If this newsletter is not displayed correctly, please click here.

DDR MUSEUM
Happy Easter to you!
Welcome note of the director  Happy Easter!
Easter in DDR Museum  DDR Museum opens in the accustomed manner on the holidays
New cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences of Berlin  The DDR Museum is looking forward to working with interested students
The GNTB is looking for the most popular attractions of Germany  We would appreciate your support!
The DDR Museum is enlarging the exhibition  Impressions from backstage

April 12th, 2016  World class standard from the GDR
April 21st, 2016  What we wanted – what we are: Peter-Michael Diestel
April 26th, 2016  Within the cerebellum of the octopus
April 29th, 2016  Premiere: Spook in the skyscraper
May 10th, 2016  Movie and book presentation: Elfriede Brüning
May 24th, 2016  Rock legend Toni Krahl
June 21st, 2016  And so it became day

Shop  basic knowledge GDR compact   Wall-Quiz  

General Information  Location & Contact   Exhibition & Visitor Centre

  Welcome note of the director
Happy Easter!

Dear friends of the DDR Museum,


If you visit the DDR Museum at the moment, perhaps you can hear dull, silent hammering. Only if you take a closer look, you will see some short changes while visiting the museum. Somewhere a wall is displaced for some centimetres, somewhere else the ceiling seems to differ a bit in colour. But backstage metres high walls are torn, ceiling parts are pulled down, ventilation and heating pipes are ripped out - 15 containers of rubbish are already put out! Meanwhile the floors get newly concreted, different walls are placed and meters of cable are laid - everything is progressing well!


Also besides the building lot many things are in progress: By a cooperation with the HTW Berlin (University of Applied Sciences) we opened the museum for the visions of young professionals. Thus the museum becomes a place, where professional interests and new research ideas get heard. Some projects are already planned. I´m looking forward to the results!


Because Easter is around I would like to wish happy holidays to you and your family! Maybe you could give us a hand by voting for the DDR Museum: The GNTB is looking for the most popular attractions of Germany. We would appreciate if you take a second to participate.

Yours,
Robert Rückel


  Easter in DDR Museum
DDR Museum opens in the accustomed manner on the holidays

At Easter the DDR Museum will open in accustomed manner: On Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Monday you can visit the DDR Museum between 10am and 8pm, on Saturday between 10am and 10pm. For avoiding long waiting times we recommend buying your tickets in advance in the online shop. These tickets are allowing to skip the waiting queue and to enter the exhibition immediately. Preparation is everything!

  New cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences of Berlin
The DDR Museum is looking forward to working with interested students

From now on the DDR Museum and the HTW Berlin will realise projects together. Thus both institutions will contribute the networking of cultural and educational institutions in Berlin. For this reason on the one hand academics of the degree programme museology and their students will work together over subjects concerning theoretical or practical issues of the DDR Museum. On the other hand the DDR Museum offers the possibility to the students of the HTW to receive practical impressions of the work of a museum, especially of subjects issuing the collection or the exhibition. Beyond the DDR Museum supports the students with its expertise.
The DDR Museum is already looking forward to a procreative exchange of experience and results!

  The GNTB is looking for the most popular attractions of Germany
We would appreciate your support!

Every year the GNTB asks foreign tourists to vote the most popular tourist attractions of Germany. Last year the DDR Museum achieved in all of Germany place 44 and was, beside the Museum Island Berlin in sum, the most popular museum for all guests from abroad.
If you have already experienced the DDR Museum, the whole team would appreciate your support. By using this link germany.travel/top100 you can vote for us by indicating "DDR Museum". It takes less than a minute- promised!

  The DDR Museum is enlarging the exhibition
Impressions from backstage

Now it´s getting serious! Almost invisible for the visitors the DDR Museum is enlarging the exhibition. The new part of the exhibition will base on the unique and successful concepts of the museum: The everyday life in the GDR shall be experienced in all its various facings by entering an adventurous world for adults and children. Futuristic technical installations and a lot of interactive offers accompany this journey.
Be excited to experience the feeling of being pulled back in another time, which you can explore by yourself by opening drawers, cabinets and hatches.

  April 12th, 2016, 7pm
World class standard from the GDR
Sylvia Wölfel will talk about technical design in the GDR by using the example of the all-rounder Multicar
Is it possible to expect shapeliness in a utility vehicle? Aren’t cost effectiveness, robustness and multifunctionality more important traits? The Multicar from Waltershausen possessed all of them. The indestructible, reliable and agile car also has its place within the GDR remembrance because of aesthetic reasons. With its looks and technical traits, the driving object of affection proved the skills of East-German engineers – after all, Multicar is the only still existing car brand from the GDR. This is the world class standard that Walter Ulbricht had always been asking for.

