Zeitgeschichtliches Forum (Forum of Contemporary History), Leipzig

The Forum of Contemporary History (Zeitgeschichtliches Forum) in Leipzig is a museum dedicated to exploring the contemporary history of Germany, with a strong focus on the division of the country, life under the communist regime of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), and the reunification process. Opened in 1999, the museum is situated in the bustling Grimmaische Strasse in Leipzig's city center. A striking feature of the museum is the sculpture "The Step of the Century" by Wolfgang Mattheuer, prominently displayed at its entrance.

The museum's permanent exhibition offers an in-depth look at the history of opposition and civil disobedience within the repressive one-party state governed by the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED). It chronicles daily life in the Soviet Occupation Zone and the GDR from the end of World War II in 1945 up to the Peaceful Revolution of 1989 and the subsequent reunification of Germany. A comprehensive update to the exhibition was completed in 2018, which expanded its coverage to include the period after reunification, addressing themes such as the challenges and achievements of integration, international terrorism, digitization, and globalization. The exhibition includes around 2,000 objects, photographs, and films, along with numerous interviews with eyewitnesses, bringing to life the recent history of Germany.

In addition to its permanent exhibition, the Forum hosts several temporary exhibitions each year, along with lectures, readings, film screenings, and other events related to historical topics. Its extensive collection on GDR history includes over 200,000 items, such as the literary and artistic estate of Johannes Hegenbarth, author of the GDR comic "Mosaik."