Room 2: The Victors and the Vanquished



Room 2: The End and the Beginning

On 8 May 1945, the German army surrendered unconditionally. A few days earlier Führer Adolf Hitler had committed suicide. The victorious powers - the USA, Great Britain, France and the Soviet Union - took charge of governing Germany. They now had the task of organizing life in the difficult years following the war. The population lacked even the basic necessities. The cities had been reduced to fields of rubble and food was scarce. The occupying powers had agreed while the war was still in progress to disarm and denazify Germany and to dismantle sections of its industry as reparation for their own war losses, but there were considerable differences in what they had planned for the future of the defeated country. The Soviet Union wanted to extend its communist system to include the areas in Europe occupied by the Red Army. With the looming East-West confrontation, Great Britain and the USA soon recognized that it was essential to help rebuild Germany, and they were joined in their resolve by France.

Room 3: Establishing Parties and States

The occupying powers oversaw the political rebirth of Germany. Political parties were permitted as early as 1945 in all the zones of occupation, and in 1946 the first district elections took place. The old workers' parties - the Social Democrats and the Communists - were reestablished. In 1946, as a result of pressure from the USSR, the two parties merged to form the Socialist Unity Party, which subsequently assumed absolute dominance within the party system. The other parties, reduced to a "party bloc," lost all influence. In the western part of Germany, the Christian Democratic Party and the Christian Social Party emerged anew as middle-class omnibus parties which, though multidenominational, had Christian roots. Of the smaller parties, only the Liberals managed to survive.

The creation of the federal states was an important step toward German self-administration. Prussia, which in the eyes of the Allies was the stronghold of Germany's militaristic tradition, disappeared from the political map. The states in the Soviet occupation zone were put under the control of central administrations which were then eliminated in 1952. In contrast, the re-establishment of federal states in the western part of Germany was oriented toward a federal system of government. The victorious powers also placed cultural policy in the hands of the states. In the Soviet occupation zone the creation of national cultural institutions followed from the idea of a centralist state. In many western German regions, new cultural centers developed.

Room 4: The Basic Law

The confrontation between the Western powers and the Soviet Union led to the creation of two German states. In the middle of 1948, West German state premiers received instructions from the military governors to draft a constitution for a West German state. A committee of experts met on Herrenchiemsee Island to work out the details of a draft. Not long afterward the Parliamentary Council, consisting of delegates from the state parliaments, met in Bonn. The ensuing discussions were influenced by the collapse of the Weimar Republic and the atrocities of the National Socialists. The result was a new constitution that began with a catalogue of inalienable basic rights.

The members of the Parliamentary Council wanted to prevent the permanent division of Germany. Thus the new constitution was seen as a provisional document and termed the "Basic Law." On 8 May 1949 - exactly four years after the end of the Second World War - the Parliamentary Council passed the results of its debates, and the Basic Law was proclaimed on 23 May 1949.

Room 5: Caught between the Superpowers

In the post-war years, the major differences between the goals of the Western Allies and the Soviet Union soon became apparent. With the creation of dependent satellite states in Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union created its own sphere of influence. As a result, Germany was split by what was at that time an invisible border - in 1946 Winston Churchill spoke of an "Iron Curtain" descending on Europe. The USA, which felt threatened by the Soviet policy, responded with the Truman Doctrine (1947) and sought to "contain" the Soviets' global influence.

The conflict of interest between the superpowers determined world politics in the decades that followed, right up to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Both sides avoided a direct military conflict, although the Cold War took on an especially menacing aspect during the blockade of Berlin from 1948 to 1949. The Korean War, the suppression of the uprising in East Berlin on 17 June 1953, and the uprising in Hungary in 1956 strengthened the resolve of West German politicians to step up integration with the West.

The two German states, created under different circumstances, were characterized by opposing guiding principles and irreconcilable ideas of the enemy. The Federal Republic of Germany developed into a democracy based on Western models, whereas the German Democratic Republic became a dictatorship of the Socialist Unity Party. For four decades this conflict continued with differing degrees of intensity - until the 1970s, when attempts were made at rapprochement.