With:
Sylvia Wölfel, Technical Historian, Berlin
Sören Marotz, Head of Collection Department, DDR Museum, Berlin
Date: April 12th, 2016
Time: 7pm
Location: Visitor Center
Entry fee: Free
  April 21st, 2016, 7pm
What we wanted – what we are: Peter-Michael Diestel
Christian Booß in conversation with the last Secretary of the Interior of the GDR
When Peter-Michael Diestel took office in April of 1990 under the de Maizière administration, he was anything but popular among the civil rights activists who were occupying the Stasi headquarters at the time. The smart lawyer in his elegant suit just didn’t fit the picture of the outwardly anarchistically seeming revolutionist. He was, however, responsible for the liquidation of the Stasi. Trouble with no end in sight was inevitable. But the new Secretary of the Interior turned out to be a Robin Hood of his very own kind at least since he climbed up the roof of the Brandenburg jail to join the mutinying prisoners in July of 1990. Until today, the successful lawyer keeps to be out of the ordinary by breaking taboos and expressing provocative statements.

Discussion between:
Dr. Peter-Michael Diestel, lawyer, Zislow
Christian Booß, Historian, Berlin

Date: April 21st, 2016
Time: 7pm
Location: Visitor Center
Entry fee: Free
  April 26th, 2016, 7pm
Within the cerebellum of the octopus
Philipp Springer will introduce the new book “Gedächtnis der Staatssicherheit” (“Memory of the Ministry of State Security”)
Again and again, files of the Stasi keep occurring during debates about the past of the GDR. Even after almost three decades after the end of the Ministry of State Security, they are still appearing in a light of mystery and myth. For the first time ever, two historians from the Stasi records agency (BStU) are offering a systematic scientific analysis of the Stasi archive department. Beyond sensationalism, the anthology offers a meticulous and detailed depiction of the activities of department XII, methods of archiving, collection of data and electronic storage as well as the daily work routine of the department’s staff. Whenever talking or writing about Stasi files in the future, this anthology will necessarily have to be part of the discourse.

With:
Dr. Philipp Springer, Historian, Berlin
Dr. Stefan Wolle, Scientific Head of the DDR Museum, Berlin
Date: April 26th, 2016
Time: 7pm
Location: Visitor Center
Entry fee: Free
  April 29th, 2016, 3pm and 7pm
Premiere: Spook in the skyscraper
The DDR Museum will present a production of the SpukTheaterBerlin.
The plot takes place in a disreputable inn where Jette and August Deibelschmidt are intoxicating and robbing their guests. They get cursed for their crimes and are waking up 200 years later in East Berlin during the 1980s. Where there had been their inn once, a skyscraper is now rising high into the air. In order to be released from their curse, the two now have to perform five good deeds. In doing so, they are quite messing up the new building and its residents.
The play is based on a series in seven parts produced by the GDR television in 1982. The resurrection of the trickster couple promises to be a nostalgic and scary delight for the entire family.


Play by:
SpukTheaterBerlin, acting company, Berlin
Date: April 29th, 2016
Time: 3pm and 7pm
Location: Visitor Center
Entry fee: From 21€, 15€ reduced price. Children under the age of 12 from 11€.

Further information

The double premiere will take place on April 29th at 3pm and 7pm, other shows will take place on April 30, May 1st, 4th and 5th at 3pm and 7pm!
  May 10th, 2016, 7pm
Movie and book presentation: Elfriede Brüning
Sabine Kebir and Wolfgang Herzberg are introducing a new book about the author Elfriede Brüning
In her more than 100 year-long life, Elfriede Brüning has written dozens of novels, reports and articles. Her work is mainly about women’s destinies during the upheavals of the twentieth century. Her books were widely popular during the GDR. On the occasion of her 100th birthday, Sabine Kebir and Wolfgang Herzberg have produced a movie about the author which is now to be shown again. Sabine Kebir has now written a monography about Elfriede Brüning with the title “Frauen ohne Männer?” (“Women without men?”).
The authors are intending to lead a discussion about the movie and the book with the audience.


