War Museums

Discussion in 'WW2 Museums. Events, & places to see.' started by CROONAERT, Feb 29, 2004.

  1. CROONAERT

    CROONAERT Ipsissimus

    I was hoping that forum members could mention their best (and worst) war (or is it now "P.C." to call them "Peace")museums (mainly in Europe), as I'd hate to think that I'd missed a good one!!!!( :P ).

    I'm planning to do a several-countries tour of Europe in the Summer and would like to know what is reccommended (and those to avoid).

    My personal favourite (for WW2) is the museum at Diekirch in Luxembourg (I'm more of a "traditional" museum fan - the "Memorial" at Caen didn't do much for me, and I preferred the outside of the one at Overloon) and my least favourites both happen to be WW1 museums anyway (I'm trying to think of my least favourite WW2 museum, but am struggling - there are a few "lemons" in my book!).

    Thanks,

    B.
     
  2. salientpoints

    salientpoints Senior Member

    You don't even need to leave the country - it's on your doorstep - The Imperial War Museum ;)

    The Underground Hospital on Guernsey is very good and I believe they may have opened up the Mirus Battery as a museum now. Last time I was in here it was with torches through the brambles!

    La Coupole just outside St Omer is a fascinating insight into the massive construction programme by the Germans and V2 manufacture, then leads onto the history of rockets.

    Castle Colditz is now a museum if you can get that far into Germany on your trip:
    http://www.colditz.de/data/include_kultur/...m_eng_index.php

    I am doing the Normandy museums etc this year so can't comment on those but I have the list and there is soooo much to do!
     
  3. David Seymour

    David Seymour Senior Member

    Best War Museum? Easy: Imperial War Museum.

    Consider joining the Friends of the Imperial War Museum: free entry to Duxford, Cabinet War Rooms, HMS Belfast. 20% discount in shop and cafe. Behind the scenes and previews. Three times a year magazine Despatches. Help contribute to a major national resource.

    Check it out on IWM website.

    Regards,
    David
     
  4. Mark Hone

    Mark Hone Senior Member

    I prefer smaller-scale 'specific subject' museums to huge, national collections. I think that of that kind, the Airborne Museum at Oosterbeek takes some beating, although many staff and pupils on our recent Arnhem tour thought that the National Liberation Museum at Groesbeek was as good. In the UK I have a soft spot for the Birkenhead Historic Warships Museum.
    IWM London has always been my favourite of the biggies, although NAM is also superb. Sorry that I can't wax too lyrical about the IWM North or the Royal Armouries in Leeds, both of which fail to 'hit the target' in my view.
     
  5. David Seymour

    David Seymour Senior Member

    For anyone interested in the naval side I would recommend EXPLOSION, the Museum of Naval Firepower at Gosport. A great little museum with huge potential on an impressive site at Priddy's Hard. It fits in well with the Historic Ships at Portsmouth, and the Submarine Museum (also in Gosport). Easy access between both sides of the harbour by water bus and free shuttle. Also excellent views of the fleet.
    Regards,
    David
     
  6. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    I personally have always liked the Bayeux War Museum; I have been there hundreds of times, but always find something new to look at - always the sign of a good museum in my opinion.

    For the same reason I love the museums at La Gleize in the Ardennes and Hartenstein Hotel at Arnhem.

    Least favourite is the Memorial in Caen - it tells you NOTHING about Normandy, in my opinion.
     
  7. CROONAERT

    CROONAERT Ipsissimus

    Originally posted by Paul Reed@Feb 29 2004, 06:10 PM
    I personally have always liked the Bayeux War Museum; I have been there hundreds of times, but always find something new to look at - always the sign of a good museum in my opinion.

    For the same reason I love the museums at La Gleize in the Ardennes and Hartenstein Hotel at Arnhem.

