The nuclear response of "1"3"6Xe and "2"0"8Pb to electromagnetic excitation was studied in peripheral, near-relativistic heavy-ion collisions. Large cross sections were observed for the one-phonon and two-phonon isovector giant dipole resonance. The results, in particular the unexpectedly large strength found for the double giant dipole resonance, are discussed and compared to that of other recent measurements. (orig.)Available from TIB Hannover: RO 801(93-72) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman