Peenemünde is a small harbour village at the northern tip of Usedom, but its history is anything but small. From 1936 to 1945 the German military research stations here formed one of Europe's largest armaments centres, where the V-1 and V-2 weapons were developed with forced labour and later used against civilians.
That past makes Peenemünde a serious, uneasy day trip rather than a cheerful seaside stop. The Historical Technical Museum occupies the old power station and is the main reason to come, with exhibitions that connect rocket technology to the violence and labour system that made it possible. Around the harbour, the U-461 submarine and a few technical attractions add a Cold War and science-museum layer.
Peenemünde works best for travelers already on Usedom or moving along the Baltic coast who want history with weight. Pair it with the beaches farther south on the island if you need air after the museum.