Military History Museum

German military history is part of German cultural history. This notion forms the basis for the redevelopment of the German Army’s Military History Museum in Dresden. The concept and design of the exhibition are intended to create a dialogue between conventional and unconventional views and to make this complex topic accessible to the whole of society in a completely new way. 

Through its architectural language, the new permanent exhibition enters into a symbiosis with both the Museum’s Neoclassical building and the wedge-shaped extension by Daniel Libeskind, which slices through the existing structure’s central wing. 

The content and design of the exhibition reflect the architectural contrast between the Museum’s two parts: the Chronology in the old building traces the history of Germany’s military in the form of a timeline, while the Themed Tour in the new extension deals with individual aspects and phenomena concerning the military that have had a lasting impact on society throughout the ages. 

The starting point for designing the two new zones was an exhibition space totalling more than 10,000 square metres and housing over 7,500 items from the smallest pin badge to field postcards and even a space capsule. An additional narrative level offers critical reflection with the aid of contemporary multimedia art. 

The architecture, exhibition design and content of the new Military History Museum were all developed and realised hand in hand. The symbiosis between the space, the exhibition and the items on display appears entirely natural and constitutes a unique portrayal of the history of the military as part of our culture.