diff --git a/input/views.py b/input/views.py
index 46c92c7..6c92635 100755
--- a/input/views.py
+++ b/input/views.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ from django.core.mail import BadHeaderError, EmailMultiAlternatives
 from django.template.loader import get_template
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.contrib.auth.decorators import login_required
+from django.views.generic.edit import FormView
 
 from .forms import (
     ExternForm,
@@ -29,6 +30,30 @@ LIBRARY_FORMS = {
     TYPE_SOFT: SoftwareForm,
 }
 
+HELP_TEXTS = {
+    "IFG": {
+        "notes": (
+            "Bitte gib an, wie die gewonnenen Informationen den<br>"
+            "Wikimedia-Projekten zugute kommen sollen."
+        )
+    },
+    "MAIL": {
+        "domain": (
+            "Mit welcher Domain, bzw. für welches Wikimedia-Projekt,<br>"
+            "möchtest du eine Mailadresse beantragen?"
+        )
+    },
+    "LIT": {
+        "notes": "Bitte gib an, wofür du die Literatur verwenden möchtest."
+    },
+    "LIST": {
+        "domain": (
+            "Mit welcher Domain, bzw. für welches Wikimedia-Projekt,<br>"
+            "möchtest du eine Mailingliste beantragen?"
+        )
+    },
+}
+
 
 def auth_deny(choice, pk, auth):
     if choice not in MODELS:
@@ -66,146 +91,166 @@ def deny(request, choice, pk):
 
 
 def done(request):
-    return HttpResponse("Deine Anfrage wurde gesendet. Du erhältst in Kürze eine E-Mail-Benachrichtigung mit deinen Angaben. Für alle Fragen kontaktiere bitte das Team Communitys und Engagement unter community@wikimedia.de.")
+    return HttpResponse(
+        "Deine Anfrage wurde gesendet. Du erhältst in Kürze eine E-Mail-Benachrichtigung mit deinen Angaben. Für alle Fragen kontaktiere bitte das Team Communitys und Engagement unter community@wikimedia.de.")
 
 
 def index(request):
     return render(request, 'input/index.html')
 
 
-class ExternView(CookieWizardView):
-    '''This View is for Volunteers'''
+class BaseApplicationView(FormView):
+    """
+    Base view for all application types.
 
-    template_name = "input/extern.html"
-    form_list = [ExternForm, LibraryForm]
-
-    def get_form(self, step=None, data=None, files=None):
-        '''this function determines which part of the multipart form is
-        displayed next'''
-
-        if step is None:
-            step = self.steps.current
-        print ("get_form() step " + step)
-
-        if step == '1':
-            prev_data = self.get_cleaned_data_for_step('0')
-            choice = prev_data.get('choice')
-            print(f'choice detection in ExternView: {TYPE_CHOICES[choice]}')
-            if choice == 'IFG':
-                form = IFGForm(data)
-                form.fields['notes'].help_text = mark_safe("Bitte gib an, wie die gewonnenen Informationen den<br>Wikimedia-Projekten zugute kommen sollen.")
-            elif choice in LIBRARY_FORMS:
-                form = LIBRARY_FORMS[choice](data)
-            elif choice == 'MAIL':
-                form = EmailForm(data)
-                form.fields['domain'].help_text = mark_safe("Mit welcher Domain, bzw. für welches Wikimedia-Projekt,<br>möchtest du eine Mailadresse beantragen?")
-            elif choice == 'LIT':
-                form = LiteratureForm(data)
-                form.fields['notes'].help_text = "Bitte gib an, wofür du die Literatur verwenden möchtest."
-            elif choice == 'VIS':
-                form = BusinessCardForm(data)
-            elif choice == 'LIST':
-                form = ListForm(data)
-                form.fields['domain'].help_text = mark_safe("Mit welcher Domain, bzw. für welches Wikimedia-Projekt,<br>möchtest du eine Mailingliste beantragen?")
-            elif choice == 'TRAV':
-                form = TravelForm(data)
-            else:  # pragma: no cover
-                raise RuntimeError(f'ERROR! UNKNOWN FORMTYPE {choice} in ExternView')
-            self.choice = choice
-        else:
-            form = super().get_form(step, data, files)
-        return form
+    - Each application type (travel, literature, email, etc.) gets its own subclass.
+    - Renders the generic form template.
+    - Handles saving the submitted form to the database.
+    - Adds extra fields from the session or request type if needed.
+    - Applies optional help_text overrides for certain fields.
+    - Sends confirmation mail to the applicant.
+    - Sends notification mail to the internal IF address.
+    - Returns the "done" response after successful processing.
+    """
+    template_name = "input/forms/form_generic.html"
+    type_code: str = ""
 
