Dresden’s New Military History Museum

Originally an armory, one of Germany’s most important military history museums opened in 2011 as the Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr. Architect Daniel Libeskind reimagined the building, cleaving it with a giant arrowhead-shaped metal mesh extension. Never one to waste an uncomfortable angle, Libeskind extended the lines of the arrowhead inside, creating disconcerting polygonal galleries in the center of the museum. The extension’s thematically organized displays documenting the horrors of war were engrossing, but even more fascinating were the numerous objects from the history of the German armed forces. The collection included everything from a claustrophobic two-person “Seehund” submarine to a poster illustrating the hairstyles soldiers could wear in the East German army. The museum also has an excellent gift shop and a vaulted café.