The determination of crustal structure by means of explo sion seismology has been one of the major objectives of the European Seismological Commission (ESC) over the past twenty-five years. It was decided some time ago to publish the results of regional crustal investigations in Europe in a series of monographs. This publication entitled "Ex plosion Seismology in Central Europe - Data and Results" is Volume 1 in a sequence of publications dealing with the crustal structure in Europe. The European seismologists are indebted to the German Geo physical Society (Deutsche Geophysikalische Gesellschaft) for taking the initiative to publish this book. Thanks are due to the German Research Society (Deutsche Forschungs gemeinschaft) for providing generous financial support of the field measurements and data evaluation. It is hoped that this publication will stimulate a continuation of in vestigations of the earth's lithosphere in order to eluci date the details which are still not fully understood."