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From scraps of paper to mountains of files – the long aftermath of the Stasi files

The Stasi files remain a symbol of the SED dictatorship’s surveillance. How they are managed continues to shape how GDR history is reappraised. This blog explores the long and difficult process of confronting this legacy Read more
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The party table as a symbol of power

The blog post highlights the party table as a central symbol of power in the GDR. It shows how hierarchies, ideology and bureaucracy were structured at the level of political functionaries. Using the original object from our exhibition, the logic of the GDR's state structure becomes comprehensible. Read more
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Combined tour of »Karl-Marx-Allee«: From prefabricated buildings to workers' palaces

Karl-Marx-Allee, one of East Berlin’s most iconic streets, showcases socialist urban planning. A combined tour explores the GDR’s architecture, daily life, and culture. Read more
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The GDR as a peaceful state – aspiration and reality

The GDR's claim to be a peaceful state stood in stark contrast to the reality of a highly militarised society. This was also illustrated by our special exhibition »The GDR as a peaceful state – aspiration and reality«. Read more
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The GDR and the Warsaw Pact – united invincible

The Warsaw Pact was the central military alliance of socialist states in Europe during the Cold War. Founded in 1955 in response to the admission of the Federal Republic of Germany to NATO, it had a decisive influence on the security policy orientation of the GDR. Read more
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GDR music charts – The Top 20 hits at our listening station

A highlight in our WBS 70 prefabricated apartment is the living room listening station with hits by Karat and Silly. Curious? Discover our list of the top 20 chart songs. Read more
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Simson, MZ & Co. – The two-wheeled forge of the GDR

Simson, MZ and IWL – icons of everyday life in the GDR. Today the legendary mopeds are back on the roads. Our blog reveals why they once fascinated so many and why they’re enjoying a comeback today. Read more
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10 objects from East Berlin – capital of the GDR

During the GDR era, East Berlin was the capital and centre of the country, while the western part was administered by the Allies. The construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 divided the city for decades. We are showcasing ten objects from this period in this blog. Read more
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Lesbian visibility in the GDR

Lesbian women were often overlooked and marginalised in the GDR. Nevertheless, they came together, organised meetings, and fought for visibility and equal rights. The blog post tells the story of their everyday lives and the challenges they faced. Read more
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Western money at last! The monetary union of 1 July 1990

Hardly any other date brought about as many changes as 1 July 1990 – the day the Deutschmark was introduced in the GDR. The special exhibition »Western money at last!« focuses on this historic turning point. Read more
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Our homeland – A song in 49 objects

The special exhibition »Our homeland – A song in 49 objects« illustrated the key concepts of the song »Unsre Heimat« with suitable exhibits from the museum's collection. We present some of the objects in this blog post. Read more
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The Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED)

The history of the SED: A historical overview of ideology, power structures and political change in the GDR. Read more
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FDJ – Freie Deutsche Jugend (Free German Youth)

The Freie Deutsche Jugend (FDJ) was the mass organisation for young people in the GDR. Membership was intended to educate the younger generation to become »socialist personalities«. This blog tells the story of the FDJ and sheds light on the diverse experiences that young people had in the GDR. Read more
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10 questions for ...

Dr. Ilko-Sascha Kowalczuk – Scientific Advisor

We are delighted to introduce Dr. Ilko-Sascha Kowalczuk. Ilko has been supporting the DDR Museum as a scientific advisor since January 2025 and answered ten questions for us. Read more
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The DDR Museum supports LifeTeachUs

LifeTeachUs has set itself the goal of making education in schools even better – through knowledge exchange and encounters with people from all walks of life. The DDR Museum supports this mission as a strong partner. Read more
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10 questions to ...

Dr. Liza Soutschek – Scientific Associate Exhibitions

We are pleased to introduce Dr. Liza Soutschek from our exhibition team. Liza has been a scientific associate at the DDR Museum since December 2024 and answered 10 questions for us. Read more
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The ABC of the GDR

5 objects from the GDR with b – from Badusan to Boxer

In the blog series »The ABC of the GDR«, we present everyday objects from the GDR. In this post, we show five classics from the GDR that begin with the letter B. Read more
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The Baltic Sea – holiday destination, border region, place of longing

In five themed areas, the special exhibition tells of the many facets of the Baltic Sea - of the sea as a myth, the sea border and the border region, of art and culture, of accommodation and food, and of beach life. Read more
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The Friendship Pipeline

The »Soyuz« natural gas pipeline stretches from the Urals to the former Soviet western border. The construction section in the GDR, known as the »Druzhba line«, was organised by the FDJ. In this blog post, we provide insights into the content and show themed objects from our collection. Read more
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Popular Music in the GDR - Between Repression and Liberalisation

Although the SED repeatedly tried to prevent the influence of Western music culture in the GDR, there were hardly any limits to the creativity of young people. In this blog post, we delve into the tense relationship between the state and youth. Read more