     def get_context_data(self, **kwargs):
-        context = super().get_context_data(**kwargs)
-        if hasattr(self, 'choice'):
-            context["choice"] = TYPE_CHOICES[self.choice]
-        return context
+        """Add the human-readable type string (from TYPE_CHOICES) to the template context."""
+        ctx = super().get_context_data(**kwargs)
+        ctx["typestring"] = TYPE_CHOICES.get(self.type_code, self.type_code)
+        return ctx
 
-    def done(self, form_list, **kwargs):
-        print('ExternView.done() reached')
-        # gather data from all forms
-        data = {}
-        for form in form_list:
-            data = {**data, **form.cleaned_data}
+    def get_form(self, form_class=None):
+        """Return the form instance and inject custom help_texts if defined for this type."""
+        form = super().get_form(form_class)
 
-        if data['choice'] == 'LIT':
-            if data['selfbuy'] == 'TRUE':
-                data['selfbuy_give_data'] = 'False'
+        # Apply help_text overrides if defined for this type_code
+        if self.type_code in HELP_TEXTS:
+            for field, text in HELP_TEXTS[self.type_code].items():
+                if field in form.fields:
+                    form.fields[field].help_text = mark_safe(text)
 
-        # write data to database
+        return form
+
+    def form_valid(self, form):
+        """
+        Process a valid form submission:
+        - Enrich form data (e.g., set type_code, handle special rules).
+        - Save the model instance and related data.
+        - Send confirmation and notification mails.
+        - Return the "done" response.
+        """
+
+        # Collect cleaned data and mark the current type
+        data = form.cleaned_data.copy()
+        data["choice"] = self.type_code
+
+        # Special rule for literature applications
+        if self.type_code == "LIT" and data.get("selfbuy") == "TRUE":
+            data["selfbuy_give_data"] = "False"
+
+        # Save model instance
         modell = form.save(commit=False)
-        # we have to copy the data from the first form here
-        # this is a bit ugly code. can we copy this without explicit writing?
 
-        if data['choice'] == 'LIT':
-            modell.selfbuy_give_data = data['selfbuy_give_data']
+        # Username from session if present
+        user = self.request.session.get("user")
+        if user:
+            modell.username = user.get("username")
 
-        if user := self.request.session.get('user'):
-            modell.username = user['username']
+        # Copy common fields if provided by the form
+        if "realname" in data:
+            modell.realname = data["realname"]
+        if "email" in data:
+            modell.email = data["email"]
 
-        modell.realname = data['realname']
-        modell.email = data['email']
-        # write type of form in some cases
-        if data['choice'] in ('BIB', 'ELIT', 'SOFT'):
-            modell.type = data['choice']
+        # Set model.type for specific request types
+        if self.type_code in ("BIB", "ELIT", "SOFT"):
+            modell.type = self.type_code
 
-        form.save()
+        # Literature-specific extra field
+        if self.type_code == "LIT" and "selfbuy_give_data" in data:
+            modell.selfbuy_give_data = data["selfbuy_give_data"]
 
-        # add some data to context for mail templates
-        data['pk'] = modell.pk
-        data['url_prefix'] = settings.EMAIL_URL_PREFIX
-        data['grant'] = ('LIT', 'SOFT', 'ELIT', 'BIB', 'IFG')
-        data['DOMAIN'] = ('MAIL', 'LIST')
-        data['typestring'] = TYPE_CHOICES[data['choice']]
+        modell.save()
+        if hasattr(form, "save_m2m"):
+            form.save_m2m()
+
+        # Prepare minimal mail context and send mails
+        data["pk"] = modell.pk
+        data["url_prefix"] = settings.EMAIL_URL_PREFIX
+        data["typestring"] = TYPE_CHOICES.get(self.type_code, self.type_code)
+        context = {"data": data}
 