Room 6: The Foundations of Democracy

The new beginning in West Germany was provincially based. The small town of Bonn won out against its more powerful opponent Frankfurt am Main as the provisional capital. Small towns such as Allendorf in Hesse were the primary locations of West Germany's "economic miracle." It was here that investment capital flowed, here that the forces of renewal gathered. In fact, the country functioned without a dominant center and was a true illustration of the idea of federalism.

West Germany was quickly stabilized. Its new citizens accepted the unfamiliar state structure. Noticeable progress was made toward alleviating the deprivations caused by the war. Millions of people expelled from their homeland began to accommodate themselves to their new surroundings. On 14 August 1949, the first Bundestag elections took place, and Konrad Adenauer became the first chancellor.

The young state indirectly benefitted from other events such as the Korean War. The war resulted in a boom in demand, which in turn stimulated the West German economy. The "economic wonderland" became a reality.

Room 7: A Government in Conflict

"War - Never Again! Dictatorship - Never Again!" - the Federal Republic's understanding of itself was based on the relationship with the past. But how was one to ensure that such slogans were backed by reality? The Federal Republic underwent a crucial test as it became clear that it would once again have an army. In 1950, as a result of the Korean War and the rearmament of the German Democratic Republic, there was talk of a European Defense Community with German participation. Were Germans really to be soldiers once again? In the Federal Republic a mood of "count me out" prevailed and protest movements emerged. Even so, Chancellor Konrad Adenauer worked unwaveringly toward his goal of a West German contribution of troops as an important step toward the creation of a sovereign state.

The idea of a European Defense Community foundered in 1954 on the resistance of the French parliament. West Germany became a member of NATO in 1955, and in 1956 the first soldiers reported for duty in the Bundeswehr, the new German army.

At first there was no disagreement on how democracy was to be protected internally from the threat of totalitarian ideologies. The Federal Constitutional Court banned the extreme right-wing Socialist Reich Party in 1952 and then the Communist Party in 1956. The fear of communist infiltration poisoned the political climate, but the real test for democracy came in the 1960s, with the debates on the emergency laws.

Room 8: Partner in a Community of Countries

Initially, West Germany was not a sovereign country. All foreign policy decisions required the approval of the Allied High Commission, which was set up on 20 June 1949 and exclusively made up of the Western Allies. The failure of the victorious powers to establish a joint Germany policy paved the way for the integration of the Federal Republic into the Western alliance. West Germany first received extensive autonomy with the Treaty of Paris, which took effect on 5 May 1955. With it the Occupation Statute came to an end, and West Germany became a member in the West European Union and NATO. In a declaration that was accepted by the other NATO member countries, the three Western powers recognized the Federal Republic of Germany as the sole German government and committed themselves to the goal of reunifying Germany. The Federal Republic now had a stabile form; however, the main victorious powers of World War II still reserved the right to take any decisions concerning a peace treaty.

Room 9: A State Made up of Functionaries

According to its first constitution, the German Democratic Republic was in fact a parliamentary democracy, with a freely elected parliament as its legislative body and an accountable government as its executive body. An independent third power, the judiciary, was also provided for by constitutional law. However, such claims were massively contradicted by reality. The German Democratic Republic was a dictatorship. The committees of the Socialist Unity Party made all the important decisions, and the government and the authorities merely implemented them.

The Socialist Unity Party exercised its power by means of two bureaucracies: one the one hand, it used the party and state apparatus to permeate all areas of society. Rule was understood and practiced as the control of society and of every individual. Propaganda was not only employed to indoctrinate the population but also to activate it in the interests of stabilizing the system. On the other hand, the leadership of the Socialist Unity Party made use of the security apparatus, which included the Ministry of State Security, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Justice. The security apparatus had orders to track down and suppress all resistance - both real and potential.

Room 10: Ways out of Isolation

Foreign policy was also difficult terrain for the young East German state. Joseph Stalin attempted to exploit the Germans' desire for national unity. At first he favored a unified but neutral Germany as a cushion state between the two blocs. However, in 1953 the Soviet leadership made the decision to keep East Germany as a separate but dependent state, with all important questions still being settled in Moscow. The German Democratic Republic struggled with international isolation well into the 1960s. The Hallstein Doctrine, to which the Federal Republic adhered until 1969, made diplomatic relations with Western nations difficult. For this reason the promotion of culture and sports was an important foreign-policy instrument. It was primarily success in sports that gave East Germany its international profile.

