Your visit
Opening hours:
Thursday–Tuesday
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Mon 9 p.m.)
Adress:
Olbrichtplatz 2
01099 Dresden
Comparative questions
What narrative is offered to the visitors?
While the museum itself claims, that it does hot have a single narrative, there is no denying that there are several narratives existing. They are connected through their maintopic of war, but they are following different directions.
For example the Military History Museum in Dresden offers visitors a narrative that challenges traditional perspectives on military history. Rather than glorifying war, the museum presents a critical view of military conflicts, emphasizing their human, social, and political dimensions. The narrative begins with the architectural design by Daniel Libeskind, which symbolizes a break in history, encouraging visitors to reflect on the disruptions caused by war.
Inside, the chronological and thematic exhibitions provide a dual approach. The chronological tour traces the evolution of warfare from ancient times to the present, highlighting how technological advancements and societal changes have shaped military conflicts. This historical progression is presented with an emphasis on the consequences of war, including the human cost and the impact on civilian populations.
The thematic exhibitions delve deeper into specific aspects of military history. Topics such as the relationship between military and society, the process of remembering and commemorating wars, and the experiences of soldiers and civilians are explored in detail. These themes are designed to provoke thought and discussion, encouraging visitors to consider the broader implications of military actions and policies.
Is there a person or a group, the narrative is centered around?
The museum addresses multiple perspectives, especially those of the military, ranking from a footsoldier to a high officer. Apart from the military perspectives, the museum also showcases perspectives of civilians.
Are pictures or images important in the construction of the museum narrative?
Yes, pictures and images are very important. Near the entrance, a black and white photo collage of wounded Iraqi soldiers is showcased. There are also “moving images” and movies played.
Also pictures of fights show how war was seen in earlier centuries.
Are there objects, Documents or Testimonies?
There are many different objects and artifacts, from paintings to rifles and clothing accessories, to bigger objects such as tanks, helicopters, and ships. On the top floor there were two slabs, and one statue.
There were also music records and there were also some scenes being shown, such as the Auschwitz-Trial courtroom, and a dollhouse (including bunker),
Shockingly, there were also human remains. There was a skull on display in one of the section titled: “Leiden am Krieg”.
Regarding documents that are on display in the museum, there are picture books, comics, literary works, and diaries (Cultural memory). Strikingly, there were very few “direct” testimonies. Almost all the cultural productions seemed to be consciously produced as works of art. In the third floor we saw a collection of books, some of which were diaries, but we didn’t see a single “real” diary. They were all professionally produced, most likely edited to some extent, and we can’t exclude the possibility that they were printed with profit in mind.
We also found it strange which books they let visitors interact with and which they didn’t. Placed far away from the other books, there was a children’s reading corner. Whether placing them far apart was a continuous decision or not, is unclear, but there is a certain irony in not letting visitors interact with books written by the people experiencing war firsthand and instead being relegated to simplified children’s literature. In our quick scan of the books, we didn’t find Het Achterhuis by Anne Frank, but we did find a biography written by someone else. There might have been a copy hidden away somewhere that we didn’t find, but if there isn’t, it seems very strange that even when the opportunity to present appropriate firsthand testimonies, the museum chooses not to do so.
What kind of knowledge was imparted?
The museum shows on one side a historical explanation of german wars since the 1300s and on the other side it gives visitors a thematic approach to see all the connections war have and had to civilan life. It also shows the importance of military inventions for later civil uses.
But also, it is visible how creativ humans can be, if they search for solutions to kill other humans as effective as possible.
Further Questions
What approach to war does the museum present?
The museum has a thematic approach and a chronological approach. Approximately half of the museum is approached through different themes related to war such as: politics in war, fashion and the military, music and the military, language and the military, war and play (throughout history) the formation of the body in war, animals and the military, and war and suffering (from 1914-1945 and 1945-today). The other half of the museum is a historical overview of the military history of Germany since 1300. This exhibition, on level 0, is divided into two sections: protection and destruction, and technology and the military.
Outside there is heavy machinery that is also part of the exhibition as a whole.
What objects represent war in the exhibition?
Every object in the museum represents war in some aspect. Of course objects like tanks or rifles are more direct in their approach. But the objects extend to protheses used for people who lost limbs because of war. The toys show how children were raised with war as a game and so nearly every aspoect of daily live is represented in some form.
What kind of experience is offered?
The Military History Museum in Dresden offers a comprehensive experience that goes beyond displaying military artifacts. The museum itself is an architectural masterpiece, combining a historic 19th-century building with a modern design by Daniel Libeskind, symbolizing the disruption in history and encouraging visitors to reflect on the horrors of war. The exhibitions are divided into a chronological tour, which takes visitors through the history of wars from ancient times to the present, and thematic tours that explore specific topics like war and memory, military and society, and technological advances.
The museum’s extensive collection features over 1.2 million items, including weapons, uniforms, military vehicles, documents, and artworks, providing deep insights into various aspects of military history. Modern technologies, such as touchscreens, audiovisual installations, and virtual reality experiences, enhance the visitor experience by offering interactive and immersive ways to engage with the exhibits.
Educational programs are a significant part of the museum’s offerings, with workshops, lectures, and specially tailored school programs available to various age groups and interests.
Is there a political, philosophical or moral explanation of the war?
There’s no explanation offered as to the causes of the individual wars present in the museum, also not for the first and second world war. By showing multiple wars from different periods without explaining the causes, the visitor can easily get the feeling that war is universal, that it’s every where, and that it’s natural. This view was not so subtly espoused by one of our tour guides yesterday.
This does somewhat diminish some of the atrocities committed in armed conflict by presenting them as inevitable. We can’t stop them, only do our best to reduce and moderate them and this view benefits armed forces.
Is there a person or a group that the museum is addressing?
The museum is addressing several groups. As an official museum of the German federal armed forces one such group are soldiers. All soldiers are expected to participate in lessons to different political themes each year and the museum plays a big role in teaching those soldiers.
Another big group are pupils. Schools like to visit the museum to teach their students Not only about the consequences of war like shown in the collage of wounded US-Soldiers in Iraq. But also in everyday life like in the fashion-section which shows that underpants were actually a military invention or the toys-section.
What other places in Dresden have a connection to war?
Currently, Dresden also has a connection to contemporary forms of War, for example in the center of the city at the Neumarkt, near the Frauenkirche, traces of demonstrations or actions related to the Israel-Palestine conflict are visible. A banner states: “Solidarität mit der Zivilbevölkerung in Palästina und Israel” or in English: Solidarity with the civilian population of Palestine and Israel.
The old train station in Dresden was reopened by the Nazis to deport Jews. After the war it went out of use again. Last year the Jüdische Kultusgemeinde Dresden bought one of the buildings connected to the station and transformed it into a synagogue. This is meant to be a display of Jewish vitality. Every shabbat when Jews in the community come to pray and eat together, they are reminded of the Shoah. For Jews in the community, living a Jewish life is at least in part understood as a negation of the Shoa.
Walking through Dresden, one will from time to time see Stolpersteine commemorating victims of the Second World War. This is not unique to Dresden and can be seen in many European cities. German Stolpersteine are different from the Stolpersteine in other countries in that they also commemorate non-Jewish victims, victims who survived the Shoah, and people who fled before the war started. The perspective is a lot wider and not exclusively Jewish.