New Exhibition Reveals Untold Stories of Women in Divided Germany

A new exhibition titled Women in Divided Germany will open at the Bürger Museum Wolfenbüttel on January 15, 2026. Running until October 4, the display will examine the varied lives of women in both East and West Germany during the country’s division. Organisers aim to challenge long-held stereotypes about their roles and experiences. The exhibition features 20 panels that explore how women’s lives differed—and sometimes overlapped—across the two German states. It also traces the origins of common assumptions about East and West German women, offering a closer look at their social, political, and personal realities.

On the evening before the opening, curator Clara Marz will give a lecture at the museum. Scheduled for January 14 at 5:00 PM, her talk will set the stage for the exhibition’s themes. Marz, who manages annual exhibitions and communist history projects at the Federal Foundation for the Study of Communist Dictatorship in East Germany, has led the development of the display.

The exhibition will remain on view for nearly nine months, closing on October 4, 2026. Visitors can expect a detailed portrayal of women’s experiences during Germany’s division, backed by research and historical context. The event also marks another step in the museum’s ongoing work to document and interpret this period.