The wave of recognition at the beginning of the 1970s and the policy of rapprochement gave East Germany new international standing. The Basic Treaty (1972), membership in the UN (1973) and the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) in 1975 expanded the regime's scope for action. Domestically, though, the recognition of human rights anchored in the CSCE act narrowed the opportunity for repressive action against the opposition.

Room 11: Resistance and Repression

The German Democratic Republic was a constitutional state on paper at best. A small elite of functionaries presumed to make decisions which concerned the well-being of the entire population. Because of its omnipotence, the party could open up opportunities and make careers possible but also block the development of the individual and destroy lives. Since the party dictatorship saw any opposition as a threat to the state, resistance became a threat to personal existence. Political opposition and its often brutal repression were central aspects of East German history. As the saying went: "A revolution is only worth something if it can defend itself." From its inception, the Socialist Unity Party fought not only the criminals of the National Socialist regime, but its own political opponents in order to secure power in society.

In 1952/53 despotism reached new dimensions. Bautzen prison became a symbol of repression. After putting down the revolt on 16/17 June 1953, the regime was more cautious. The construction of the Berlin Wall meant the final imprisonment of its population. At the same time, displays of state repression were toned down, only to be replaced by a more and more closely knit system of spying and surveillance. Millions of people fled East Germany to the West.

Room 12: The Presence of the Past - Denying and Remembering

The National Socialist past played a central role in the way both East and West Germany defined themselves. Whereas West Germany accepted the obligations of the Third Reich as the regime's legal successor, East Germany sought to legitimize itself through instrumentalized antifascism. These decisions had direct consequences for solutions to moral, political and legal problems. Both states were faced with the same questions: How should they integrate a population that for the most part supported the National Socialist regime and only in a few cases actively opposed it? How much "guilt" were they willing to accept? What relationship should they seek to establish with the people persecuted under National Socialism? How should they deal with the key sites of National Socialist murder and repression?

East and West Germany arrived at different solutions. In East Germany, the policies of the Social Unity Party determined the relationship with the National Social past. In the West, by contrast, public opinion and private initiative played a decisive role - with scandals frequently triggering learning processes. Although people have repeatedly demanded a "final reckoning" with the past, today it is no longer controversial to say that grappling with the period of National Socialism will be a necessity in the future as well.

Room 13: A Country under the Influence

The Western Allies granted the Federal Republic of Germany autonomy on 5 May 1955. As a NATO member state, the Federal Republic had troops of the Atlantic Alliance stationed on its soil. The world powers faced off in Germany, at the border between the military blocs.

In political and cultural terms, the USA had an especially strong influence on West Germany. In a wide range of film, lecture and music programs, "America Houses" introduced West Germans to democracy and culture. In the area of technological innovation, including space travel and nuclear power, the USA functioned as a role model. The influence of the American way of life was ubiquitous. Radio and film played an important mediating role for young people. West German society integrated American influences in various ways and made them a part of German culture.

At the same time enthusiasm for American music and fashion grew among young people in East Germany.

Room 14: European Visions

The European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community came into being with the Treaty of Rome, which took effect on 1 January 1958. Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, France and the Federal Republic of Germany banded together to create what was at first a common economic area. From its foundation, one of the goals of the EEC was a joint agricultural policy. The alliance of six countries had such a favorable effect on the national economies that additional European countries applied to join the community. In 1986 the Single European Act made the Economic Community into a European Community (EC), with twelve member countries. The Maastricht Treaty (1992) provided for the introduction of a single currency for the fifteen members of the European Union. But a political union of the member countries has not yet been achieved. Despite agreement over basic issues, they are not prepared to give up national autonomy in favor of supranational institutions.

Room 15: Border Questions - Where Germany Is Located

Depending on their background and political leaning, citizens and politicians in East and West as well as associations of people expelled from their homeland responded differently to the "open German question." It constituted the basis of relations between both German states as well as their relations with the Soviet bloc and the Western powers. The preamble of the Basic Law contains the demand "to complete German unity and freedom in free self-determination." Since East Germans were denied their right to practice self-determination, the Federal Republic laid claim to the sole right to represent Germany. This legal position made it impossible for the Federal Republic to recognize the German Democratic Republic.