    Least favourite is the Memorial in Caen - it tells you NOTHING about Normandy, in my opinion.
    I think we've got the same tastes in museums, Paul! I forgot about Bayeaux as its been a number of years since I've visited Normandy (though on my last visit, I think that the Pegasus Bridge museum went downhill in comparison to my first). I've been concentrating on the Ardennes of late, and think I've visited the lot in that area (La Gleize being particularly close to my heart - I broke my wrist there a few years ago trying to photograph "213" from a different angle!).

    Mark. - I think I've been to Groesbeek museum before. Is it the one that has a memorial chapel in the shape of a parachute and commemorates Operation Veritable? The museum not too far away at Veghel is also worth visiting. Hotel Hartenstein is also excellent, especially due to it's historic housing, but I haven't been able to afford more than a fleeting visit there over the last few years. Has it changed much since, say, 1996?

    Salientpoints. - Believe me, I wouldn't rate the IWM as "on my doorstep"!! :D

    Thanks for all the answers.

    B.
     
  8. Mark Hone

    Mark Hone Senior Member

    The Hartenstein has got a much better audio-visual display at the beginning than I recall from a visit in the mid-90's. The dioramas in the basement seemed the same but on the other floors they have an amazing and growing collection of artifacts, including Shan Hackett's bloodstained tunic, Frost's hunting horn etc. The Grosbeek museum is as you describe. It is not quite as slickly presented as the Hartenstein but is very good, with a variety of interesting displays on the occupation, Dutch East Indies etc as well as Market Garden and Veritable. It has a very good 3D model of the area in the middle. It is staffed by an enthusiastic , friendly and to be honest aging group of volunteers, so visit it while you can!
     
  9. salientpoints

    salientpoints Senior Member

    Believe me, I wouldn't rate the IWM as "on my doorstep"!!

    Oh ok, maybe this is where the country flag and details don't help? One can only assume from member details where it says UK you are in the UK and as the IWM and its associated other museums are in the UK that these are nearer to you than those in Europe? or are you an ex-pat which I wasn't aware of? Otherwise there are many more good museums in the UK worth visiting (bovington tank museum, muckleburgh collection, raf museum, etc etc)

    Cheers

    Ryan
     
  10. Mark Hone

    Mark Hone Senior Member

    The Eperlecques bunker near St Omer can be covered at the same time as you visit La Coupole. It is an awesome and atmospheric place, rated as the best site we have ever visited by more than one of my battlefield tour regulars.
     
  11. Marco

    Marco Senior Member

    Arnhem:
    The KNIL museum Bronbeek mainly shows Dutch east Indies stuff, which could be something new for you foreign chaps :D . It's not great, but different. Enhanced by the fact that it is housed in the Dutch version of Chelsea hospital. So lot's of veterans and that hospital lysol smell. I was there in 1991.

    An other museum in Arnhem is Museum 1940-1945. Much bigger then Hartestein but not much advertised. I was told that the main reason for this is that they were treatened by Arnhem city council that they would not allow it to become a serious competator for Hartenstein. Not an idle threat because Dutch gunlaw is very strict even on deactivated or 1:1 model weapons. No licence no museum. I was there in 1995. Curious to know which one you will find better, this one or Hartenstein.

    A pleasant surprise was Musée Historique Diekirch. I was expecting a barn with some Garands on display but found a top-notch museum with several full-sized dioramas. Very good. I was there 1991.

    Also VERY good was Musee de l’Emperi (Salon de Provence) 2003. Although plenty of ww1 and some ww2 on display the best part was the vast collection of Napoleonic uniforms.

    With hundreds of museums in Holland, Belgium, France and UK visited its probably more do-able to name the ones I found not to my personal taste:
    -Zuidhollands Verzetsmuseum (Gouda) 1990
    -Museum Bezetting en Bevrijding (Breda) 1990
    -Generaal Maczek museum (Breda) 1990
    -Musée de la Marine (Paris) 1991
    -Museé de la Réistance et de la Deportation Henri Chadourne (Limoges) 1996
    -Musee Maritime (La Rochelle) 2003
    -Musee de la Legion Etrangere (Aubagne) 2003 because photography was forbidden. I hate that.

