The DDR Museum, also known as the East German Museum, is renowned for its highly interactive exhibits, despite its relatively small size. Intrigued by this reputation, I made the decision to visit the museum. As it turned out, walking was indeed the best mode of transportation to reach the museum, which is situated on the riverbank. The entrance to the museum is conveniently located near the Berlin Dom, offering visitors the opportunity to take a boat ride on the river as well.
This image is taken from the website TripAdvisor
I purchased an online ticket for the DDR Museum.
By buying the ticket online, I paid 5.5 euros for the specified date, whereas it would have cost 8.5 euros if I hadn’t specified the date. The online ticket allowed me to bypass the queue and simply scan the QR code upon arrival at the museum.
https://www.ddr-museum.de/en/landing/online-tickets
The DDR Museum was opened in 2006 by businessmen from West Germany. The museum meticulously documented every aspect of life in East Germany during that time, including food, clothing, housing, transportation, entertainment, education, and the government’s military activities, using various objects as historical artifacts.
Upon entering the exhibition hall, visitors are immediately greeted by a scaled-down representation of the Berlin Wall, complete with detailed features on both sides. The spacious area in the middle offers a vivid depiction of the wall’s physical presence.
When we first arrived in Berlin, our guide, who was a local resident, took us to explore the remnants of the Berlin Wall, so the children have a certain familiarity with its history.
However, as only a few relics remain, this model in the museum effectively captures the spatial concept of the Berlin Wall and brings its significance to life.
Upon entering the museum, you immediately find yourself engaged in an endless exploration.
Every showcase in the museum is designed to be interactive and can be opened. This feature is particularly popular with children, as it ignites their curiosity and prevents them from getting bored, even if the exhibits themselves may not initially capture their interest.
The act of flipping through and discovering hidden elements becomes an exciting and stimulating experience for young visitors.
Each compartment or drawer in the museum holds delightful surprises when opened.
The most exciting experience for children, undoubtedly, is the driving simulation! In East Germany, the “Trabi Satellite Car” faced import bans from the United States and Britain.
To overcome this challenge, the government mandated the production of a car without steel. In response, scientists ingeniously extracted plastic from wood and other materials, resulting in the creation of the world’s first car made entirely of man-made substances. (This fact reminds me of how remarkable the achievements of scientists in the former Soviet Union were.
They had the ability to create something extraordinary out of nothing, even reaching for the stars!) The car’s windshield is a large display screen, adding a touch of futuristic concept to the driving experience. Moreover, in East Germany, drivers didn’t need to worry about paying tolls while racing with this car. It’s quite an exciting concept!
Another enjoyable activity is using the interactive screen to create your own version of what a “socialist” should look like, including hairstyles, bags, holding newspapers, and other accessories.
My brother spent a significant amount of time at this particular exhibit, as there were no queues, allowing him to fully immerse himself in the creative process.
The best part is that after completing the design, it can be printed out with scores indicating the achievement. It adds an element of fun and engagement to the experience.
It is important for everyone to have knowledge and awareness about who this “socialist” figure represents.
Sister, do your depictions of socialists resemble Lenin?
The socialist education began at an early age, even in kindergarten. One interesting aspect was that all the children had to sit on small toilets when they needed to use the restroom. They were required to sit quietly and wait until everyone finished before they could get up together. This practice could be a bit embarrassing for some.
On another note, when looking at the toys that were used in kindergartens during the 60s, it is fascinating to see that there aren’t many differences compared to the toys used today.
In addition, there were numerous model houses of public housing that were quickly constructed and open for visitors to explore.
As I entered the museum, I pressed the doorbell and proceeded to step into the elevator. It had a distinct feeling of sinking and shaking, giving it an authentic elevator experience. This reminded me of a humorous incident from my time studying at Moss University, where a Russian teacher saw a few of us foolishly waiting in front of an elevator. He approached us and said:
“You have to bend down and listen to see if the elevator is working, otherwise you might be wasting your time.”
From this encounter, I concluded that elevators in socialist societies can have a rather personalized touch to them.
From the living room to the children’s room and kitchen, every detail in the museum is meticulously presented, offering a comprehensive depiction of daily life during that era.
A corner of the living room of the East German house
Although tourists from all over the world seem to have a sense of freshness, in fact, for Lara, this feeling is not unfamiliar. The knowledge and experience of Russia in the past 10 years, after all, East Germany can be said to be the avatar of the Soviet Union in this land.
(Left photo) Every East German child had to have a scarf, and it was even used as a prop for various games and activities.
In the children’s room, among the items displayed in the bookcase, you can spot the recognizable “MISCHKA” (little bear) and dolls (pictured on the right).
After exploring the public house, let’s immerse ourselves in the experience of paperwork! Imagine yourself as a “secretary” sitting at your desk, stamping seals on documents…
(At this moment, Lara couldn’t help but recall the days when she had to wait in line at the gates in Moscow, enduring the tedious process of getting documents stamped… Looking back, it was truly an unbearable memory.)
Kids genuinely enjoy stamping.
The significance of sports in socialism is evident in the abundance of athletes in Russia (or more precisely, the “former Soviet countries”). East Germany was no exception to this. When my son sees the initials WM (World Football), he becomes excited with anticipation.
It’s just that the photos don’t show his excitement….”
After writing this article, I suddenly realized… Oh my goodness, is my photography skill really that poor?! XD It’s challenging to capture quality photos in a crowded museum, especially with two energetic kids in tow. I feel a bit guilty about it.
In reality, the museum isn’t very large, but I highly recommend visiting it if you ever have the chance to go to Berlin. Before you embark on your visit, it’s important to have some understanding of the history of East and West Germany.
Otherwise, you might feel a bit lost and unsure about what you’re looking at. One crucial point I didn’t capture in photographs with my children (as it would be strange for a mother to photograph them naked without proper context and explanation) is the famous FKK nudist camp. It’s actually a fascinating cultural phenomenon.
During the era of martial law, nudity represented the greatest form of liberation for the people of East Germany. Surprisingly, the government somewhat encouraged it, reasoning that people needed an outlet and that if they were preoccupied with swimming naked, they would be less likely to channel their energy into opposing the government.
This logic may seem absurd to us now, but it’s important to remember that things cannot always be judged solely through our present-day lens of reason.