In their Germany policy, the various West German governments were constantly forced to strike a political balance that enabled them to provide relief for people in both German states without renouncing the option of reunification. The German Democratic Republic became part of the Soviet bloc and in 1950 recognized the Oder-Neiße border as its eastern state border.

Room 16: Daring More Democracy

By the beginning of the 1960s, West Germans had made themselves at home in their country. Membership in NATO and the economically prosperous EEC brought them security and affluence. At the end of the decade, though, members of the post-war generation called the societal consensus into question. They regarded the policies of the governing Christian Democratic Party as conservative and paternalistic and criticized its politicians for not responding to the societal challenges posed by technological progress. Willy Brandt, successor to Georg Kiesinger and the first Social Democratic chancellor, summarized the necessary "inner reforms" in his inaugural speech with the phrase "daring more democracy." Equal chances for all and democratization were the political goals of the Social Democratic-Liberal government. Educational policy was a key to the reforms, since democratic values could be conveyed to all citizens through education in schools, vocational colleges, adult education centers and universities. Many artists and teachers shared the excitement of this new beginning.

Room 17: Demonstrations, Fantasies of Power and Political Force

Many West Germans were dissatisfied with the policies of the Grand Coalition. In their eyes, West Germany was a small-minded and authoritarian society, and they were determined to change it. Domestic and foreign policy issues provoked their dissent. The so-called extraparliamentary opposition formed a front against the "establishment." At the beginning of the 1970s, a small, dissatisfied group went underground, having decided to engage in an armed struggle against the state. This path led to isolation. The group could not win over a majority of West Germans with their attacks and murders.

The protesters who did not espouse violence felt inadequately represented by their parliamentarians. In their eyes, this justified the right to civil disobedience. The peace and the environmental movements mobilized hundreds of thousands of protestors. The demonstrators saw that by waging a committed campaign they could successfully change policy in their favor.

Room 18: Germany under Construction

West Germans were better off in the 1980s than ever before, but an increasing number of people, especially among the younger generation, were convinced that a global crisis was at hand. One topic dominated the public debate: the protection of the environment and, in particular, of the dying forests. West Germans faced a dilemma, since car emissions caused the environmental damage. It appeared they would have to forsake either their beloved cars or their cherished forests. The establishment of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Reactor Safety in 1986 underscored the growing political importance of environmental protection.

In its Germany policy, the government of Helmut Kohl continued the course set by the Social Democratic-Liberal coalition. The visit of Erich Honecker, chairman of the State Council of East Germany, to the Federal Republic in 1987 was the high point of a Germany policy whose objective was to normalize the relations between both German states. Both sides were learning to live with the division, if reluctantly. The West German government actively promoted the process of European integration. No one foresaw the importance of the policy of "perestroika," initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985, for the German nation.

Room 19: Germany Reconstructed

The unforeseeable events of autumn 1989 marked a radical shift in the post-war history of Germany. The mass exodus of people from East Germany, the „peaceful“ revolution, the fall of the Berlin Wall on 9 November 1989, free elections, the Two-Plus-Four negotiations, currency union and the unification of the two German states on 3 October 1990 - these were the steps in a process that radically changed Germany within the space of one year.

In political and administrativ terms, unification was a success. The reintegration of the five eastern states strengthened federalism. District administrations and the legal and social security systems were reformed. Transport infrastructure, communication networks and dilapidated city centers were modernized using state funds.

In economic and social terms, not everyone profited from unification. Unemployment and hostility toward foreigners have remained challenges for German society.

Fifty years after the foundation of the Federal Republic and ten years after the fall of the Wall, Germany faces tasks such as European integration, economic globalization and increased international responsibility that are taking the country beyond the issues of unification.

Room 20: Prosperity for Everyone - Facts, Figures, Dates

Ludwig Erhard, minister of trade and commerce, pushed through his concept of a socially responsible market economy despite opposition in political and trade-union circles. The state's first priority was the creation of favorable conditions for free competition. Integration into the West, low wages, a low cost of living as well as an undervalued deutschmark were the reasons for the swift economic recovery of the country. The increasing prosperity led to a noticeable growth in income and wages and made it possible for the state to set up a social-welfare system. In 1957 the legislature appointed the Bundesbank to guard the stability of the currency and also had the Federal Cartel Office monitor the right to unrestricted competition. The close cooperation between the federal government, the Bundesbank, unions and management was oriented to the "magic square" of economic growth, price stability, full employment and a balance in foreign trade and was decisive for the further development of the national economy.

