SHINING FREEDOM

EXPERIENCE THE PEACEFUL REVOLUTION OF 1989 IN AN IMMERSIVE WAY

What brought thousands of people onto the streets in 1989?
“Leuchtende Freiheit” tells the story of the Peaceful Revolution through light, sound, and original historical voices—in an emotional, impressive, and immersive way.
Supplementary educational materials, interviews, and digital content deepen the visitor’s experience and make the exhibition a compelling introduction to recent German history.

Discover it now, think about it, and ask more questions.

Why “Shining Freedom”?

The project serves as a reminder that freedom, democracy, and moral courage cannot be taken for granted. They had to be fought for and must be defended time and again.
Especially at a time when democratic values are once again under pressure, it is all the more important to keep their history alive, pass on these experiences, and raise awareness among young people about the importance of civic engagement and shared responsibility.

Supporting Materials for Download

Introductory video by Prof. Dr. Markus Löffler

Voices of Memory

Personal experiences bring history to life: In short video portraits, eyewitnesses recount their experiences surrounding the Peaceful Revolution of 1989. Their stories reveal courage, doubt, hope—and how change became possible.

Select a contemporary witness

7:21

5:07

8:27 a.m.

6:36

Note

Our website contains links to external third-party websites. We have no influence over the content of these websites and therefore cannot guarantee their content. The providers or administrators of linked websites are always responsible for their own content. The linked websites were reviewed for potential legal violations at the time the links were created. No illegal content was apparent at the time the links were created. We cannot be required to continuously monitor the content of linked websites without reasonable grounds to suspect a legal violation. Illegal links will be removed immediately upon our becoming aware of them.

Interesting videos on the topic of the GDR

This Is What Everyday Life Was Like in the GDR MR WISSEN 2 GO

What was it like to live in the GDR? On the surface, the German Democratic Republic was governed in the spirit of totalitarian socialism.

Allotment Gardeners in the GDR MDR

There were thousands of allotment gardens in the GDR. They served as recreational spaces for allotment gardeners, often functioned as local recreational areas for the surrounding community, and increasingly supplied the population with fruits and vegetables.

A GDR School Lesson, 1985 Style DER SPIEGEL

They lied, indoctrinated, and ostracized dissenters—all right there in the classroom: GDR teachers.

Youth Culture in the GDR Explained MDR DOK

A toolkit of essential widgets and features that will boost your workflow

Women's Rights in the GDR Explained MDR DOK

In the 1980s, about 90 percent of women of working age in the GDR were employed—nearly twice as many as in the Federal Republic of Germany at the same time.

The Peaceful Revolution | Politics Direct DW_TV

Since the spring of 1989, events seem to have been unfolding at a rapid pace: a chronicle of the regime's rapid collapse.