Deutsches Historisches Museum (German Historical Museum), Berlin (must see)

The German Historical Museum, known by the acronym DHM, describes itself as a place of "enlightenment and understanding of the shared history of Germans and Europeans." Often viewed as one of the most important museums in Berlin, it is also one of its most frequented. The museum is located in the Baroque-style Armory building, the oldest on the Unter den Linden, which was completed in 1706.

The DHM was established on 28 October 1987, to commemorate Berlin’s 750th anniversary, and was inaugurated inside the Reichstag. The idea for the museum was supported by Federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who considered it a national priority. A committee of historians developed the museum’s concept, emphasizing a multi-perspective approach to German history in an international context.

The DHM was originally planned to be built near the Reichstag. However, the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 changed plans, and the museum was moved to the historic Armory on Unter den Linden. This transition was completed in 1991. The Armory underwent extensive restoration from 1994 to 1998 and saw a new hall – for temporary exhibitions, spanning four floors – designed by Chinese-American architect I M Pei.

In addition to it, the museum also features a specialized research library with over 225,000 volumes, including rare books and museum catalogs, housed in a building that previously served as the Prussian Central Cooperative Bank and later a GDR state-run company. The museum’s cinema offers a program focusing on historical and film-historical themes through exhibitions and retrospectives. Since 2004, it has been a venue for the Berlin International Film Festival’s "Retrospective and Homage" screenings.

Inaugurated by Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2006, the museum's Permanent Exhibition remains a key institution for understanding Germany’s past in a global context. Comprehensive explanations for the exhibits are available in both German and English, making it worth a few hours' investment for those intrigued by in-depth German and European history.

Editor's Note:
The Armory is closed for essential renovations and the renewal of the Permanent Exhibition since June 28, 2021. It is expected to reopen to visitors at the end of 2025.