Usedom Island Peenemünde Historical Technical Museum
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
The Usedom Island Peenemünde Historical Technical Museum, established in 1991, is located in the observation bunker and former power station on the island of Usedom in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It focuses on the history of the Peenemünde Army Research Centre and the Luftwaffe test site "Peenemünde-West," where rockets and missiles were developed between 1936 and 1945. The museum serves as a memorial, educating visitors about the complex legacy of rocket pioneers like Wernher von Braun, who contributed to both wartime weapons and later space exploration. Exhibits include detailed chronicles of the forced laborers and prisoners of war who endured harsh conditions assembling weapons, as well as replicas of iconic rockets such as the V-1 flying bomb and the A4 rocket. The museum is part of the European Route of Industrial Heritage and features extensive indoor exhibitions supplemented by open-air displays, including launch pads and historical vehicles. A chapel nearby commemorates all victims associated with the site. The museum combines technical history with cultural remembrance, offering films, documents, and artifacts that illustrate the technological achievements and human costs of the Peenemünde program.
Naplánujte si cestu do země Německo s AI
Vytvořte si podrobný itinerář za pár minut. AI vám navrhne nejlepší místa, restaurace a optimalizovanou trasu.
Tip: Visit during spring to early autumn for pleasant weather and full access to outdoor exhibits. Booking tickets in advance is recommended for groups and school classes. The museum offers educational tours and commemorative events. Discounts may be available for students and groups. Allow time to explore both the indoor exhibitions and the open-air historical sites scattered around Peenemünder Haken.
Zajímavosti
- •The museum is housed in the original observation bunker and power station of the Peenemünde Army Research Centre.
- •Wernher von Braun, who led rocket development at Peenemünde, later designed the Saturn V rocket used in NASA's moon missions.
- •The museum includes replicas of the V-1 flying bomb and the A4 rocket, key weapons developed during WWII.
- •Peenemünde experts contributed to nuclear missile development in the US, USSR, UK, and France after the war.
- •The site features information boards across the Peenemünder Haken area, including former forced labor camps and industrial railway stops.
- •The museum received the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Award in 2013 for its restoration work.
Historie
The museum was founded in 1991 in the former power station and observation bunker of Peenemünde on Usedom Island.
It evolved from the initial "Peenemünde Information Centre for History and Technology" to a larger permanent exhibition opened in 2000/2001.
The museum documents the development of rockets and missiles at the Peenemünde Army Research Centre between 1936 and 1945.
After a public controversy in the early 1990s over how to present the site's history, a scientific team was commissioned to create a comprehensive and balanced exhibition.
Since 2007, the museum is an anchor point on the European Route of Industrial Heritage and has received awards such as the Coventry Cross of Nails and the Europa Nostra Prize for cultural heritage preservation.
Průvodce po místě
Observation Bunker1930s
The original bunker used for monitoring rocket tests, now housing part of the museum's exhibitions about rocket development and wartime history.
Power Station Exhibition HallEarly 20th century (power station), exhibition since 1991
Located in the former power station building, this hall hosts the main permanent exhibition covering the history of Peenemünde's rocket program, the role of forced labor, and the post-war legacy of rocket technology.
Open-Air Display Area
Outdoor exhibits include replicas of the V-1 flying bomb and A4 rocket, a launch ramp, anti-aircraft missiles, and historical vehicles such as the former Peenemünde railbus.
Peenemünder Haken Information Boards
Spread across the historic Peenemünder Haken peninsula, these boards mark locations connected to the Army Research Centre, Luftwaffe test site, forced labor camps, and industrial railway, providing context and history accessible to visitors exploring the area.
Memorial Chapel1876 (original), 1990s (reconstruction)
Originally built in 1876 and rebuilt in the 1990s, this chapel commemorates all victims associated with the Peenemünde site, including forced laborers and concentration camp prisoners.
Kontakt
Telefon: 038371 5050