    Regards,

    Marco
     
  12. walker1914

    walker1914 Junior Member

    Colditz Castle was very interesting when i was there about 18 months ago, due to building work there, conversion of parts of the castle in to flats <_< , we only had limited access, unable to go into the courtyard etc, but you can still feel the atmosphere of the place, and how foreboding it must have been to the prisoners there
     
  13. Steven Wright

    Steven Wright Junior Member

    This is a great thread for all of the ideas! Unfortunately, I don't have much experience with European museums, but two wonderful places in England are the Imperial War Museum and the Cabinet War Rooms! Both are unmatched!

    SJW
     
  14. David Seymour

    David Seymour Senior Member

    The Tank Museum at Bovington in Dorset has a splendid collection of AFVs. This year's 'Tankfest' is on Sunday 23 May.
    David
     
  15. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Originally posted by Marco@Mar 2 2004, 10:04 AM
    An other museum in Arnhem is Museum 1940-1945. Much bigger then Hartestein but not much advertised. I was told that the main reason for this is that they were treatened by Arnhem city council that they would not allow it to become a serious competator for Hartenstein. Not an idle threat because Dutch gunlaw is very strict even on deactivated or 1:1 model weapons. No licence no museum. I was there in 1995. Curious to know which one you will find better, this one or Hartenstein.

    I hear this is a good museum, but I ran out of time to see it last time I was at Arnhem. I can't see any reason why they cannot operate both museums together; afterall, they must be running out of space at the Hartenstein?

    Marco, do you know what happened to Monsieur le Cocq's 'War Museum 1914-18 & 1939-45' (or whatever it was called) that was "somewhere near" Arnhem? I never saw it, but met him many times on the Somme... he was a native of St Pierre Divion.
     
  16. MalcolmII

    MalcolmII Senior Member

    Originally posted by David Seymour@Mar 2 2004, 12:28 PM
    The Tank Museum at Bovington in Dorset has a splendid collection of AFVs. This year's 'Tankfest' is on Sunday 23 May.
    David
    The Tank Museum at Saumur, Loire is also exceptional and worth a visit if you are in France.
    Aye
    MalcolmII
     
  17. Marco

    Marco Senior Member

    Paul,

    Do you perhaps mean Museum slag van de Somme '14-'18 at Schagen? This was run by a local 'from Thiepval' which is close enough.... :D I don't know his name but he died not too long ago.

    Regards,

    Marco
     
  18. Marco

    Marco Senior Member

    What the heck is a 'flood control' on this forum?? Try posting two messages after each other and you see what I mean.

    Anyway, Malcolm, don't tell me you visited Samaur in June 2003.....

    Bovington was always #1 till I visited Samaur. Now I'm not that sure.... Almost complete set of German ww2 armour (well the lended their Tiger to some German museum in return for a Mk. I or II) but very complete. Bovington beats Saumur in British ww1 armour and Samaur beats Bovington in ww1 French armour but that is to be expected.

    Regards,

    Marco
     
  19. Marco

    Marco Senior Member

    What can I say? I like museums and I like lists (occupational defect). Below a list of museums I have been to so far. The list is not complete I now realise but it gives an idea. Its not all ‘on topic’ but I hope I am forgiven. If you have any questions regarding a museum... :D

