Blog :: DDR Museum

29 Sep 2020 by Vanessa Jasmin Lemke

With the second volume of the trilogy »GDR in Objects 1949-1990«, the DDR Museum gives a unique insight into the world's largest museum DDR collection.

The Art Directors' 11 Favourites of the Collection Volume I

Collection

23 Sep 2020 by Joris Buiks

Art director Joris Buiks presents his eleven personal favourite objects from the eleven chapters of our first collection volume »GDR in Objects 1949-1990. Daily Life, Home, Consumption«.

Dresden was one of the economic and cultural centres of the GDR. The collection of the DDR Museum contains numerous objects that reflect the historical development of Dresden. Ten of them are presented in this article.

Places of the GDR

Berlin State Opera Staatsoper Unter den Linden

DDR tourism

1 Sep 2020 by Maximilian Schönbeck

Built in 1742, the Staatsoper Unter den Linden enjoys great popularity today and is one of the world's leading opera ensembles. But what exactly makes the opera so special and what role did it play in the GDR?

GDR in Objects 1949-1990

The Head of Collections' 11 Favourites of the Collection Volume I

Collection

17 Aug 2020 by Admin

In this article, the head of collections Jörn Kleinhardt presents his eleven personal favourites from the eleven chapters of the first collection volume »GDR in Objects 1949-1990. Daily Life, Home, Consumption«.

From the collection

The Final Division of Berlin – The Erection of the Wall on 13 August 1961

Collection

13 Aug 2020 by Jörn Kleinhardt

Two months before the Wall was erected, Walter Ulbricht denied the intention to build a Wall at a press conference. On the night of 12-13 August 1961, construction of the Wall began. In this article we show thematically appropriate objects from our collection.

GDR mass organisation

The Society for Sport and Technology

6 Aug 2020 by Jörn Kleinhardt

What began in 1952 as a mass organisation for the leisure activities of young people increasingly developed in a paramilitary direction. From the mid-1970s, the Society for Sport and Technology (GST) called itself the »socialist military organisation of the GDR« and took on the military education of adolescents.

From the Collection

Pictorial: »DDR in Objects 1949-1990. Daily Life, Home, Consumption«

Collection

16 Jul 2020 by Vanessa Jasmin Lemke

With the first volume of the trilogy »GDR in Objects 1949-1990« the DDR Museum gives a unique insight into the world's largest museum DDR collection.

Inside the Museum

We present: The online shop of the DDR Museum

Museum news

26 May 2020

In the online shop of the DDR Museum, products, developed specifically for the Berlin Museum such as card games, books and everyday products inspired by DDR design, can be purchased under the three categories »DDR Museum«, »DDR Nostalgia« and East Package »Ostpaket«.

GDR History

Dederon - a GDR synthetic fibre prevails

Topic DDR

14 May 2020

Folds well, doesn’t crease, dries quickly and is versatile - these attributes perfectly describe the synthetic fibre Dederon, which was used to make shirts, aprons, bags and tights for the masses in the GDR since the 1960s.

Object of the Month

Wooden Toy Truck

Collection

18 Mar 2020 by Maria Bartholomäus

The object of the month March/April 2020 is the wooden toy truck by the PGH »Friedrich Fröbel« Werdau. The wooden toy appeals by its plain and elegant design as well as its high stability and durability.

From the Collection

Living in an Old Building – Guides for Renovating Old Buildings

Collection

25 Feb 2020 by Frank Meißner

Old buildings are highly sought after. That has not always been the case. A poor reputation and unrenovated conditions made old buildings unattractive. Diverse interior design magazines attempted to change this.

Günter Höhne writes

DDR-Design: Stacking Chair Model 3101 and its COMEBACK

DDR-Design

29 Oct 2019 by Admin

The journalist and expert for DDR product design, Günter Höhne, writes for the DDR Museum blog. In this article he is taking a closer look at the original stacking chair model 3101 and its COMEBACK.

Object of the Month

Board Game »Merry Travels — Spejbl and Hurvinek«

23 Oct 2019 by Admin

The object of the month is the board game »Merry Travels — Spejbl and Hurvinek« and is based on the well-known marionettes Spejbl and Hurvinek of the Czech puppeteer Josef Skupa.

From the collection

Barracked People's Police and NVA

Collection

27 Sep 2019 by Jörn Kleinhardt

Uniforms, steel helmets, brochures, certificates and pocket calendars are just a few of the many objects from the collection of the DDR Museum that tell the story of the Barracked People's Police (KVP) and its successor, the National People's Army (NVA). Head of collection Jörn Kleinhardt uses historical artefacts to give an overview of the NVA from the beginning to the end of the DDR.

Günter Höhne writes

DDR-Design: Cool Table Fans

19 Sep 2019 by Admin

The journalist and expert for DDR product design Günter Höhne writes for the blog DDR Museum. In this article he is taking a closer look at the design of table fans in the DDR.

To Bake

DDR-Recipe: Pear Casserole

DDR recipes

13 Sep 2019 by Janine Henschel

Autumn time is pear time. The delicious fruits are easy to be transformed into a pear casserole that is quickly done. A recipe for the whole family.

Günter Höhne writes

Giftware from the Traffic Police

5 Sep 2019 by Admin

Günter Höhne recalls the traffic police, whose members were also colloquially called “white mice” and enjoyed mingling with ordinary citizens. Even with their own souvenirs and giftware.

Object of the Month

Magazine „UdSSR im Bau“ / „Sowjetunion“

21 Aug 2019 by Admin

The object of the month August is the 1930 by Maxim Gorky established magazine “UdSSR im Bau” which, in 1950, was renamed “Sowjetunion“. Well preserved issues are rare and constitute a highly informative historical primary source.