Travel Guide "Remembrance Connects Region Oder-Warta"

82 A me e t i ng and d i scovery space The construction of an iron- and steel- works factory after the end of the Second World War near the Oder River and the town of Fürstenberg (Oder) led to development of a socialist planned town with the honorary name „Stalinstadt“ (Stalin Town) from 1951 onwards. In 1961 , as part of de-Stalini- sation, the city was given the new name of Eisenhüttenstadt. In the first newly founded city after the end of the war, planning and building was undertaken entirely in accordance with the socialist understanding. In addition to the residential buildings for the factory‘s workers and families, a cultural centre, modern childcare centres and schools, sports fields and a magnificent boulevard with a depart- ment store and other shops were built. Eisenhüttenstadt City Museum A city designed on the drawing board, Eisenhüttenstadt developed into one of the most important industrial centres of the former GDR after the end of the Second World War. By 1989 , the population had grown to more than 50 , 000 inhabitants. After 1990 , the steel- and ironworks factory was pri- vatised and rebuilt. Three quarters of the employees lost their jobs. The historic city centre from the 1950 s is now the largest area monument in Germany. The history of Eisenhüttenstadt is documented in the local museum. The municipal museum is comprised of four departments: the city‘s history, the gallery and art collection, the fire brigade and technology museum, and the city archive. Address: Löwenstraße 4 15890 Eisenhüttenstadt, Deutschland www.museum-eisenhuettenstadt.de Open: January-December GPS : 52 ° 08 ‘ 40 . 3 “N 14 ° 40 ‘ 23 . 5 “E Eisenhüttenstadt City Museum i On 27 July 1950 , the government of the German Democratic Republic adopted 16 principles of urban plan- ning. In being oriented towards the Soviet model, these principles repre- sented a significant turning point in Documentation Centre for GDR‘s Everyday Culture Eisenhüttenstadt embodied the ideal of a model socialist city. The Documentation Centre for the GDR‘s Everyday Culture vividly presents this aspect of GDR history. the architectural policy of the GDR . In the socialist planned and model city later known as Eisenhüttenstadt, these principles flowed decisively into the design in order to „give expression to the progressive traditions of our German people and to the great goals set for the construction of the whole of Ger- many.“ The land necessary for the con- struction was expropriated. The Documentation Centre for the GDR ‘s Everyday Culture moved into one of the former nurseries in 1994 . Even the building was constructed in the typical style of the 1950 s. One of the most important exhibits in the museum is the glass mosaic „From the Lives of Children“ by Walter Womacka, which extends over two floors. In addition, the permanent exhibition „Everyday Life: GDR “ offers insights into both the history of the socialist planned city and into everyday life in the GDR . A large number of private objects are presented, which were given to the museum together with their stories after 1990 . Address: Erich-Weinert-Allee 3 15890 Eisenhüttenstadt, Deutschland www.alltagskultur-ddr.de Open: January-December GPS : 52 ° 08 ‘ 32 . 3 “N 14 ° 37 ‘ 52 . 5 “E Documentation Centre for the GDR‘s Everyday Culture i A me e t i ng and d i scovery space 83