Journey back to the GDR

Experience a lively and interactive exhibition based on sound academic research. At the GDR Museum you can learn everything about life in the German Democratic Republic. Visitors are invited to grow their knowledge through direct engagement with historical sources, objects and images. We do not hide all of our exhibits behind glass but instead encourage our visitors to touch, hold and interact with a range of objects and installations.

The highlights of the exhibition include a simulated drive in an original Trabant P601 car, a fully furnished reconstruction of a high-rise tower block flat with hundreds of original objects to discover, countless interactive games suitable for young and old alike, the monumental fresco »In Praise of Communism« and the opportunity to interact with a range of artefacts. Visitors of all ages will gain a deeper understanding of the history in an educative and entertaining way.

The largest DDR exhibition in Berlin

East German citizens were cut off from the outside world by a wall and barbed wire; the Ministry for State Security exercised blanket surveillance. What was everyday life like in the GDR? Our exhibition answers this question with more than 45 topic areas spread out over an exhibition space of over 1000 m². This makes the DDR Museum the largest, most interactive and diverse exhibition focusing on the GDR in Berlin .

The exhibition is divided into three themed areas: »Public Life«, »State and Ideology« and »Life in a Tower Block«. Enter a fully furnished GDR flat and interact with an exhibition which takes a look behind the apparent idyll.

A nation and its heroes – 25 tales from the DDR

From 28 April to 31 October 2022, the special exhibition »A nation and its heroes – 25 tales from the GDR« will be on display in the foyer of the DDR Museum, portraying well-known and unknown personalities whose deeds are part of the history of the bygone state. Admission to the special exhibition is free of charge.

It presents not only the (success) stories of »people's heroes«, e.g. Olympic champion Katarina Witt or cosmonaut Sigmund Jähn, but also stories of »antiheroes« who often risked their career and freedom, such as Robert Havemann or Frieda Spitzbarth, who protested in 1964 in a letter to Walter Ulbricht against the demolition of the Leipzig University Church. A third group are the »republic's heroes«. People like the miner Adolf Hennecke, who exceeded the production standard by 387 percent in 1948, or the racing cyclist Gustav Adolf »Täve« Schur served as role models and socialist ideals for state propaganda.

Everyday life – The Wall – The Stasi: all under one roof

The range of topics covered by the exhibition of the DDR Museum makes it the perfect introduction to this complex topic. Visitors leave our exhibition enthused and informed, learning not just through the objects they come into contact with, but profiting from our unique multi-sensory hands-on experience and interaction with a range of  exhibits.

Our visitors do not just read - they see, touch and hear. Engaging all their senses, they hear propaganda, read original texts and laugh at jokes. Come and see for yourself and find out what you have always wanted to know about the GDR.

A prize-winning Exhibition

The innovative design of the DDR Museum has earned it two nominations for the prestigious »European Museum of the Year« award. Moreover, according to a survey by the German National Tourist Board, we are the most popular museum in Germany among international tourists. But don’t just take our word for it – come and see for yourself.

All the texts and diagrams in the exhibition are provided in German and English. The design of the exhibition ensures that visitors do not need any prior knowledge and can enjoy a first-class introduction to an exciting aspect of German and European history. The DDR Museum is living proof that history need not be boring.

A family-friendly museum

The DDR Museum is accessible for all members of the family, bringing different generations together in a shared experience. There are many opportunities for playful interaction, ensuring that children and teenagers enjoy what remains a highly educational experience.

A range of child-friendly interactive exhibits such as our Trabi simulator and our Kindergarten installation bring children into the world which they would have inhabited had they grown up in East Germany.