    Museum 1915-18 (Kotsach-Mauten)
    Abri du Hitler (Bruly-de-Pershe)
    Bastogne Historical Center
    Citadel Dinant
    Citadel Huy
    Citadel Namen
    Fort Eben-Emael
    Musée d'Armes de Liege
    Musée de la Bataille des Ardennes
    Musée du Centenaire (Mons) MOVED
    Museum van het kamp van Beverlo (Leopoldsburg)
    Slag der Zilveren Helmen (Halen)
    Streek museum Zonnebeke UNDER RENOVATION
    Victory Memorial museum (Arlon) CLOSED
    Herinnerings museum Yperes salient '14-'18
    Oorlogsmuseum 1914-1918 Hooge Crater
    1944/1945 Aywaille Battle museum
    Sanctuary Wood Hill 62 (Zillebeke)
    December 1944 museum (La Gleize)
    IJzertoren (Diksmuide) 2003
    Bitche Citadel
    Calais Musée de la Guerre
    Caverne du Dragon
    Citadel Montmedy
    Concentration camp Natzwiller (Le Struthof)
    Fort de la Pompelle (Reims)
    Frigat “l’Hermione” (Rochfort)
    Historial de la Grand Guerre (Peronne)
    La Copoule (St. Omer)
    Lataille Museum (Bullecourt)
    Le Blockhaus d'Eperlecques
    Le Mémorial de la ligne Maginot (Marckolsheim)
    Musée Amis de Thann
    Musée Automobiles et Militaire (Cleres)
    Musée Cooperation Francais - American
    Musée d' Argonne (Verdun)
    Musée d’Art et de Histoire (Belfort)
    Musée de la Legion Etrangere (Aubagne)
    Musée de la Marine (Parijs)
    Musée de la Résistance et de la Deportation Henri Chadourne (Limoges)
    Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace Le Bourget
    Musée des Abris (Albert)
    Musée des Spahis (Senlis)
    Musée des Troupes Marine (Frejus)
    Musée du l' Armee (Parijs)
    Musée Henri Barbusse (Aumont)
    Musée Historique Diekirch
    Musée Liberation (Parijs)
    Musée Maritime (La Rochelle)
    Musée Militaire (Cambrai)
    Musée Mur d'Atlantic
    Musée de l’Emperi (Salon de Provence)
    Musée des Blindes – Tank Museum (Saumur)
    Oradour-sur-Glane
    Ouvrage du Four a Chaux (Lembach)
    Ouvrage du Schoenenbourg
    Ouvrage du Simserhof
    Fort Douaumont/ Vaux
    Dome des Invalides (Paris)
    Musée 39-45 (Ambleteuse)
    Museum memorial de Verdun 1914-1918
    Auto und Technik museum (Sinsheim)
    Bundeswehr Technisches museum (Koblenz)
    Concentration camp Dachau
    Deutsches Museum (Munchen)
    Fliegausstellung Junior (Hermeskeil)
    SS Sonderlager KZ Hinzert
    Technik museum Speyer
    Airborne museum Hartenstein (Oosterbeek)
    Anne Frank huis (Amsterdam)
    Bevrijdende Vleugels (Veghel)
    Bevrijdings museum Groesbeek
    Biber Stellung (Oostvoorne)
    Brabants Airborne museum (Best)
    Festung Hoek van Holland
    Fort aan den Hoek van Holland
    Fries Verzets museum (Leeuwarden)
    Generaal Maczek museum (Breda)
    General George C. Marshall Museum (Zwijndrecht)
    Grave Bridge Museum
    Helders Marine museum (Den Helder)
    Historische verzameling LUA materiaal (Ede)
    Historische verzameling Regiment Aan- en afvoertroepen (Stroe)
    Kamp Amersfoort
    Kazematten Kornwerderzand
    KNIL museum Bronbeek (Arnhem)
    Leger en Wapen museum (Delft)
    Mariniers museum (Rotterdam)
    Militair Luchtvaart museum (Soesterberg)
    Militaire traditie (Driebergen)
    Museum Bezetting en Bevrijding (Breda)
    Museum Grenadiers en Jagers (Arnhem)
    Museum Nederlandse Cavalerie (Amersfoort)
    Museum Schietkamp/Harskamp
    Museum Verbindingsdienst (Ede)
