KGB Museum

The KGB Museum in Prague, located in the picturesque district of Malá Strana, is a fascinating and unique stop that offers a deep immersion into the history of the Soviet secret services. Opened in 2011, the museum is the result of the passion of a Russian collector who moved to Prague, whose goal was to collect and preserve objects related to the feared KGB, the Committee for State Security of the Soviet Union. This one-of-a-kind collection is located at number 13 Vlašská Street, easily accessible by public transport, making the museum accessible to visitors interested in the history and period of the Cold War. Upon entering the KGB Museum, visitors are immediately immersed in an environment that evokes the secretive and often sinister atmospheres of the KGB. The exhibitions include a wide range of objects used by the Soviet secret services, including uniforms, weapons, surveillance equipment, and torture tools. Among the most unique objects are the poison-tipped cane used in the assassination of Bulgarian writer Georgi Markov in 1978 and Lenin’s death mask, powerful symbols of an era of terror and political control. One of the most fascinating elements of the museum is the collection of espionage devices. Visitors can admire hidden microphones in everyday objects, such as an embroidered pin cushion and phones with integrated interception systems. Among the exhibited objects is also a rare miniaturized camera from 1948 and a cigarette case hiding a camera, used for taking clandestine photographs. The museum also offers a section dedicated to KGB uniforms and emblems, including a variety of female camouflage uniforms with horsehair fringe, designed to deceive guard dogs. These details showcase the ingenuity and paranoia that characterized KGB’s secret operations. One of the most poignant parts of the museum is the replica of a prison cell used to detain and interrogate dissidents during the Soviet period. This exhibition offers a brutal insight into the living conditions and interrogation techniques to which those considered enemies of the state were subjected. Visiting this section of the museum is an intense and educational experience, allowing a better understanding of the political repression of the Soviet regime. The museum not only showcases physical objects but also includes a photo exhibition titled “Prague 1968 through the eyes of a KGB officer.” This exhibition documents the events of the Prague Spring, a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia that was brutally suppressed by the Warsaw Pact forces. The photographs offer a unique and unsettling perspective, showing KGB operations in the city during that turbulent period. The owner’s passion and knowledge add a special value to the visit. Each tour is personally guided by him, who enthusiastically explains every single exhibited object in detail. This personal approach makes the experience even more engaging, allowing visitors to deepen their understanding of the KGB’s role in Soviet and world history. Among the most iconic objects displayed in the museum are Lavrentiy Beria’s desk microphone, one of the most feared leaders of the NKVD (predecessor of the KGB), and his office radio, representing the power and influence these leaders had in maintaining political control through surveillance and intimidation. A curious and almost surreal detail of the museum is the presence of Lenin’s chamber pot, which offers an unexpected glimpse into the private life of Soviet leaders. This object, along with many others, creates a complete and complex picture of the various facets of life and operations of the KGB.