The cultural-historical permanent exhibition in the Proviant Magazine displaysmonuments from 1849 to 1986, with which the respective state powers wanted to shape the Berlin cityscape. Due to the political upheavals in the 20th century, monuments that represented problematic or even threatening reminders or appreciation of the old ways were removed from public spaces by the new goverments. The museum offers an opportunity to come to terms with the great symbols of the German Empire, the Weimar Republic, National Socialism and the GDR, which were supposed to be buried and forgotten – and now serve a new function as
testimonies to German history. Instead of commanding reverence, they make historical events tangible in the truest sense of the word.
Because though usually not allowed in a museum: here, touching is permitted in most cases.

Among the most important exhibits are the monument ensemble of the Siegesallee with its Brandenburg-Prussian rulers, erected between 1898 and 1901, the National Socialist-influenced “Decathlete” by Arno Breker, and the head of the monumental Lenin Monument, unveiled in 1970 at today’s Platz der Vereinten Nationen (United Nations Square) in Friedrichshain.

The project was sponsored by:

logos

Monumnets of the Siegesallee, photo: Friedhelm Hoffmann © Stadtgeschichtliches Museum, Zitadelle Spandau

Guided tours for groups

Museum Service Berlin

This unique museum with its many monuments offers more than you may see on first sight. You will find a lot of information about Berlin and German history. Discover the hidden stories behind the monuments and take part in an exhibition tour!

3D model of the Lenin head monument

A 3D model of one of our most famous objects. The head of the Lenin Monument from the exhibition Unveiled. Berlin and its monuments. Dare to take a look inside!

Fig.: 3D model of the Lenin head monument in the exhibition Unveiled. Berlin and its monuments © Nicolas Tsuchiya

How Hitler’s Horses kicked off an Art Thriller | Arts Unveiled | Deutsche Welle History and Culture

Arts Unveiled embarks on a fascinating search for traces of Josef Thorak’s “Striding Horses”, which have been lost for over 80 years, and in doing so not only takes a look at the exciting investigation into the recovery of the statues, but also examines the dilemma of dealing with Nazi works of art.

What to do with obnoxious statues? | Culture explained – Flick Flack | ARTE

“Monuments take up space and are always the subject of controversy. The fallen head of the famous Lenin monument and other fallen statues in Berlin were hotly debated, and racist depictions from the German colonial era are offensive. “

 

© 2021 ARTE G.E.I.E.

For International Monument Day, April 18, we want to take a closer look at the stelae of the Ernst Thälmann Monument in Berlin in our video. Urte Evert, the museum director of the Stadtgeschichtliches Museum Spandau, places them in the always current debate around monument toppling as well as the handling of controversial monuments today and gives interesting background information.

In 2022, the head of the Ernst Thälmann monument is still in public space and can be viewed in the park of the same name in the district of Pankow. The stelae, which were removed in 1990, have been cleaned and, in their original state, are now part of the permanent exhibition opened in 2016 “Unveiled. Berlin and its Monuments” at the Spandau Citadel.

Video
Content: Dr. Urte Evert, Stadtgeschichtliches Museum Spandau
Production: Stadtgeschichtliches Museum Spandau, 2022
Camera & Editing: Claudia Sauerstein

 

The museum director Dr. Urte Evert guides you through the exhibition and reveals some anecdotes and interesting background information.

Video
Content: Dr. Urte Evert, Head of the Spandau City History Museum
Production: Stadtgeschichtliches Museum Spandau, 2021
Camera & editing: Nikolaus Radecke
Monument to the fallen Railwaymen, photo: Citadel Berlin, Friedhelm Hoffmann
Genius of the battle at Grossgoerschen, photo: Citadel Berlin, Friedhelm Hoffmann
Steles of the Ernst Thälman Monument, photo: Citadel Berlin, Friedhelm Hoffmann
Proviantmagazin,

Location

Provisions Depot

© Franz Thöricht