Grenzland-Museum Schnackenburg

About the museum

The Förderverein Grenzland-Museum Schnackenburg e. V. (friends' association) was founded in autumn 1994 by local citizens; the idea came from the then director of the Samtgemeinde (joint municipality). Schnackenburg's location on the inner-German border made it the right place for a museum. The town provided the building, many volunteers made the fit-out possible, and the museum opened in summer 1995. It is financed solely by membership fees, donations and admission fees.

The museum documents the 45 years of Germany's division, the Iron Curtain and the Cold War. The permanent exhibition shows uniforms, equipment, weapons and vehicles, along with documents, photographs and eyewitness accounts from both sides of the former border. It sees itself at the same time as an information center and as a memorial and place of remembrance.

The museum includes the outdoor area and the Gedenkstätte Stresow (memorial site), about 3.5 kilometers away in Saxony-Anhalt. The small village lay in the border zone; in 1952, forced resettlements were ordered there as part of the "Aktion Ungeziefer" (Operation Vermin). By 1974 the residents had been relocated and the village demolished. A memorial stone has commemorated it since 1997; the site also shows the GDR border fortifications at full original size.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition with uniforms, weapons, vehicles, documents and photos on Germany's division
• Eyewitness accounts from both sides of the border
• Outdoor area and Stresow memorial site with border fortifications at full size
• Guided tours led by former border police officers
• Location on the Elbe, on the Elbe cycle route

Permanent exhibition

• Dauerausstellung zur deutschen Teilung – Uniforms, equipment, weapons, vehicles, documents, photographs and eyewitness accounts of 45 years of division, the Iron Curtain and the Cold War.

Founded

1995

Operated by

Förderverein Grenzland-Museum Schnackenburg e. V.

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

By car via the B 493 Dannenberg–Gartow–Schnackenburg, or from Wittenberge toward Dömitz to the Lütkenwisch–Schnackenburg ferry. By bicycle via the Elbe cycle route Hamburg–Dresden and the Lütkenwisch–Schnackenburg ferry (Hitzacker–Wittenberge).

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit