Become 007: Exploring German Spy Museum
By Uliana Kolmakova and Rubina De Apro
⁃ I am Bond. James Bond.
We are sure everyone knows the legendary secret agent to whom this phrase belongs. Have you ever watched a spy film and imagined if it were you who built surveillance into the furniture pieces and fought enemies? If you derive pleasure from watching 007 series or Kingsman, remember, the moment you travel to Berlin — The German Spy Museum is a must-visit attraction for you.
The capital of spies is located at Leipziger Platz, the square which lies on the former border between East and West Berlin: on the "death strip" of the Berlin Wall. The museum is open daily from 10 am to 8 pm, which is exceedingly convenient for tourists. Plus, there is no age restriction — every generation will definitely be in raptures over the exhibition.
We are sure everyone knows the legendary secret agent to whom this phrase belongs. Have you ever watched a spy film and imagined if it were you who built surveillance into the furniture pieces and fought enemies? If you derive pleasure from watching 007 series or Kingsman, remember, the moment you travel to Berlin — The German Spy Museum is a must-visit attraction for you.
The capital of spies is located at Leipziger Platz, the square which lies on the former border between East and West Berlin: on the "death strip" of the Berlin Wall. The museum is open daily from 10 am to 8 pm, which is exceedingly convenient for tourists. Plus, there is no age restriction — every generation will definitely be in raptures over the exhibition.
Welcome to the world of secrets
| As you enter the museum, you feel like an agent in disguise. Cameras peering down on you, animated stairs, dimmed lights, background music, and even the smell — it all adds up to the feeling that you're doing something secret. |
You walk through the "Zeittunnel" (time tunnel) and enter the murky world of espionage, which begins here, in the museum, occupying 3,000m² in the heart of Berlin. During the time of its division, Berlin was said to have had more active spies than any other city in the world — so where better to learn about the life of a spy than in the city that was once the heart of espionage?
At the start, you get acquainted with the History of Espionage. Be careful or you might become an expert as you draw to its close. Covering the ancient Egyptians, Julius Caesar, Napoleon, World War I and II and the Cold War, the exhibition reveals the way espionage has improved through the years. Moving forward, you see diaries, important documents, masks, a bunch of books related to espionage, and many interactive objects.
Let's dive into it
The German Spy Museum Berlin is the only museum of its kind in Germany. The collection comprises more than 1,000 exhibits, but you sink in the ones that you've seen million times in movies and computer games. We bet at least once in your life you pretended that your umbrella was a weapon. Well, here it is — a real umbrella with real arrows (filled with poison!).
The most known item may be the electronic audio surveillance, performed with devices known colloquially as "bugs". They are very small and can be hidden in walls, furniture, telephones, clothing, devices, etc. Espionage agencies love that equipment since bugs afford access to what people say when they think no one is listening.
Interestingly enough, it used to be a popular method of surveillance during the Cold War. However, there was no wireless technology at that time. Agents had to install wires, which required a lot of time and effort. Moreover, agents often just interfered with conventional radio and television signals, betraying their presence in an instant.
Interestingly enough, it used to be a popular method of surveillance during the Cold War. However, there was no wireless technology at that time. Agents had to install wires, which required a lot of time and effort. Moreover, agents often just interfered with conventional radio and television signals, betraying their presence in an instant.
Another great device is a glove, hiding a pistol. Wearing this kind of gauntlet, you'll feel safe wherever you go. West German agents also used a cigarette packet with a concealed Minox A camera. The agent pulled the box (thus the camera) apart to take a picture; pushing it back together wound on the film. The packet could also be filled with cigarettes as camouflage.
| However, the most exciting collection of espionage equipment belongs to female spies. The most useful accessory — shoes with bugging devices in the heel. The heels of lady's shoes provided the ideal hiding place for secret documents or microfilm. Agents used shoes to transport code materials. The most unexpected items are probably wearable bras and lipsticks. They were used to hide cameras or guns. The bra camera was developed in East Germany in 1986. The disposable gun disguised as lipstick was developed by the Soviet Secret Service KGB. The replica exhibited in the museum is a model found on a Stasi agent arrested in West Berlin in 1965. |
Nonetheless, there are some items at the museum one can consider boring — like one of a few remaining enigma-code-machines from World War II and lots of bottles with different poisons and antidotes — but they are also necessary for understanding the development of espionage.
It's time to have fun
To feel like a real spy, you should not only look at the weapons they used but also get hands-on experience. Museum offers many interactive features: you can try to decode a message, hack a real website, find listening devices, place your enemies under surveillance, write with invisible inks, and even try on pieces of disguise. The coolest part of all these training devices is the laser tunnel. As you enter a dark room you see laser alarm. Your task is to get to the opposite side of the room without touching the laser.
Your task is to get to the opposite side of the room without touching the laser.
200 HD-Screens, 3D glasses and impressive projections enable you to immerse in the world of secret agents. There is a huge interactive map that allows you to explore the capital of spies in a playful manner. On the digital screen, the immense number of information is accessible. You can see the exact buildings where the conspirative places in Berlin were located. The map shows you archive photos and the modern image of a place.
The place is definitely worth visiting. If you want to see more from the set of James Bond films and have a great time — then explore the museum on your own.
Photos by Rubina De Apro and Uliana Kolmakova