Room 21: Things Made of Steel - Piping, Motor Vehicles, Machinery

After the establishment of the European Steel and Coal Community in 1951, the Ruhr region continued to play its traditional role as a key economic center, with the production of coal, steel and machinery constituting the main industries. Exports of industrial goods "made in Germany" grew rapidly. At the beginning of the 1960s there was full employment. The economic boom made it possible for trade unions to gain improved working conditions and higher wages. The forty-hour week and sick pay were milestones in their campaign. The full order books and the shortage of labor led to an increased recruitment of foreign workers. However, developments in the world market began to put pressure on the coal-mining industry, forcing many mines to shut down. In addition, the onset of an economic crisis in the 1970s hit the steel industry and shipyards hard. Despite massive state subsidies, some old established companies disappeared, while others merged.

Room 22: Innovations from the Laboratory - Nature, Chemistry, Technology

Milk from happy cows? The use of machines, fertilizers and industrially prepared feed has changed agriculture fundamentally. The robot has become a reliable helper in cowsheds. The food industry today produces a surplus of food for people and animals that is inexpensive, hygienically packed and enriched with vitamins and minerals in accordance with the findings of nutritional science. In the future, genetically manipulated plants and animals will correct the mistakes of nature. Many pharmaceutical products, in particular the pill, have had a lasting effect on lifestyles. Chemistry determines our everyday lives. With the aid of petrochemistry, industry has developed plastics for almost every use. The huge profits with mineral oil, competitor to coal, fell off with the oil crisis. New nuclear reactors were put into operation and the search for regenerative forms of energy was intensified.

Room 23: The Temples of Money - Fairs, Banks,Trade

The Federal Republic of Germany sought access to world markets with the new Hanover Export Fair and the old fair locations of Berlin and Frankfurt am Main. The London Debt Treaty of 1953 and the end of state currency control in 1961 supported unhindered trade. A functioning banking system was ensured by the Bank of German States, which was replaced by the German Bundesbank in 1957. The annulment of the Large Bank Law of 1956 allowed a reconcentration of the large German banks that had been divided up by the Allies. Increased prosperity and government programs for wealth formation made small customers attractive for banks and savings banks. In the area of trade, the USA was an influential role model. Department stores were fitted with new facades, while self-service stores and supermarkets replaced small retail stores. A flourishing mail order business promised the consumer inexpensive, comfortable shopping and quality products.

Room 24: Unlimited Horizons - Computers, Planes, Satellites

New inventions in the field of electronics technology have decisively changed the world in the last fifty years. An important trend in product development has been the miniaturization of components. But after initial successes in entertainment and information technology, German companies could not defend their share of the market.

Computers opened new horizons for aviation and space travel. Their capabilities increased exponentially - and they became smaller, lighter and more energy efficient. Large computers were first used for computations in the fields of aerodynamics and structural mechanics and also for the surveillance of air space by the military. As early as the 1950s, rockets and spacecraft were controlled by transistorized computers and regulatory systems. In Germany, plane manufacturers merged to form companies focusing on aviation and space travel. Large projects such as the Airbus and the ARIANE carrier rocket could only be successfully realized through European collaboration.

Room 25: Strangers in Germany?

Millions of foreigners have found a second home in the Federal Republic of Germany. At an early stage, the West German business community found itself in need of additional foreign workers. From 1955 to 1968, the Federal Republic signed agreements to recruit labor temporarily from southern Europe and North Africa. In 1973, the federal government called a halt to recruitment due to the rising number of unemployed. Up to this time, 14 million foreign workers had come to the Federal Republic of Germany. Of these, however, 11 million had returned to their home countries. Subsequently, moving to West Germany was only allowed for people wishing to marry or join their families.

