Special Exhibitions by the DDR Museum

Current special exhibition

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

From 25 March 2026 to 15 November 2026, the special exhibition »A Country in a Container – The Disposal of GDR State Symbols« will be on display as part of the permanent exhibition at the GDR Museum.

With the end of the GDR, its state symbols also lost their validity. The special exhibition focuses on their subsequent history and shows how these relics continue to shape our culture of remembrance to this day.

More information about the special exhibition

Exhibition showcase special exhibition »A Country in a Container«

Past special exhibitions of the DDR Museum at a glance

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Special Exhibition

West German money at last! The currency union of 1 July 1990

Duration: 07/2025 – 03/2026 
With this special exhibition, the DDR Museum explored the introduction of the Deutschmark in the GDR and showed how the currency union changed life in the East.

More about the exhibition
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SPECIAL EXHIBITION

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

Duration: 07/2024 - 06/2025
In five themed areas, the exhibition tells of the sea as a myth, the maritime border and the border region, art and culture, accommodation and food, and beach life.

More about the exhibition
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SPECIAL EXHIBITION

Little brother, big brother

Dates: 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

Dates: 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

Dates: 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

Dates: 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

Dates: 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

Dates: 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

Dates: 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

Dates: 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

Dates: 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
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Special Exhibition

Journey to Utopia – Visions of the Future from the GDR

Duration: 07/2017 – 11/2017 In the 1950s and 1960s, the GDR combined a belief in progress with socialist utopias. Futuristic objects and the front covers of the magazine »Jugend und Technik« illustrated these visions.

 

More about the exhibition
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Special Exhibition

Our Homeland – A Song in 49 Objects

Duration: 04/2017 – 06/2017
Using the song »Our Homeland«, the exhibition explored what »homeland« meant in the GDR. Key concepts from the song’s lyrics were illustrated with relevant exhibits, creating an original and at times ironic take on the concept of homeland.

More about the exhibition