Journey back to the DDR

Experience lively and interactive history based on sound academic research. The permanent exhibition of the DDR Museum introduces its visitors to the history of everyday life in the DDR and the realities of life under Socialism. Visitors are invited to extend their knowledge of a wide range of topics through direct engagement with historical sources. 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, an authentic reconstruction of a high-rise tower block flat with five rooms, 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 can join in the fun.

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 DDR? Our exhibition answers this question with 47 topic areas spread out over an exhibition space of over 1000 m². The DDR Museum is the largest, most interactive and diverse exhibition focusing on the DDR 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 DDR flat and interact with an exhibition which takes a look behind the apparent idyll.

THE DDR'S FINAL YEAR – START INTO THE UNCERTAIN

From November 28, 2019, the small exhibition »The DDR's final year – Start into the uncertain« will look at the period from the fall of the Berlin Wall to reunification. Political, economic, social and cultural developments are symbolically explained in 26 wall showcases.

The final and most significant year of the DDR began with the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989. For the first time ever, everything was up for grabs: its social order, inclusion in the Eastern Bloc, sovereignty. The special exhibition therefore focuses on the eventful period between November 9, 1989 and October 3, 1990, the day of German unification. The political and economic developments on the way to reunification, special events, new freedoms as well as commonalities and challenges in the coming together of the two German states are discussed.

»Many of the changes in this last year of the DDR affected people personally. Some saw the end of the DDR as the failure of an utopia and saw their previous life's achievements questioned. For others, it was the start to new horizons,« says Sören Marotz, who curated the special exhibition together with Dr. Stefan Wolle.

The special exhibition will be on display in the foyer of the DDR Museum between November 28, 2019 and April 13, 2020. Admission to the special exhibition is free of charge.

From 6 pm on November 27, 2019, the opening event of the special exhibition will take place in the Visitor Center of the DDR Museum with a presentation by the Deputy Director of the Leibniz Centre for Contemporary History Potsdam Dr. Jürgen Danyel. Click here to see the location of the visitor center.

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 a complex topic. Visitors leave our exhibition enthused and informed, learning not just through the objects with which they come into contact, 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!

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. A survey of international visitors conducted by the German National Tourist Board established that we were the most popular museum amongst foreign 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 to all members of the family, bringing different generations together in a shared experience. The 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.