In 1949 the Federal Republic of Germany included in its Basic Law the internationally unique right to asylum for "politically persecuted persons." Following the influx of more than 400,000 asylum-seekers in 1992, only a small minority of whom were granted asylum, entry to the country was made more difficult, the application procedure was accelerated and the granting of asylum radically modified.

In 1989, about 192,000 foreigners lived in East Germany, excluding Soviet soldiers. The 91,000 foreign workers contracted to work in East Germany covered the increased needs of its industry. However, they remained for the most part isolated from the population.

Room 26: The Double Screen - Film

Film as a mass medium was the most important form of entertainment for a large portion of the population in the 1950s and 1960s. The film industry developed differently in the two German states. DEFA, the only production company in East Germany, had to work within the confines of Socialist Unity Party policies and was subject to state censorship. Film-makers made use of the freedoms granted to them in different ways, but these were also dependent on the cultural policies of the Socialist Unity Party. In the Federal Republic, production companies were not subject to state regulation. Successful genres such as the "homeland film" were filmed in endless variations. In the mid-1960s, a number of notable directors began to dominate West German film, which gained international standing as auteur cinema. In East Germany there were signs in the mid-1960s of a comparable development with a focus on contemporary critical topics, but it was stopped by the rigid cultural policy of the 11th plenum of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party in 1965.

In the Federal Republic, the rise of television resulted in considerably lower box office sales. In addition, American films proved to be especially popular. The German film industry's share of the market shrunk to under ten percent. Only in the last few years have a number of German productions been successful with audiences.

Room 27: Two Worlds of Pictures, two World Views - Art

After the war, modern art in Germany had to recover from twelve years of ostracism. Different conditions prevailed in the two German states. In the West, people looked to Paris and New York. Individual artistic forms developed independent of promotion by the state. Major exhibitions such as "documenta 1" in Kassel in 1955 helped make avant-garde art representative of the ideal of personal freedom. Public support for the arts as well as the construction of many new museums from the 1950s onward testify to the state's belief in the importance of a multitude of opinions.

In East Germany the communist state had a massive influence on the role and forms of painting and sculpture. The major "Dresden Art Exhibition" prescribed "Socialist Realism and Proletarian Humanism." Artistic positions that diverged from the state-propagated ideal of an affirmative national art for East Germany were marginalized. By making it mandatory for artists to be in the Association of Artists, the state was able to exert constant control over their work. Only in the years leading up to the fall of the Berlin Wall were divergent artistic positions visible to the public on a larger scale.

Room 28: A Divided Heritage - Literature and Theater

Even after the founding of the two German states, German writers adhered to the idea of an independent cultural nation, although they were part of different systems and subject to differing developments. There continued to be reciprocal influence exerted by personalities, styles and topics on the literature of both countries. A common language and the memory of a shared cultural development were links that the governments of both sides occasionally exploited. In its formative years, the German Democratic Republic often evoked the idea of the shared "heritage" of the German classical period. This heritage was soon forgotten in the face of the cultural-political realities of both states. Authors from Switzerland and Austria gained increasing influence on German-language literature.

And yet the idea of a common German cultural nation continued to exist. Writers, publishers and politicians from both states who dealt with cultural policy kept up the literary exchange. German-German writers' conferences, jointly published books, the exchange of plays, readings by writers and organizations such as the authors' association P.E.N. reflected the tense relationship and also showed the limits of EastWest dialogue.

Room 29: The Christian Churches

The Christian tradition has had a major influence on German society and its architectural landscape. The Evangelical and Catholic Churches are both influential forums. A growing number of Orthodox and Free Churches have been established as well. More than half the citizens of Germany (in the new federal states about a third) are members of one of the two major, equally large churches. However, membership is decreasing, at least in part as a result of the discrepancy between religious doctrine and modern life.

The Basic Law guarantees freedom of religion and the separation of church and state. Contractually regulated cooperative work between church and state takes place at a federal and state level and in such areas as education and spiritual counseling in the military.

In atheist-oriented East Germany, church and state were completely separate, and their coexistence was based on compromise. East-West contacts were maintained in the churches, which also played an key role in the East German opposition movement.

Today, the churches are some of the largest employers and builders in the Federal Republic, and they also provide important social services. A strict division between denominations as has existed in the past is giving way to multidenominational understanding.