-        # we need to send the following mails here:
-        context = { 'data': data }
         try:
-            #  - mail with entered data to the Volunteer
-
-            txt_mail_template1 = get_template('input/ifg_volunteer_mail.txt')
-            html_mail_template1 = get_template('input/ifg_volunteer_mail.html')
-
-            subject1, from_email1, to1 = 'Formular ausgefüllt', settings.IF_EMAIL, data['email']
-            text_content1 = txt_mail_template1.render(context)
-            html_content1 = html_mail_template1.render(context)
-            msg1 = EmailMultiAlternatives(subject1, text_content1, from_email1, [to1])
-            msg1.attach_alternative(html_content1, "text/html")
+            # Mail to applicant
+            txt1 = get_template("input/ifg_volunteer_mail.txt").render(context)
+            html1 = get_template("input/ifg_volunteer_mail.html").render(context)
+            msg1 = EmailMultiAlternatives(
+                "Formular ausgefüllt", txt1, settings.IF_EMAIL, [data["email"]]
+            )
+            msg1.attach_alternative(html1, "text/html")
             msg1.send()
-            #print('ifg volunteer mail would have been sent')
-            #send_mail(
-            #    'Formular ausgefüllt',
-            #    txt_mail_template1.render(context),
-            #    IF_EMAIL,
-            #    [data['email']],
-            #    fail_silently=False)
-            ##  - mail to IF with link to accept/decline
 
-            txt_mail_template = get_template('input/if_mail.txt')
-            html_mail_template = get_template('input/if_mail.html')
-
-            subject, from_email, to = 'Formular ausgefüllt', settings.IF_EMAIL, settings.IF_EMAIL
-            text_content = txt_mail_template.render(context)
-            html_content = html_mail_template.render(context)
-            msg2 = EmailMultiAlternatives(subject, text_content, from_email, [to])
-            msg2.attach_alternative(html_content, "text/html")
+            # Mail to IF
+            txt2 = get_template("input/if_mail.txt").render(context)
+            html2 = get_template("input/if_mail.html").render(context)
+            msg2 = EmailMultiAlternatives(
+                "Formular ausgefüllt", txt2, settings.IF_EMAIL, [settings.IF_EMAIL]
+            )
+            msg2.attach_alternative(html2, "text/html")
             msg2.send()
-            #print('if mail would have been sent')
-            #send_mail(
-            #    'Formular ausgefüllt',
-            #    txt_mail_template.render(context),
-            #    IF_EMAIL,
-            #    [IF_EMAIL],
-            #    fail_silently=False)
-            ## raise SMTPException("testing pupose only")
 
         except BadHeaderError:
             modell.delete()
-            return HttpResponse('Invalid header found. Data not saved!')
+            return HttpResponse("Invalid header found. Data not saved!")
         except SMTPException:
             modell.delete()
-            return HttpResponse('Error in sending mails (probably wrong adress?). Data not saved!')
-
+            return HttpResponse("Error in sending mails (probably wrong adress?). Data not saved!")
 
         return done(self.request)
+
+
+class TravelApplicationView(BaseApplicationView):
+    form_class = TravelForm
+    type_code = "TRAV"
+
+
+class LibraryApplicationView(BaseApplicationView):
+    form_class = LibraryForm
+    type_code = "BIB"
+
+
+class ELiteratureApplicationView(BaseApplicationView):
+    form_class = ELiteratureForm
+    type_code = "ELIT"
+
+
+class SoftwareApplicationView(BaseApplicationView):
+    form_class = SoftwareForm
+    type_code = "SOFT"
+
+
+class IFGApplicationView(BaseApplicationView):
+    form_class = IFGForm
+    type_code = "IFG"
+
+
+class EmailApplicationView(BaseApplicationView):
+    form_class = EmailForm
+    type_code = "MAIL"
+
+
+class LiteratureApplicationView(BaseApplicationView):
+    form_class = LiteratureForm
+    type_code = "LIT"
+
+
+class ListApplicationView(BaseApplicationView):
+    form_class = ListForm
+    type_code = "LIST"
+
+
+class BusinessCardApplicationView(BaseApplicationView):
+    form_class = BusinessCardForm
+    type_code = "VIS"