Experience Rostock's history: guided tour through the special exhibition!

Experience Rostock's history: guided tour through the special exhibition!

An exciting journey into the city's past begins in the Rostock Cultural History Museum. On September 7th, 2025, the special exhibition "40 formative years. Rostock as the district capital" opened its doors and invites visitors until January 4th, 2026 to explore the development of Rostock from 1945 to 1989. This period was of enormous importance for the city: it transformed from a field of rubble after the Second World War into a thriving industrial and port location.

On Thursday, September 25, 2025, the museum will offer a guided tour of the exhibition starting at 5 p.m. For just three euros, those interested can delve deeper into history and get to know the facets of urban development that shaped Rostock during the GDR era. Rostock town hall emphasizes that the tour covers topics such as post-war reconstruction, the expansion of industry and residential areas, and everyday life in a centrally controlled society.

The changes in Rostock

The exhibition addresses the changes in the city between the end of the Second World War and the political upheaval in 1989/90. Under Soviet control, Rostock's reconstruction began immediately after the war and by 1952 the city was declared a district town. This brought not only economic benefits, but also the establishment of extensive shipbuilding, trade and a solid infrastructure. Loud Rostock Cultural History Museum At that time, Rostock was considered an important university city and sports metropolis.

The exhibition pays particular attention to the tension between state control and individual hope. The realities of people's lives, their leisure activities, studies, tourism and cultural offerings are also focal points. Despite the political repression and conformity, there was resistance and complex participation by the population.

Exhibition program and guided tours

The accompanying program for the exhibition includes regular guided tours. In addition to the Thursday tours at 5 p.m., there are also Sunday offers. A special highlight will be the training for teachers on October 13th, which will also take place in the museum. To illustrate the relevance of these topics, Dr. Steffen Stuth, the museum director, emphasized the importance of dealing with the challenges and development of the 20th century in the context of Rostock. Registration for the tours and workshops is possible through the museum.

Anyone who is interested in immersing themselves in Rostock's multifaceted history should not miss the opportunity. The exhibition not only offers an exciting look back, but also the chance to understand up close the development of a city that, today more than ever, occupies an important place in northern German culture and history. Northern Courier sums up the atmosphere perfectly: This exhibition takes us through a time that changed everything.