A Travel Guide to Cold War Sites in East Germany - Third Edition: Soviet/East-German Themed Museums and Memorials Open for a Visit in Berlin and the Former GDR Paperback – January 6, 2026

The Cold War between the Soviet and NATO opposing blocs has been especially tangible in Germany, split in two for the entire duration of this deadly confrontation, which took around 45 years following the capitulation of Hitler’s Reich. Despite sometimes not much publicized, traces of this central episode in recent history indeed exist, especially in the former communist-led German Democratic Republic (GDR, or DDR in German). The oppressive ministry for state security, the STASI, left massive relics after it was dissolved in 1990. One of the most striking materializations of the Iron Curtain was the German Inner Border, a fortified line running all along the border between the ‘Two Germanies’. Of course, Berlin also was cut by the homonymous wall. One of the most militarized states in the world at that time, the GDR hosted a National army (NVA) and an entire Soviet group of forces – this massive military presence also left traces.Third Edition - Thoroughly revised and expanded This guide is a useful companion to set up a trip to Cold-War-themed destinations in the GDR. Prepared by a person who has been on the spot, it features• More than 100 destinations in the former GDR and Berlin, officially open for a visit (i.e. normally accessible to the general public), including preserved sites (e.g. border checkpoints, airbases, prisons, …), museums and memorials• 8 regional maps and more than 30 local maps• Address, NAV coordinates, opening times, contacts and friendly visiting advice for each destination• Rich historical descriptionsAbout the authorCarlo R. is a professor in the faculty of aerospace engineering of a prominent European University. He runs a well-established website – sightraider.com – documenting mostly military places, currently active or historically significant, as well as places evoking less known traces of recent history. Read more