A new chapter for the Military History Museum at Berlin-Gatow Airfield
The Military History Museum at Berlin-Gatow Airfield is entering a new chapter in its history. While the listed buildings are to be carefully renovated over the coming years, a completely new exhibition is also planned – one that will place visitors more firmly at the centre.
Here, air forces are presented as instruments of politics across different eras. Political, social, economic, strategic and technical developments and decisions have always been, and remain, closely intertwined. And at the heart of it all are people. How did they experience their time in different political systems in their various roles – as soldiers, politicians or civilians?
The threat from the air transformed everything: foreign policy decision-making, military strategies, and even our very conception of war itself. The exhibition illustrates the far-reaching consequences of aerial warfare planning and conduct for politics, the military and society, and highlights how this shifted the boundaries between war and peace, particularly for the civilian population. In contemporary conflicts in particular, airborne weapons play a central role and therefore inevitably become the subject of debate about the purpose and justification of military operations.
A vivid account of history also needs authentic voices. That is why we are looking for people with first-hand experience. Whether you were a soldier or a civilian – if you have experience of a German air force, whether East or West, we would like to hear your story. We are interested in people in all roles within military aviation, as well as relatives who can share the experiences of family members.
