Allied Museum Berlin: Cold War Relics

Located in Dahlem, at the heart of the former American sector, the Allied Museum preserves the history of the Western powers in Berlin from the end of the war in 1945 until the withdrawal of Allied forces in 1994. 'Raisin Bombers', the Checkpoint Charlie control booth, and a segment of the spy tunnel make the Cold War tangible. Admission is free.

Allied Museum: Where History Comes Alive

The Allied Museum is located in the Zehlendorf district, in the heart of the former American sector. The exhibition, housed in the former US soldiers’ cinema ‘Outpost’ and the former Nicholson Library, documents the commitment and role of the Western Allies in Germany and West Berlin from 1945 to 1994. Anyone interested in German-German history will find one of the most comprehensive collections on post-war Berlin here.

Under the motto “How enemies became friends,” the permanent exhibition tells the story of the Western powers in Berlin. It is about freedom, democracy, the Cold War, and neighborhood. It’s not just about grand politics. The exhibition also addresses the political and military events shaped by the Western powers and their impact on daily life in Berlin.

Stepping Through the Cold War

Particularly impressive is the outdoor area between the two museum buildings. Among other things, the first Checkpoint Charlie control booth, a segment of an Anglo-American spy tunnel, a former ‘Raisin Bomber’, and a railway car from a French military train are exhibited there. Visitors can also enter the large objects for just one euro, a new option.

Over 100 photographs, documents, and objects on approximately 200 m² tell the story of Berlin and Germany from 1945 to 1949, from the end of the war and denazification to the Berlin Airlift. The permanent exhibition is complemented by changing special exhibitions that delve into individual aspects of the Cold War. Admission to the Allied Museum is free.