The world of espionage is fascinating and mysterious. The Spy Museum Berlin has taken up this theme and opened an exhibition right in the heart of the city.
The private Spy Museum Berlin was only opened in September 2015 directly at the Potsdamer Platz underground station. On about 3,000 m², 300 exhibits and numerous display boards on the subject of espionage are shown.
The topic of espionage has always been highly topical. So it was a pretty clear decision that we also wanted to see this museum. We were a little put off by the entrance fee. 18 euros per adult (2017) is really a lot of money. But you certainly pay for the really exclusive location on Leipziger Platz. But is the entrance fee justified?
You enter the museum through a special entrance. After scanning the barcode, a small transparent capsule opens. Step inside, stand on a marker and wait until access to the museum is granted.
First you come to a room where a long timeline is presented. It presents the known espionage cases from antiquity to modern times. A really very informative presentation that contains a lot of knowledge. We spent about 20 minutes just reading across and could not really absorb all the information.
On the first floor, the exhibition deals with espionage in the First and Second World Wars. Here, too, there is a lot to read. Touchscreens often help to obtain more detailed information about individual exhibits. The exhibits are interesting for the most part. CIA cameras, an Enigma encryption machine or old-fashioned-looking tools for secret operations give a good insight into the subject. One focus of the exhibition is on agent activities in Berlin. In addition to information about Teufelsberg as a radar and listening station for the Allies, you can trace the agent activities in Berlin on a spymap, a digital map of Berlin. What I personally didn’t like was the section dealing with James Bond. Of course, these are agent and espionage films, but for me this subject area does not belong in a museum of espionage, but in a film museum.
I quite liked the exhibition. There was a lot of information that you can’t process all in one visit. However, at this admission price, I will not make a second visit to get more input.
In my opinion, this museum is rather unsuitable for younger children, as a lot of reading is required.
Leave a Reply