Discussion between:
Dr. Sabine Kebir, Author, Berlin
Dr. Wolfgang Herzberg, Historian, Berlin

Date: May 10th, 2016
Time: 7pm
Location: Visitor Center
Entry fee: Free
  May 24th, 2016, 7pm
Rock legend Toni Krahl
Toni Krahl is introducing his new book „Rocklegenden“ along with the last chef of the AMIGA production company Jörg Stempel
It all started with a Beatles record in 1962. The music seized him and never let go ever since. In the GDR, the trail of success of “Yeah, yeah yeah” was simply unstoppable. New bands were founded which not only covered hits but also thrilled their fans with their own songs. As the lead singer of the band CITY, Toni Krahl soon played in the first row and is now able to tell stories of undreamt of liberties and absurd boundaries, unforgotten songs and shows as well as legendary colleagues.
With drive and passion, Toni Krahl presents rock history from East Germany in his autobiography and how it has been continuing over the past 25 years.


With:
Toni Krahl, Musician, Berlin
Jörg Stempel, Music Manager, Berlin
Sören Marotz, Head of Collection Department of the DDR Museum, Berlin
Date: May 24th, 2016
Time: 7pm
Location: Visitor Center
Entry fee: Free
  June 21st, 2016, 7pm
And so it became day
The songwriters Claudia Woloszyn and Thomas Strauch will create an evening in remembrance of Gerhard Gundermann
The singer from the brown coal field in the Lausitz region, whose anniversary of death will be on June 21st, became famous when the GDR was coming to an end. Until his early death in 1998 he had produced five albums in which he picks his thoughts and visions about his home, work, nature, love and death as central themes. His songs and texts made him an authentic voice of East Germany.
The two songwriters Claudia Woloszyn and Thomas Strauch perceive themselves as following the artistic tradition of Gundermann and want to keep the memory of the singer alive. They will be presenting songs by Gundermann as well as their own texts and pieces.


Presentation by:
Claudia Woloszyn, Teacher/Songwriter, Frankfurt (Oder)
Thomas Strauch, Songwriter, Frankfurt (Oder)

Date: June 21st, 2016
Time: 7pm
Location: Visitor Center
Entry fee: Free
  Shop - Wall-Quiz
Wall-Quiz

The border through Berlin is hardly conceivable today: It devided families, friends and colleagues. Nearly 30 years it imprisoned the people.  136 persons payed for the trial to overcome it with their lives. The fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989 was cheered by an entire nation. 20 years after, a lot is forgotten or repressed. There is much to be learnt from this game and lots of fun to be had, wether you're playing alone or in a group, and for Wall connoisseurs and Wall novices alike!
  Shop - basic knowledge GDR compact
basic knowledge GDR compact

Stefan Wolle's book "basic knowledge GDR compact" is a standard item with the most important facts about the GDR. It is the perfect access for GDR-interested persons. Thus, this scientifical work is a reference book and with it's susupenseful and fluent style also an interesting reading. Dr. Stefan Wolle is the head of the scientific team of the DDR Museum and one of the most famous DDR-experts. Wolle studied in East-Berlin, he was associate of the academy of sciences in the GDR, during the peaceful revolution he was expert at the round table and later employee of the Berlin Commissioner for the Records of the State Security of the Former GDR. His numerous specialist books rank among the most known of the toppic GDR.  
  General Information
Location and contact:

DDR Museum
Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 1
10178 Berlin
right on the river Spree,
directly opposite the Berlin Cathedral

Tel: +49 (0)30 - 847 123 73 - 0
Fax: +49 (0)30 - 847 123 73 - 9

post@ddr-museum.de
www.ddr-museum.de
The DDR Museum

The DDR Museum is Berlin's interactive museum and shows the life in the GDR in his permanent exhibition. The museum was established in 2006 and has been one of Berlin's most visited museums since 2007. The concept "A hands-on experience of history" is considered to be unique in the world.

Most of the above events are projects of the DDR Museum Berlin e.V., the society supporting the museum. Become member of the society here and visit the society's events for free
Visitor centre

Exhibition

The visitor centre is a one minute walk from the DDR Museum. Monday - Sunday
Saturday:
no closing day
10am - 8pm
10am - 10pm
 
Newsletter 2/2016
© DDR Museum Berlin e.V.
all rights reserved.
Please click here to contact us.
You can recommend the newsletter to somebody here!!
Imprint: DDR Museum Berlin e.V., Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 1, 10178 Berlin

If you don't want to get future newsletters, you can unsubscribe here!