The Guardian, 31. 8. 90

. .. Some 1,052 exhibits are an show, ranging from a 2 cm memorial coin to a painting measuring 5.5 by 7.5 m by Václav Sochor, depicting a scene from the Prussian-Austrian war of 1866. Indeed, without the explanations given in the 527-page catalogue the visitor might find it difficult to distinguish between the 13 sections spread over 18 interconnected rooms and covering various aspects of 19th century history.
However, there is one aspect impossible to overlook: this is no attempt to extol the merits of Bismarck. On the contrary, in addition to the pictures and articles demonstrating the progress in industry and war technology, one whole section is devoted to Bismarck's dictatorial tendencies, his stringent anti socialist laws and the social strife they engendered.
Any amount of national kitsch is an display, particularly in the last section which deals with the cult made of Bismarck after his retirement from office.
There is an extensive program in support of the exhibition, and six European historians, among them Norman Stone, will lecture an Bismarck's influence an European politics.

Michael Stone