First Berlin GDR Motorcycle Museum Closed

The First Berlin GDR Motorcycle Museum (Erstes Berliner DDR-Motorradmuseum) moved into its current home in the historic S-Bahn railway arches between Alexanderplatz and Hackescher Markt in the fall of 2008. On its two floors, it displays more than 140 carefully restored motorcycles, scooters and mopeds drawn from forty years of GDR production. All major manufacturers are represented here, including MZ, Simson, IWL and EMW. Also on display are side cars, sport motorcycles, racing motorcycles, special-purpose motorcycles and government motorcycles. A number of text and image panels, films and computer terminals provide information on the history of GDR motorcycle factories and the use of motorcycles for racing, weekend outings and police and border guard functions. Several rarities are also on display, including a motorcycle once used to escort GDR president Erich Honecker through the streets of Berlin, as well as the cult "Schwalbe" scooter that GDR actress Agnes Kraus drove from one village to the next in the DEFA film "Schwester Agnes". A typical spare-parts storage room is also integrated into the exhibition.