Biermann on Oranienburger Strasse in 1975, shortly before his expatriation Photo: DHM
By Sebastian Bauer
The German Historical Museum shows the exceptional biography of the songwriter rebel in songs, poems, photos, videos and memorabilia as well as testimonies of the oppressive Stasi terror.
Of course his guitar can be seen, as well as a recording of the Cologne concert (1976), the records and photos from the apartment on Chausseestrasse.
But the Wolf Biermann exhibition in the German Historical Museum (DHM) shows many other facets. Like his diaries, which Biermann calls “cardiogram of my soul”. He transported them in a tin food container from the Wehrmacht stock.
Biermann with his mother Emma in 1953, shortly before moving to the GDR Photo: DHM/Biermann
The memories of Biermann’s Jewish father Dagobert, who was murdered in Auschwitz, are touching. The reprints of his Stasi files make you shudder, and an old BE rehearsal video with Helene Weigel makes you smile.
According to DHM President Raphael Gross (57), Biermann’s life is a “stroke of luck for historiography”.
7/7/23 to 1/14/24, DHM (Pei-Bau), Hinter dem Gießhaus 3, 7/3.50 euros (up to 18 free)