permanent exhibition
Shortly after its dedication, the Köpenick Town Hall—built between 1901 and 1904 according to plans by Hugo Kinzer and Hans Schütte—became world-famous almost overnight.
Image gallery
Platz vor dem Rathaus Köpenick mit der Skulptur "Der Hauptmann von Köpenick"
The reason: Wilhelm Voigt, a 57-year-old unemployed shoemaker, arrested Mayor Georg Langerhans on October 16, 1906, while wearing a captain’s uniform he had previously purchased at a flea market, in order to seize the city’s treasury.
Although Voigt himself was later arrested, Carl Zuckmayer’s play *The Captain of Köpenick* enshrined the character in the repertoire of Berlin’s iconic figures. Exploiting Prussian “blind obedience,” he used his imposture to defy the timidity and prevailing spirit of subservience of the time. Since then, an act of impersonation in which obedience is deceived through the assumption of official authority has been called a “Köpenickiade.”
To mark the 110th anniversary of this “Köpenickiade,” the permanent exhibition “The Captain of Köpenick—From Convict to Legend” opened in the ticket office of Köpenick Town Hall—the historic site of the events.
For the first time, the story of Wilhelm Voigt is told within its social context. Why did he turn to crime? Why wasn’t he given a second chance after his imprisonment?
The exhibition also explores the story’s portrayal in film and literature. Furthermore, Voigt’s self-promotion played a role: through record recordings and public appearances, he himself helped make the Köpenickiade world-famous. This included its central message: to ridicule Prussian militarism and the cult of authority.
Additional information
Hours:
- Daily from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Accessibility
- Barrier-free access via Böttcherstraße 4 (courtyard)
- Changing table available
