Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr

The Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr, the Bundeswehr Military History Museum, occupies a former arsenal at Olbrichtplatz 2 in Dresden's Albertstadt district, in Saxony, Germany. The 19th-century building, opened in 1877 as the Saxon arsenal, was redesigned by the architect Daniel Libeskind, who added a large wedge of steel and glass that cuts through the old facade and was completed in 2011. The contrast is deliberate, pointing to the tension between military history and its consequences. Inside, the museum takes an approach that is more cultural than technical. A chronological route covers the history of warfare from the Middle Ages to the present, while a thematic route examines war and the human being, with sections on violence, memory, animals, fashion and the body. Exhibits include weapons, uniforms, vehicles, aircraft and large objects such as a V-2 rocket, along with artworks and personal items that show the effect of conflict on civilians. The Libeskind wedge contains a viewing platform with a view of the Dresden skyline, and the layout points toward the area of the city bombed in 1945. Visitors should allow two to three hours, and more for guided tours or the full thematic route. Photography for private use is generally allowed. The museum is relatively quiet on weekday mornings and busier on weekends and during school holidays. The building is a good choice for rainy days. The museum is about 20 minutes from the centre by tram or bus and sits in an area of former barracks, so it fits in best as a dedicated outing, perhaps combined with a walk through the nearby Neustadt district or a visit to the Dresdner Heide on the northern edge.