Special exhibitions by the DDR Museum

Current special exhibition

The Baltic Sea – holiday destination, border region, place of longing

From 24 July 2024 to 31 March 2025, the special exhibition »The Baltic Sea – holiday destination, border region, place of longing« can be seen within the permanent exhibition of the DDR Museum.

The Baltic Sea coast was the most popular holiday destination in the GDR. Nina Hagen sang an unforgettable song about it. At the same time, the coast was a border area and was strictly guarded. 

In five themed areas, the exhibition tells the story of the sea as a myth, the sea border and the border area, art and culture, accommodation and food as well as beach life.

More information about the special exhibition

Past special exhibitions of the DDR Museum at a glance

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SPECIAL EXHIBITION

Little brother, big brother

Duration: 10/2023 – 03/2024
In this special exhibition, the dependencies and influences as well as personal friendships and relationships with the Soviet Union were shown in twelve themed areas from the perspective of the »little brother«, the GDR.

More about the exhibition
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SPECIAL EXHIBITION

The GDR in 200 objects

Duration: 04/2023 – 10/2023
In the illustrated book »GDR-Daily life in 200 Objects«, published by the DDR Museum Verlag, the objects depicted tell stories from the everyday lives of people in the GDR. Some of these objects were also shown as part of a special exhibition.

More about the illustrated book
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Special Exhibition

A country and its heroes

Duration: 04/2022 – 10/2022
On display were 25 well-known and unknown personalities from the GDR, including state heroes, sports idols and opposition figures. The exhibition also invited visitors to take a critical look at the concept of heroes.

More about the exhibition
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Special Exhibition

The Palace of the Republic

Duration: 09/2020 – 04/2022
30 years after its closure, this special exhibition showed the eventful history of the site – from the demolition of the Berlin City Palace in 1950 to the use of the Palace of the Republic and the planned opening of the Humboldt Forum.

More about the exhibition
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Special Exhibition

Last year GDR – Departure into the unknown

Duration: 11/2019 – 08/2020
This special exhibition shed light on the political, economic, social and cultural developments and challenges from the fall of the Berlin Wall to the reunification of the two German states.

More about the exhibition
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Special Exhibition

My Trabi – 26 two-stroke stories

Duration: 06/2029 – 11/2019
Memories were selected from numerous entries to provide a unique insight into life with the Trabi. The stories about the Trabant 601, the cult car of the GDR, were presented in 26 showcases. 

More about the exhibition
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Special Exhibition

Born in ‘89 – The children of reunification

Duration: 11/2018 – 05/2019
16 portraits of young adults provided insights into the lives of the last generation born in the GDR. Biographies, exhibits and formative events of the year 1989 were presented.

More about the exhibition
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Special Exhibition

Love, Sex & Socialism

Duration: 03/2018 – 10/2018
What influence did the state have on relationships, gender roles and family planning? Exciting exhibits were used to show how politics and ideology intervened deeply in people's private lives - from the Enlightenment to eroticism.

More about the exhibition
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Special Exhibition

Peace State GDR – Claim and Reality

Duration: 11/2017 – 03/2018
The GDR propagated a peace policy, but was heavily militarised. Exhibits in this special exhibition showed the contradiction between official rhetoric and reality.

More about the exhibition