Blog :: DDR Museum

1 Oct 2021 by Melanie Alperstaedt

They are almost rarities of the GDR era: the coloured DEFA picture books. Also known as slide roll films, the picture books were widely distributed in East German homes from the 1950s to the end of the 1970s.

From the collection

The Berlin TV Tower

Collection

1 Oct 2021 by Vanessa Jasmin Lemke

At 368 metres, it is still the tallest building in Germany: the Berlin TV Tower. In this blog post, we present the history of this world-famous building, which was opened in the capital of the GDR on 3 October 1969, as well as objects from our collection on the subject.

From the collection

With distinction! Medals and decorations in the GDR

Collection

7 Sep 2021 by Jörn Kleinhardt

There was no stinginess with decorations and medals in the GDR. In fact, every field of society had its own awards. We present a small selection in this article.

History

Reaching for the Stars: The »Interkosmos« Programme of the Eastern Bloc

Collection

24 Aug 2021 by Jörn Kleinhardt

The »Interkosmos« programme of the then Soviet Union was intended to advance scientific research vis-à-vis the USA and also made it possible for other nations to fly into space. Sigmund Jähn was the first German to fly into space.

Collection

The Society for German-Soviet Friendship

Collection

27 Jul 2021 by Jörn Kleinhardt

The Society for German-Soviet Friendship (DSF) was the second largest mass organisation in the GDR and was intended to counteract the anti-Soviet attitude of the population after the end of the war. The DSF was active in cultural work with numerous activities.

From the collection

»Kaffee Mix« and coffee crisis

Collection

26 Jul 2021

One of the most sensational products of the GDR was the »Kaffee Mix«, also called »Erich's Krönung«. In this blog post, we take a closer look at the history of coffee in the GDR.

From the collection

Alcohol in the GDR

Collection

22 Jul 2021

In the GDR, people liked to drink a lot. Alcohol was not in short supply, and the shelves in the shops were well stocked. Today, the bottles are piled up in the collection of the DDR Museum.

From the collection

On the way to world class – the 1-megabit memory chip

Collection

13 Jul 2021 by Sören Marotz

The GDR missed the way to become a world leader in memory chip technology. In 1988, the 1-megabit microchip »U61000« was presented to the Politburo – while the West's 4-megabit chip was already in development.

Travelling

Baltic Sea Island Rügen

DDR tourism

6 Jul 2021 by Jörn Kleinhardt

The Baltic Sea island of Rügen is known for its long and fine sandy beaches and is the largest island in Germany. The sights attract many holidaymakers every year.

From the Collection

The magazine »FF Dabei«, a popular companion for the TV programme

10 Feb 2021 by Jörn Kleinhardt

The official television programme in the GDR was very limited during its existence. Due to the limited range of media, there was also only one programme guide. Until 1969 it was called »Funk und Fernsehen der DDR« (FF) and was then renamed »FF dabei«.

From the collection

Civilian travel with Deutsche Lufthansa and Interflug

Collection

4 Feb 2021 by Jörn Kleinhardt

On 4 February 1956, Deutsche Lufthansa opened its scheduled flight operations on the route between East Berlin and Warsaw. Two years later, the airline Interflug was founded. Our collection contains numerous objects from the 33 years of Interflug.

From the collection

Creative building with Formo and PEBE bricks

Collection

24 Jan 2021 by Jörn Kleinhardt

Creative building and corresponding system toys have always inspired many children. While in the West one could indulge one's play instinct with Playmobil and LEGO, in the DDR there were also two established building systems with PEBE and Formo. The original idea of plug-in bricks goes back to the anchor bricks developed in Rudolstadt (Thuringia) in the 19th century.

Ask Dr. Wolle

Storming the Stasi: Memories of 15 January 1990

Topic DDR

15 Jan 2021 by Dr. Stefan Wolle

At the turn of the year 1989/90, the DDR was in a strange state of suspense. The Wall had been open for eight weeks. The old order was dissolving, a new order did not yet exist. The weightlessness of free fall prevailed. It was only a question of time when the impact would occur.

From the Museum

0-euro note: 30 Years German Unity

Museum news

11 Oct 2020 by Vanessa Jasmin Lemke

In September 2020, on occasion of the 30th anniversary of German Unity, the DDR Museum released the new 0-euro note. It is available in the museum shop.

From the Collection

Pictorial: »GDR in Objects 1949-1990. Leisure, Culture, Travel«

Collection

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.

DDR in Objects 1949-1989

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«.

From the Collection

10 GDR Objects from Dresden

Collection

8 Sep 2020 by Frank Meißner

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.

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