The exhibition traces the ship's history from its design in 1950 to its current restoration in Stralsund.
The special exhibition “75 Years of the Training Sailboat ‘Wilhelm Pieck/Greif’” is part of the new series “Exhibition in the Dry Dock” at the Naval Museum.
The exhibition traces the ship’s history from its design in 1950 to its current restoration in Stralsund. Six thematic sections cover everything from the concept of a “ship for youth” through its construction and launch at the Warnow Shipyard, pre-military training practices, and political staging and oversight, all the way to its major voyages. The conclusion is dedicated to the ship’s “second life” as the “Greif” of the Hanseatic City of Greifswald after 1990. On display are historical photographs and original artifacts from the ship, including the ship’s bell of the “Greif.”
“The ‘Wilhelm Pieck,’ now the ‘Greif,’ is a ship with a dual history. It served as a training ground for thousands of young people and, at the same time, was a symbol of political prestige for the GDR. Our aim is to shed light on both sides: the personal experiences on board as well as the political context in which they took place. The fact that the restoration is taking place within sight of the island of Dänholm makes this location particularly fitting for the exhibition,” says Dr. Antje Strahl, curator of naval history at the STRALSUND MUSEUM.
