Blog

Special exhibitions
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A Country in a Container – The Disposal of East German State Symbols

On the night of 2 October 1990, the GDR – and with it its state symbols – ceased to exist. This special exhibition examines their legacy and explores how these relics continue to shape our memories to this day. Read more
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Departure for Utopia – Visions of the future from the GDR

The special exhibition »Departure for Utopia – Visions of the Future from the GDR« focused on the socialist belief in progress, technology, and a better future. This blog post provides a summary review. Read more
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Love, Sex and Socialism

How did people love in the GDR – politically, privately, physically? The blog looks at grand gestures ranging from brotherly kisses to love letters, while also offering a concise review of the successful special exhibition on the theme of love. 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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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 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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Little brother, big brother – The GDR and the Soviet Union

The special exhibition explores the GDR’s dependencies, influence, and personal ties with the Soviet Union from the perspective of the »little brother«. This blog post highlights two of the exhibits. Read more
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Object of the Month

Ceramic Beer Mug – Tierpark Berlin

Every month we are introducing a new object of the month. The object of February is a ceramic beer mug from the Tierpark Berlin. A brief history of the Tierpark Berlin is presented by Nina Krasemann. Read more
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A Trip to the DDR - "The Journey of my Life"

Chapter 10: 30 Years Later

30 years have gone by since Shimelis visited the DDR in 1987, 30 years later the once 14-year-old boy has grown up and built a whole new life in Ethiopia. In the last part of this story, Shimelis takes us into his present life and how his journey into the DDR still impacts his life. Read more
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A Trip to the DDR - "The Journey of my Life"

Chapter 9: Good bye DDR!

"I wish I could have lived with those kind people forever." Time went by too fast for Shimelis, who visited the DDR in 1987. After some months outside of Ethiopia and it's troubles there, it was time to say goodbye and go back. Not a simple task for the 14-year-old boy. Read more
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A Trip to the DDR - "The Journey of my Life"

Chapter 8: Visiting Schwedt and Berlin

14-year-old ethiopian Shimelis visited the DDR in 1987 - the only other country he has ever seen. For a few months he enjoyed the massive cultural clash in the Pioneer Republic "Wilhelm Pieck", where he spent most of his days. But after some time Shimelis and the other delegations got the opportunity to visit Schwedt and East Berlin. Read more
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A Trip to the DDR - "The Journey of my Life"

Chapter 7: The Kissing Issue

1987 in Ethiopia. Shimelis lived in a camp for children who became victims of the war. One day he was allowed to visit the DDR - a life changing experience. It was the first and only time for him to visit another country. For a couple of months he visited the Pioneer Republic "Wilhelm Pieck". It was a time of many "firsts". Read more
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A Trip to the DDR - "The Journey of my Life"

Chapter 6: Pioneer Republic "Wilhelm Pieck"

Shimelis arrived at night in the Pioneer Republic "Wilhelm Pieck". After his flight with Interflug from Ethiopia and one culture shock after the other he finally arrived in the DDR. Slowly, he started to make friends and felt comfortable in the new world he was thrown into. Read more
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A Trip to the DDR - "The Journey of my Life"

Chapter 5: Welcome to the DDR

A few weeks ago, Shimelis sent a shout-out for his old friends, and one heard the call. Constanze Prehl was still an amharic student, when she was sent to Pionierrepublik "Wilhelm Pieck" as an interpreter for a delegation of young ethiopians. Shimelis remembers her from the second on he stepped out of the Interflug airplane. Read more
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A Trip to the DDR - "The Journey of my Life"

Chapter 4: Take-Off with Interflug

Do you remember your first ever flight? After Shimelis' father never came back from war, he went to a special camp for children. For years he hoped to get chosen as part of a delegation to visit another country. Finally the day came and he was sent to the DDR. How do you travel from Ethiopia to the DDR in 1987? Shimelis still remembers very well... Read more
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A trip to the DDR - "The journey of my life"

Chapter 3: New Horizons

Shimelis Haile Aga was born into Ethiopia's chaotic times of war. He was sent into a children's camp with many other kids who's families became the victims of the war. Some chosen children were allowed to join an exchange program to other socialist countries in the world. After years of waiting, he was finally chosen too, but everything went different to what he expected. Read more
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A Trip to the DDR - "The Journey of my Life"

Chapter 2: Living on the Battlefield

Shimelis Haile Aga visited the DDR in 1987. He still remebers his journey vividly, also because his story began far less memorable. It all started in the troubling times of war between Ethiopia and Somalia. As many young men, also Shimelis' father was sent to the battlefield, and thousands of families and children were left behind. Read more
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A Trip to the DDR - "The Journey of my Life"

Chapter 1: Born into Chaos

Meet Shimelis Haile Aga, 44 years old, born and raised in Ethiopia. The only other country he has ever seen, does'nt exist anymore. Today he tells the story about his trip to the DDR - the journey of his life - a story, that begins in Ethiopia's troubled late 1970s. Read more
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A Trip to the DDR - "The Journey of my Life"

Introduction: Looking for old Friends

A trip to the DDR changed his life: This is the story of the ethiopian Shimelis Haile Aga, who visited the DDR in 1987 - the only other country he has ever seen since. In a series of ten articles, he will tell his story of war and confusion, and the short escape with Interflug to a wonderland named DDR. Read more