diff --git a/backend/src/config/env.ts b/backend/src/config/env.ts
index 13d4119..c251c4c 100644
--- a/backend/src/config/env.ts
+++ b/backend/src/config/env.ts
@@ -28,7 +28,12 @@ export const env = {
   FRONTEND_URL: process.env.FRONTEND_URL || 'http://localhost:5173',
 
   // Upload
-  MAX_FILE_SIZE: parseInt(process.env.MAX_FILE_SIZE || '5242880', 10),
+  // Bilder werden ohnehin auf 1600px heruntergerechnet, die Grenze muss nur
+  // gross genug fuer ein unbearbeitetes Handyfoto sein.
+  MAX_FILE_SIZE: parseInt(process.env.MAX_FILE_SIZE || String(20 * 1024 * 1024), 10),
+  // PDFs werden unveraendert abgelegt. Eine Getraenkekarte mit Bildern liegt
+  // schnell bei 15-20 MB, deshalb ein eigener, groesserer Wert.
+  MAX_PDF_SIZE: parseInt(process.env.MAX_PDF_SIZE || String(40 * 1024 * 1024), 10),
 };
 
 // Validate required environment variables
diff --git a/backend/src/index.ts b/backend/src/index.ts
index a251732..3790f95 100644
--- a/backend/src/index.ts
+++ b/backend/src/index.ts
@@ -73,9 +73,11 @@ fastify.register(jwt, {
   },
 });
 
+// Der globale Wert ist die Obergrenze fuer alles. Die Routen setzen ihn per
+// request.file({ limits }) auf ihren eigenen, engeren Wert herunter.
 fastify.register(multipart, {
   limits: {
-    fileSize: env.MAX_FILE_SIZE,
+    fileSize: Math.max(env.MAX_FILE_SIZE, env.MAX_PDF_SIZE),
   },
 });
 
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/content.ts b/backend/src/routes/content.ts
index ba5478a..8781c32 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/content.ts
+++ b/backend/src/routes/content.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { contentSections } from '../db/schema.js';
 import { eq } from 'drizzle-orm';
 import { saveUploadedImage } from '../services/upload.service.js';
 import { dropImageIfUnused, extractImageUrls } from '../services/image-refs.service.js';
+import { env } from '../config/env.js';
 
 // Fastify JSON schema for content section body
 const contentBodyJsonSchema = {
@@ -106,7 +107,7 @@ const contentRoute: FastifyPluginAsync = async (fastify) => {
     preHandler: [fastify.authenticate],
   }, async (request, reply) => {
     try {
-      const file = await (request as any).file();
+      const file = await (request as any).file({ limits: { fileSize: env.MAX_FILE_SIZE } });
       if (!file) {
         return reply.code(400).send({ error: 'No file uploaded' });
       }
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/events.ts b/backend/src/routes/events.ts
index 03b1a8b..2beb7e6 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/events.ts
+++ b/backend/src/routes/events.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { events } from '../db/schema.js';
 import { eq } from 'drizzle-orm';
 import { dropImageIfUnused } from '../services/image-refs.service.js';
 import { saveUploadedImage } from '../services/upload.service.js';
+import { env } from '../config/env.js';
 
 /** Raeumt eine Bilddatei weg, ohne dass ein Fehler die Antwort kippt. */
 async function dropUnusedImage(fastify: any, url: string | null | undefined, reason: string) {
@@ -102,7 +103,7 @@ const eventsRoute: FastifyPluginAsync = async (fastify) => {
   }, async (request, reply) => {
     try {
       // Expect a single file field named "file"
-      const file = await (request as any).file();
+      const file = await (request as any).file({ limits: { fileSize: env.MAX_FILE_SIZE } });
       if (!file) {
         return reply.code(400).send({ error: 'No file uploaded' });
       }
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/gallery.ts b/backend/src/routes/gallery.ts
index c0a4a02..ef44083 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/gallery.ts
+++ b/backend/src/routes/gallery.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { galleryImages } from '../db/schema.js';
 import { eq } from 'drizzle-orm';
 import { dropImageIfUnused } from '../services/image-refs.service.js';
 import { saveUploadedImage } from '../services/upload.service.js';
+import { env } from '../config/env.js';
 
 /** Raeumt eine Bilddatei weg, ohne dass ein Fehler die Antwort kippt. */
 async function dropUnusedImage(fastify: any, url: string | null | undefined, reason: string) {
@@ -81,7 +82,7 @@ const galleryRoute: FastifyPluginAsync = async (fastify) => {
   }, async (request, reply) => {
     try {
       // Expect a single file field named "file"
-      const file = await (request as any).file();
+      const file = await (request as any).file({ limits: { fileSize: env.MAX_FILE_SIZE } });
       if (!file) {
         return reply.code(400).send({ error: 'No file uploaded' });
       }
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/pdf.ts b/backend/src/routes/pdf.ts
index f3913a0..0d15d0b 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/pdf.ts
+++ b/backend/src/routes/pdf.ts
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ const pdfRoute: FastifyPluginAsync = async (fastify) => {
     }
 
     try {
-      const file = await (request as any).file();
+      const file = await (request as any).file({ limits: { fileSize: env.MAX_PDF_SIZE } });
       if (!file) {
         return reply.code(400).send({ error: 'No file uploaded' });
       }
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ const pdfRoute: FastifyPluginAsync = async (fastify) => {
       const buffer = Buffer.concat(chunks);
 
       if ((file.file as any)?.truncated) {
-        const limit = Math.round(env.MAX_FILE_SIZE / 1024 / 1024);
+        const limit = Math.round(env.MAX_PDF_SIZE / 1024 / 1024);
         return reply.code(413).send({ error: `PDF too large. Maximum is ${limit} MB` });
       }
 
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ const pdfRoute: FastifyPluginAsync = async (fastify) => {
 
     } catch (err: any) {
       if (err?.code === 'FST_REQ_FILE_TOO_LARGE') {
-        const limit = Math.round(env.MAX_FILE_SIZE / 1024 / 1024);
+        const limit = Math.round(env.MAX_PDF_SIZE / 1024 / 1024);
         return reply.code(413).send({ error: `PDF too large. Maximum is ${limit} MB` });
       }
       fastify.log.error({ err }, 'PDF upload failed');