Room 30: Other World Religions and Denominations

In addition to the Christian churches, many other religious groups contribute to the religious life and world view of people living in the Federal Republic. These include established world religions and many smaller fringe communities. The latter have developed in the midst of an open society in which traditional milieus that once created meaning and security are dissolving. The Jewish community, which influenced life in Germany for centuries before being destroyed by the National Socialist regime, has now been able to re-establish itself slowly, supported to a great degree by the influx of immigrants from eastern Europe. With the growing number of foreigners coming to Germany, Islam has become the third largest religion in the Federal Republic and the variety of religions is on the rise. Among these, Buddhism has been especially successful in attracting German followers. Unfamiliar religious customs as well as the combination of politics and religion in non-Christian denominations is requiring society to be tolerant and rethink attitudes and arrangements.

Room: 31: Fifty Virtues?

"The early bird gets the worm," "The devil finds work for idle hands," "Honesty is the best policy" - there is no virtue that doesn't have a matching proverb. The popular German convictions expressed by them seem almost immutable, and yet the process of accommodating them to changed societal conditions took place in both German states. As West Germany developed into a modern industrial society, living conditions changed. Differences between city and country disappeared and societal hierarchies were smoothed out. A new understanding of values was articulated in terms like "fairness" and "civil courage," which found their way into the general consciousness as positive modes of behavior. On the other hand, traits or virtues considered typically German such as obedience and discipline were seen as "minor" virtues that posed the danger of instrumentalization. Nowadays societal values are no longer binding for everyone. More than ever before, individuals take responsible for defining the values and norms which guide their actions.

Room 32: Life in the German Democratic Republic

Everyday life in the German Democratic Republic was not only a daily struggle with the inadequacies of the planned economy. Nor was it solely marked by fear of the state and its political secret police. The shortages which affected everyone except for a small privileged elite caused an especially close-knit network of relationships to emerge. It is precisely this interdependence that many East Germans have missed since reunification. In socialist society, a crisis-proof planned economy was supposed to ensure justice and eliminate conflict. This claim turned out to be an illusion which could only be maintained by considerable repressive measures. After crushing the uprising on 17 June 1953, the state oriented its economic policy to Western standards of living - without ever achieving them. Until the collapse of the German Democratic Republic, the state was only able to meet basic needs such as food, clothing and housing in a consistent way. People who wanted to satisfy additional desires required patience, resourcefulness and connections. In the second half of the 1970s, the economics of scarcity produced a new black market on which the deutschmark advanced rapidly to become the actual currency of the country. Cars and car registrations, auto parts, various tools and building materials as well as services by all types of workmen were available. One consequence was the mass exodus of people from East Germany, which further destabilized the system.

Room 33: At home in Germany

Federalism has a long tradition in Germany. Saxons and Bavarians, for example, have had their own state structures for centuries. When the Western Allies pressed for a federal structure in the Federal Republic, they were supporting a basic principle of German history. To prevent centralization, the Basic Law granted the federal states autonomy over culture and education. Citizens formed a close relationship with their states not only in the old state entities based on protonational affiliations, but also in the newly founded states of North Rhine-West Phalia and Lower Saxony. Although in the course of time differences between city and town, between less developed and long industrialized regions became less pronounced, there remained a multitude of local and regional festivals and customs. Today they are one of the many facets of life in Germany.

Room 34: Design, Advertising, Garbage - Consumption

In the formative years of the Federal Republic, when the supply network for basic goods had just been restored, product design played a subordinate role. Only when there was a overabundance of goods on the market did manufacturers begin looking for high-quality and unmistakable designs for their products. The ideal of a "good shape" gained influence in mass production. Typical areas in which design promotes sales are fashion, furniture, household goods and leisure articles. Over the decades not only products, but preferred materials and colors have changed too.

The desire to consume is kept alive by an "industry of illusion." Advertising dazzles the consumer with beautiful pictures and words. It also prepares children early on for their role as consumers. Scaleddown versions of products from the adult world find their way into children's rooms. The Federal Republic has developed into society which consumes and discards, and it is no wonder that waste disposal is one of its growth industries.

