The COLD WAR Museum
In 2006 the Berlin Senate decided to showcase the international significance of the Berlin Wall through a
presentation at the former Checkpoint Charlie, the famous border crossing on the Friedrichstraße. On
November 5th, 2010 an association dedicated to the study and presentation of the history of the Cold
War was established in Germany. Dedicated to this association is an international academic council with
scholars from the East and the West, which is working on the development of a Cold War Museum and
will, in the future, function as the Museum’s governing board. The Museum's launch is planned for fall
2011, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the construction of the Berlin Wall.
Two decades after the end of the Cold War, the gravity of this confrontation is a barely comprehensible
phenomenon, particularly for younger generations. The conflict not only posed a constant threat of a
nuclear inferno but also shaped international relations and domestic politics throughout the world.
No city was as central to the origin, the course and the end of the Cold War as the divided Berlin. And no
place in Berlin was more symbolic of the superpowers’ confrontation as Checkpoint Charlie. It was the
symbol of the defense of western democracy, a passage for Cold War diplomats heading for
consultations, and – on October 27, 1961 – the site of a narrowly avoided confrontation between the
U.S. and Soviet troops. Checkpoint Charlie is the ideal place to establish an innovative Cold War
museum.
The idea behind the planned museum is to present, to German and international audiences alike, the
history of the Cold War through the prism of events that took place at and around Checkpoint Charlie.
Preserving this memory and educating today’s and future generations about the Cold War is a historic
and political responsibility.
The global challenges we face today in the 21st century, such as the spread of nuclear technologies and
weapons of mass destruction or the Islamic extremism, are to some extent a legacy from the Cold War.
Without the knowledge of the worldwide confrontation after World War II, today`s challenges cannot be
fully understood.
Today`s Berlin has, in this historical context, a unique opportunity and responsibility to serve as a stage
for portraying and interpreting the story and the lessons of the Cold War. Presenting the many
dimensions of the Cold War in a single museum is a significant challenge. The exhibitions must be
accessible to visitors with limited time, as well as sophisticated and technologically advanced to allow
serious study of the era they depict.
Project Implementation:
To be attractive for the expected wide range of visitors, the exhibition concept should be not only
compelling in terms of its content but also ground-breaking in its implementation. The museum’s
organization should reflect the following considerations:
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The expected audience will vary widely in age and origin, ranging from contemporary witnesses to
younger visitors who never experienced firsthand the trials and tribulations of the conflict.
Given the complexity of the history of the Cold War, it is advisable to use audiovisual media as part of
the presentation. Audiovisual media can be particularly effective in expressing the effect of the Cold
War on people’s daily lives.
For the visitors with a limited amount of time the museum will offer a compact tour providing a broad
overview of the major events of the Cold War.
In addition to featuring the permanent exhibition, the museum will develop into a “living museum”,
giving the visitors the opportunity to learn more through lectures and discussions. These events will
include presentations by contemporary witnesses and by historians.
The idea behind the Cold War Museum is not to compete with existing institutions in Berlin. Its goal is to
provide unique depth and wealth of perspectives in telling the Cold War story. To do so, the Museum
will collaborate with a wide range of museums and historical institutions in Berlin, across Germany and
internationally.
Contact:
Prof. Konrad Jarausch
Zentrum Kalter Krieg – Ausstellung am Checkpoint Charlie e.V.
jarausch@email.unc.edu oder über Eva Ritzkowski +49 (30) 838 56801