucket = build();
+			byKey.set(id, bucket);
+		}
+		return bucket;
+	};
+
+	for (const letter of letters) {
+		if (mode === 'event') {
+			const id = letter.linkedEventId;
+			if (id && eventLookup.has(id)) {
+				namedBucket(id, () => ({
+					key: `event:${id}`,
+					kind: 'event',
+					title: eventLookup.get(id),
+					color: null,
+					letters: []
+				})).letters.push(letter);
+			} else {
+				fallbackBucket().letters.push(letter);
+			}
+		} else {
+			const id = letter.rootTagId;
+			if (id) {
+				namedBucket(id, () => ({
+					key: `tag:${id}`,
+					kind: 'tag',
+					title: letter.rootTagName ?? '',
+					color: letter.rootTagColor ?? null,
+					letters: []
+				})).letters.push(letter);
+			} else {
+				fallbackBucket().letters.push(letter);
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	const buckets = [...byKey.values()];
+	if (fallback) buckets.push(fallback);
+	return buckets;
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/+page.svelte
index 759b3340..0c353d10 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/+page.svelte
@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@
 import * as m from '$lib/paraglide/messages.js';
 import TimelineView from '$lib/timeline/TimelineView.svelte';
 import TimelineFilters from '$lib/timeline/TimelineFilters.svelte';
+import GroupingControl from '$lib/timeline/GroupingControl.svelte';
 import { timelineMeta } from '$lib/timeline/timelineMeta';
 import { filterTimeline } from '$lib/timeline/timelineFilter';
+import { hasLooseLetters, type GroupingMode } from '$lib/timeline/timelineGrouping';
 import type { PageData } from './$types';
 
 let { data }: { data: PageData } = $props();
@@ -17,12 +19,20 @@ let personalOn = $state(true);
 let historicalOn = $state(true);
 let lettersOn = $state(true);
 
+// Grouping state (#827) lives here beside the layer-filter state; the regroup is a
+// pure client-side transform over the already-filtered view — filter-then-group.
+let groupingMode = $state<GroupingMode>('date');
+
 const filteredTimeline = $derived(
 	filterTimeline(data.timeline, { personalOn, historicalOn, lettersOn })
 );
 const filteredEmpty = $derived(
 	filteredTimeline.years.length === 0 && filteredTimeline.undated.length === 0
 );
+// The grouping control is only meaningful while loose letters remain in the filtered
+// view; with the Letters layer off there is nothing to regroup, so it disables but
+// keeps its selected mode (REQ-018).
+const hasLetters = $derived(hasLooseLetters(filteredTimeline));
 
 // Meta-line figures track the *filtered* view, so the header counts always
 // match what is actually on screen once layers are toggled off (#780 — this
@@ -60,7 +70,13 @@ const metaLine = $derived.by(() => {
 				: m.timeline_events_count({ count: meta.eventCount })
 		);
 	}
-	segments.push(m.timeline_grouping_date());
+	segments.push(
+		groupingMode === 'event'
+			? m.timeline_grouping_event()
+			: groupingMode === 'thema'
+				? m.timeline_grouping_thema()
+				: m.timeline_grouping_date()
+	);
 	return segments.join(' · ');
 });
 </script>
@@ -89,7 +105,14 @@ const metaLine = $derived.by(() => {
 			{/if}
 		</header>
 		{#if hasContent}
-			<p data-testid="timeline-meta" class="mt-1 mb-6 font-sans text-xs text-ink-3">{metaLine}</p>
+			<p data-testid="timeline-meta" class="mt-1 mb-3 font-sans text-xs text-ink-3">{metaLine}</p>
+			<!-- Grouping toggle stacked above the #780 layer-filter trigger so the two read as
+			     one control cluster in the header (REQ-010); the top-right corner stays the
+			     add-event CTA. Disabled — but kept in place — when no loose letters remain
+			     (REQ-018). -->
+			<div class="mb-3" data-testid="grouping-cluster">
+				<GroupingControl bind:mode={groupingMode} disabled={!hasLetters} />
+			</div>
 			<TimelineFilters
 				bind:personalOn={personalOn}
 				bind:historicalOn={historicalOn}
@@ -112,7 +135,11 @@ const metaLine = $derived.by(() => {
 				</button>
 			</div>
 		{:else}
-			<TimelineView timeline={filteredTimeline} canWrite={data.canWrite} />
+			<TimelineView
+				timeline={filteredTimeline}
+				canWrite={data.canWrite}
+				groupingMode={groupingMode}
+			/>
 		{/if}
 	</div>
 </div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/page.svelte.spec.ts b/frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/page.svelte.spec.ts
index 3f8a8d7b..8c79f89e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/page.svelte.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/zeitstrahl/page.svelte.spec.ts
@@ -265,3 +265,61 @@ describe('/zeitstrahl curator affordances (#842)', () => {
 		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="event-edit"]')).toBeNull();
 	});
 });
+
+describe('/zeitstrahl grouping toggle (#827)', () => {
+	const historical = () =>
+		makeEntry({
+			kind: 'EVENT',
+			type: 'HISTORICAL',
+			derived: false,
+			eventId: 'h1',
+			documentId: undefined,
+			title: 'Erster Weltkrieg',
+			senderName: '',
+			receiverName: ''
+		});
+	const mixed = () =>
+		makeTimelineDTO({
+			years: [
+				makeYear(1915, [
+					makeEntry({ documentId: 'd1', title: 'Brief Eins', linkedEventId: 'h1' }),
+					historical()
+				])
+			]
+		});
+	const radio = (value: string) => document.querySelector(`[data-value="${value}"]`) as HTMLElement;
+
+	it('updates the meta-line grouping label when a mode is chosen (REQ-016)', async () => {
+		render(Page, { data: pageData(mixed()) });
+		const meta = page.getByTestId('timeline-meta');
+		await expect.element(meta).toHaveTextContent(m.timeline_grouping_date());
+		radio('event').click();
+		await expect.element(meta).toHaveTextContent(m.timeline_grouping_event());
+		radio('thema').click();
+		await expect.element(meta).toHaveTextContent(m.timeline_grouping_thema());
+	});
+
+	it('regroups loose letters under their event client-side, no buckets in Datum (REQ-002/003)', async () => {
+		render(Page, { data: pageData(mixed()) });
+		expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="letter-bucket"]')).toBeNull();
+		radio('event').click();
+		await expect.element(page.getByTestId('letter-bucket')).toBeVisible();
+	});
+
+	it('disables the grouping control when the Letters layer is off, keeping the mode (REQ-018)', async () => {
+		render(Page, { data: pageData(mixed()) });
+		radio('thema').click();
+		const control = page.getByTestId('grouping-control');
+		await expect.element(control).toHaveAttribute('aria-disabled', 'false');
+		// turn the Letters layer off → nothing to regroup
+		await page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-trigger').click();
+		await page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-letters').click();
+		await expect.element(control).toHaveAttribute('aria-disabled', 'true');
+		// the chosen mode is retained for when letters return
+		expect(radio('thema').getAttribute('aria-checked')).toBe('true');
+		// re-enabling restores the enabled control with the same mode (no reset to Datum)
+		await page.getByTestId('timeline-filter-letters').click();
+		await expect.element(control).toHaveAttribute('aria-disabled', 'false');
+		expect(radio('thema').getAttribute('aria-checked')).toBe('true');
+	});
+});