Room 35: From Bayrischzell to Bali - Traveling

In the years immediately after the war, traveling remained a dream for most West Germans. There were more urgent needs - good and nourishing food, perhaps something nice to wear, a refrigerator, a car. Then came the "vacation wave." At first people traveled to the Black Forest, Bavaria or the North Sea for recreation. These were destinations they could reach by bus and rail.

By the 1960s, almost every family owned a car. Food was taken along from home and people had to make do with tents and camping units, but this didn't detract from the fun. Austria and Italy became the favorite vacation countries for Germans. The Federal Vacation Act of 1963 extended the minimum vacation ensured by law, and one year later vacation pay was introduced.

The radius of vacation destinations widened steadily. In the 1970s the percentage of package tours increased. Germans wanted to travel directly to the sun - the hotter, the better. Today trips are available to every continent, at every time of year. Travel is a top priority for Germans.

Room 36: Higher, Faster, Farther - Sports

There is hardly any other nation that is as enthusiastic about sports as Germany. Here sports are played primarily in clubs, with membership exceeding 25 million at the present time.

But people are taking part in more and more sports activities outside clubs as well. Fitness and aerobic studios are putting down roots. Germans have become even bigger exercise fans ever since the "trim down" movement of the early 1970s, which promoted health consciousness and popular sports.

But it is just as much fun to watch sports as it is to take part in them. The most popular sporting events during the last 50 years have been the Soccer World Championship and the Olympic Games. For the Germans, the events in their own country have been especially important - the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich and the 1974 Soccer World Championship. High ratings for television coverage, stadiums and jerseys as advertising surfaces - all this has led to an increased commercialization of sports. With increases in prize money, the temptation among top athletes to use illegal performance-enhancing drugs is posing a real threat to the integrity of athletic competition.

Room 37: Conscious of Their Mission - Media

Rudolf Augstein, editor of the "Spiegel," once called his news magazine the "assault artillery of democracy." This term characterizes the way the press as a whole sees itself in the Federal Republic. In 1945 the Western Allies granted the first licenses to daily newspapers. The press was to re-educate Germans intellectually and teach the defeated people democratic values. The press was organized in a decentralized fashion - above all, it was to be independent of the state. From the very beginning the media not only saw themselves as conveyers of information; they actively sought to shape public opinion as well.

Radio was given a legal structure similar to that of the BBC. The Broadcasting Commission provided for control of public stations by interest groups in society. This system dominated the television and radio landscape until the introduction of the dual system in 1984, when the public broadcasters ARD and ZDF were joined by commercial stations.

Concerned observers have called attention to the concentration process that has been occurring within the media industry in recent years. Large media groups are re-emerging or becoming increasingly influential. Their interests are all-encompassing and their activities, which include television shows, newspapers, books and on-line services, span the globe.

Room 38: Father, Mother, Child - Family Pictures

The family is still the primary social unit for the majority of people in the Federal Republic. The Basic Law gives the family special protection. Outer form and inner shape of family life change constantly and are also a reflection of societal developments. Political parties, trade unions, churches, educational institutions, the media as well as the advertising industry propagate various ideas about the family that can become guiding principles and influence the forms real relationships take.

In the 1950s and 1960s, traditional gender roles prevailed. The '68 generation was the first to experiment with new lifestyles and childraising principles. People tried out communal living arrangements. The traditional idea of the family was called into question by antiauthoritarian child-raising practices as well as the women's movement, which formed primarily to fight Paragraph 218 regulating abortion.

When more wives and mothers began working in the 1970s, the distribution of roles and authority in the family changed too. Many women took on the double burden of career and family. The availability of the pill in the 1960s and the accompanying liberalization of sexual mores freed individuals from traditional roles when planning their lives.

Room 39: A Private Germany

A 50th anniversary is reason enough to take a look at the private lives of East and West Germans. How did people live in both German states? What events were important for them? What meaningful objects did they save and what stories do these objects call to mind?

Through radio ads and announcements in regional and national papers, many objects were collected; through countless talks, the stories connected with them were recorded. As preservers of emotional meaning, these objects don't illustrate large historical events but small, very personal facts and subjective memories that leave their mark on life. Thus the objects exhibited cannot be measured in terms of criteria like beauty, rarity or age.

A total of 50 objects are collected in this German musée sentimental.

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