German History from the Middle Ages to the Fall of the Berlin Wall

The Permanent Exhibition in the Zeughaus provides key insights into 1,500 years of Germany‘s past. A tour covering the two floors of the exhibition chronologically presents German history in its European context: the introductory section on the first floor revolves around changes in the borders of Germany and Europe, and the history of the German language. The tour then covers the Middle Ages, the Reformation, the Thirty Year‘s War, on to the German Empire and end of the First World War in 1918. The ground floor explores the Weimar Republic, the National Socialist regime, and the post-war period. The exhibition also covers the history of the two German states from 1949, the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, and German reunification in 1990.

6,000 historical exhibits show us how people lived and thought, as well as the events and historical developments they were part of. The exhibition focusses on political history shaped by rulers, politicians and communities. Furthermore, each epoch in the exhibition also contains a variety of rooms in which everyday life is explored.