The permanent exhibition of the German Historical Museum acquaints visitors with the various periods of German history in their wider European context. Across two levels, historical artefacts are showcased in a wide variety of settings, whiletemporary exhibitions and special events complete the picture. A number of guided tours are on offer to suit various groups and interests. They cover all sections of the museum and take place at set times each day. Individual tours can be booked in advance. The museum is open every day.

The German Historical Museum in the centre of Berlin is the national museum for history in Germany. It aims to provide “enlightenment and communication” about a common history shared by Germans and other Europeans right through to present day.

Museum for enlightenment and communication

The German Historical Museum in the Zeughaus (former armoury) on “Unter den Linden” has been open to the public since 2006 and has a permanent exhibition entitled “German History in Images and Testimonials”. An exhibition space of around 7,500m² is home to nine different eras, from the start of German history to present day. The exhibition ends with “1945 – 1949 Germany Under Allied Occupation” and “1949-1994 Divided Germany and Reunification”. The whole exhibition is spread over two floors. The upper floor covers the period from the first century A.D. to the end of the German Empire in 1918, and the lower floor presents the history of the Weimar Republic, the Nazi regime, post-war Germany and the two German states until the withdrawal of the allied troops in 1994.

More than 8,000 historical exhibits tell of people, events, ideas and processes documenting approximately 2,000 years of German history, from the first century BC to present day. The exhibits are significant objects ranging from almost every area of our historical heritage: documents, paintings and other works of art, books, posters, textiles, furniture, machines, a diverse range of everyday items and much, much more.