The ABC of the GDR
5 objects from the GDR with b – from Badusan to Boxer
Badusan – The popular bubble bath from the GDR
In the GDR, people loved to bathe with BADUSAN. The bubble bath with the scent of horse chestnut was launched on the market in 1958 and quickly became very popular. According to the manufacturer, which is now selling its Badusan products in stores again, brand awareness in the East is still an incredible 90 per cent today. This means that almost everyone in East Germany who hears the term Badusan immediately remembers the melody of the advertising song from the 1960s, which was so memorable that many people can still sing it properly. ‘Bathing with badusan, badusan, badusan’. In addition to the conventional bottles, the Badusan bubble bath was also available in animal shapes such as a duck, a pig or a fish. Our collection includes the first two motifs.
Barkas B 1000 – A small van from the GDR
The Barkas B 1000 was a small van produced in the GDR, which was built in over 40 different variants and was used as an ambulance and fire engine, for example. The Barkas was also used by the People's Police and the National People's Army. The vehicle with a payload of one tonne (hence the B 1000) came onto the market in 1961. Today, the van is a sought-after collector's item.
Our Barkas B 1000 ‘Kombi’ was manufactured in Hainichen near Karl-Marx-Stadt in 1989 and delivered to the National People's Army (NVA). The vintage car ended up in the DDR Museum in 2006 via various stations, including the Eberswalde police headquarters. The Barkas, with which we also take part in the annual classic car rally ‘Sächsische Meister-Classic’, is equipped with a water-cooled three-cylinder two-stroke petrol engine with 46 hp and a speed of around 100 km/h.
There are a total of three B 1000 models from the VEB Barkas-Werke Karl-Marx-Stadt in the GDR Museum's collection - whereby the vehicle presented here is currently the only one that has been partially restored both technically and visually. The KLF-TS 8 small fire-fighting vehicle from the fire brigade and a platform lorry with tarpaulin and bows are still resting in our collection.
Further objects relating to the Barkas van can be found in our object database.
bebo sher – Shavers from the GDR
Under the brand name ‘bebo sher’, razors were manufactured in the GDR by VEB Bergmann-Borsig. ‘bebo’ stands for Bergmann-Borsig, while “sher” is the abbreviation for “fast - skin-friendly - electric - shaves”.
Originally, Sigmund Bergmann AG and later VEB Bergmann-Borsig had specialised in the production of turbines, generators and power plant components for over 100 years. Due to the persistent shortage of important everyday items and the increasing dissatisfaction of the population, the GDR government decided in 1953 to commission large production companies to manufacture consumer goods. As a result, many companies began to manufacture items for everyday use and export in addition to their regular production. At Bergmann-Borsig, roller skates, ice skates and key rings were produced from 1954. In 1955, a dry shaver was launched under the name for the first time.
In 1962, the ‘bebo sher’ electric shaver model ‘Junior’ was designed by Jürgen Peters for VEB Bergmann-Borsig and around 4.5 million units were produced in 25 years. The shaver in our collection dates from 1988 and comes in a black case. Included is the dry shaver itself as well as a power cord, a brush and a guarantee certificate.
Beirette – An icon of photography from the GDR
Beirette cameras are 35mm cameras that were produced in the GDR by the company VEB Kamerafabrik Freital and designed for the mass market. The name ‘Beirette’ is derived from ‘Beier’, the original company name, and ‘ette’ as a diminutive, which was intended to emphasise the compactness and handiness of the camera. The first Beirette camera was launched in 1958 and impressed customers with its simple operation, robust housing and favourable price.
The Beirette SL 100 with a fixed lens was launched in 1972. The simple plastic camera for 35mm ORWO SL film cassettes was developed by Karl Pouva and Hanns Rühle. With a retail price of only around 25 marks in the GDR, the camera, which was intended for beginners, made it particularly easy to get started in photography. The camera in our collection dates back to 1979. In 1987, the Beirette was given a colour upgrade and was launched on the market as the SL 100N. The Beirette was produced in large numbers and was widely used in the GDR.
But the Beirette cameras were also well known outside the GDR and were exported to several countries, which further strengthened their reputation as reliable and affordable cameras. In West Germany, Beirette cameras were available under the name Beroquick.
We show other Beirette brand cameras in our object database.
Boxer – A jeans brand from the GDR
Ever since jeans developed from workers' trousers in the USA into a global fashion phenomenon, they have symbolised individuality and freedom. Two values that were not necessarily promoted in the GDR. While the state officially tried to minimise the influence of Western fashion, the cultural trends could not be completely stopped. Western jeans, especially Levi's and Wrangler, were in high demand and often only available through connections or on the black market. In view of the high demand for jeans in the GDR and the difficulties in meeting this demand, the state decided to develop its own brands: boxer jeans were one of them. This decision was made in the 1970s, when jeans had finally celebrated their triumphant advance in fashion. Despite the efforts to imitate the western style and cut, boxer jeans had some features that set them apart from their western counterparts. Availability was also limited: Boxer jeans were not always easy to come by. Boxer jeans were manufactured by VEB Bekleidungswerk Güstrow, for example. A pair of boxer trousers hangs in our exhibition - and a pair of Levis jeans right next to it for comparison.
In an episode of the ‘Ask Dr Wolle’ series, the scientific director of the DDR Museum talks about jeans in the GDR.
