Peenemünde is on the island Usedom in the state Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in Germany.

A4-Modell HTI Peenemünde

Understand

Peenemünde was the birthplace of the infamous V-1 flying bomb and V-2 rocket during World War II in Europe. The V stands for Vergeltungswaffe (retaliation weapon) the propaganda-term the Nazis used for their technological last ditch efforts at turning the tide in the waning moments of the lost war. They were developed, tested and launched from here during WW2 and the site was heavily bombed by Allied forces. Not much is left of the factories, but the power plant, some rockets and a bunker remain for visitors. After the war Peenemünde was used as an East German military base; consequently there is also a lot of East German military equipment on show.

Get in

The Usedomer Bäderbahn has a connection to Zinnowitz, and then onto the main German rail network.

• 1 Peenemünde railway station (Bahnhof Peenemünde). (updated Oct 2019)

It is about 50 km by car from Greifswald.

There are also smaller ferries from Rügen in the summer.

There are hourly regional trains from Zinnowitz.

See

The power plant

V1 rocket and launch ramp

• 1 Peenemünde Historical Technical Museum (Historisch-Technisches Museum Peenemünde), Im Kraftwerk, Peenemünde, ☏ +49 38371-505-0, htm@peenemuende.de. Apr-Sep: 10:00-18:00, Oct-Mar: 10:00-16:00, open daily (Nov-Mar: Mon closed). A museum of rocket technology between 1936-1945. It is housed in an impressive building of the power station at the former Army Testing Site. Regular: €8, Discount: €5. 
• Phenomenta, Museumstr. 12. Interactive science museum 
• Make a round trip by bus to the former launch sites of the V1, going over the airport with its shelters. It is not legally possible to get to the former launch pad of the V2-rockets, the test stand VII. The visit of the ruin of the oxygen plant may be illegal.

U 461

• There are also two former Soviet military vessels open for visitors in the harbour: the submarine U 461 and the ship 1241 A.

Do

• 1 The Monument Landscape. Monument Landscape is a hiking (or cycling) trail of 22 km starting at the Peenemünde Historical Technical Museum with 17 stopping points equipped with information boards. These include sites of historical-technical interest (like oxygen plant, air field, prison workers camp, etc.). The map of the trail (in German) can be downloaded from the Museum's web site. 

Buy

Books of the history of Peenemünde and rocket science, e.g. at the gift shop of the historical-technical information center Peenemuende. There are also model rockets available.

Eat

There is a restaurant in the power plant, and in the harbour you will find many smaller kiosks selling hot dogs, ice creams and other refreshments.

• Santa Maria, Hafenpromenade 7. Italian 
• Peenemuender Eck, Strandstr. 1 a, Karlshagen, ☏ +49 38371 21815. 
• Die Flunder, Zum Hafen 7. Fish and grill restaurant 

Sleep

• Hotel garni "Zur Zwiebel", Peeneplatz 3, ☏ +49 38371 26439. 
• Café & Pension "Am Deich", Feldstraße 1A, ☏ +49 38371 28582. 

Go next

• Greifswald
• Heringsdorf