From coffee to tampons: DDR Museum seeks East German products

In the East, they were part of everyday life, now they should be in the museum. Coffee mix and action hairspray, for example. The DDR Museum in Berlin is looking for everyday products from back then. The museum wants to expand its exhibition to include everyday goods. It is therefore calling on people to rummage through their cellars, attics or households.

"We have already received donations of cosmetics from the Florena Action range, such as lipstick and hairspray, as well as a packet of sugar cubes," said museum director Gordon von Godin.

Which items are hard to find

After more than 35 years, items such as coffee, baby food, tampons and sanitary towels are particularly hard to find, explained the museum director. These were also expensive or rare in GDR times. The "Berliner Kurier" had previously reported on the museum's appeal.

The museum is looking for sugar cubes, table salt, coffee and coffee mix, condiments, Wofasept bottles, Perfekt sanitary towels, Immuna tampons and baby food from the 1970s and 1980s.

Where to get in touch

If you can still find a GDR treasure at home, you can contact the museum. The easiest way to do this is by e-mail with a photo or a short description, it said. "We will then get back to you as quickly as possible with a thank you and confirmation or rejection." No products are accepted at the museum on site.

Articles such as Club Cola or Tempo beans were an absolutely everyday, always available product in GDR times, the museum director said. This also shows how important museum collections are, especially for the preservation of everyday objects.