    Nederlands Infanteriemuseum (Harskamp)
    Oorlog en Verzetsmuseum (Overloon)
    Stelling bij Mill
    Ten Boom Huis (Haarlem)
    Verzets museum Amsterdam
    Vesting Bourtange
    Zuidhollands Verzetsmuseum (Gouda)
    Linieschip (1782) ‘De Delft’ (Rotterdam)
    VOC Schip (1749) ‘De Amsterdam’ (Amsterdam)
    Linieschip (1664) ‘De Zeven Procinciën’ (Lelystad)
    VOC Schip (1628) ‘De Batavia’ (Lelystad)
    VOC verkenner (1595) ‘Duyfken’ (Rotterdam)
    Museum Luchtoorlog 1939-1945 (Deelen)
    Museum 1940-1945 (Arnhem)
    Museum slag van de Somme '14-'18 (Schagen)
    Artillerie museum 't Harde (dl. 1)
    HM Bark “Endeavour” 1765
    Oceaan Mijnveger HMS “Mercuur” 1944
    Fort Charles (Kinsale)
    Foynes Flying Boat Museum (Foynes)
    Museo Alpini (Trento)
    Collezione Giancarlo Rovini (Chiesa)
    Forte di Oga/Venini (Oga)
    Forte Strino
    Museo dell’ Aeronautica Gianni CaProni (Trento)
    Redipuglia Ossuarium
    Sacario Militare di Pocol
    Museo della Guerra (deel 1, Roverto)
    Museo 1915-18 (Chiesa)
    Patton museum (Ettelbruck)
    Concentratiekamp Auswitz 1 & 2 (Birkenau)
    ‘For Crown and Country’ (Leith Hall)
    Artillery museum (London)
    Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (Conningsby)
    Battle of Britain museum (Londen)
    Britain at War museum (London)
    Buffs regimental museum (Canterbury)
    Cabinet War Rooms (Londen)
    Caernarfon Air museum
    Chester Military museum
    Crownhill Fort (Plymouth)
    Culloden Battlefield
    D-Day museum (Portsmouth)
    Dover Castle
    Duke of Wellington’s Regiment (West Riding) museum Halifax)
    Durham Light Infantry museum (Durham)
    Eastborne Redoubt & Royal Surrey Regimental museum
    Eden Camp
    Fleet Air Arm museum (Yeovilton)
    Fort George (bij Inverness)
    Gordon Highlanders museum (Aberdeen)
    Green Howards museum (Richmond)
    HMS Belfast (Londen)
    Imperial War museum (Londen)
    Imperial War Museum Duxford
    Kent Battle of Britain museum (Folkstowe)
    King’s Liverpool Regiment (Liverpool)
    King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry museum Doncaster)
    Leicestershire Regiment Gallery, New Walk museum (Leicester)
    Light Infantry museum (Winchester)
    Lincolnshire Aviation Heratige Centre (East Kirby)
    Lincolnshire Regimental museum (Lincoln)
    Maritime Museum Liverpool
    Midland Air museum (Coventry)
    Monmouthshire Yeomanry & South Wales Borders Regiment Mus. (Breqon)
    Muckleburgh Collection (Weybourne)
    Museum of Army Flying (Middle Wallop)
    Museum of Army Transport (Beverley) CLOSED
    Museum of Flight (East Fortune Airfield)
    National Army museum (Londen)
    Naval Heritage (Portsmouth)
    Newark Air museum
    Newhaven Fort & Sussex and Surrey Yeomanry Museum
    Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation museum (Flixton)
    Nothe Fort (Weymouth)
    Para museum (Aldershot)
    Pembrokeshire Yeomanry (Haverfordwest)
    Queens Own Royal West Kent Regimental museum (Maidstone)
    Queens Royal Lancers museum (Belvoir)
    RAF museum Hendon (Londen)
    Regiment mus. the Border Regiment & King's Own Royal Border Regiment (Carlisle)
    Regiments of Gloucestershire museum (Gloucester)
    Royal Armouries museum (Leeds)
    Royal Marines museum (Portsmouth)
    Royal Norfolk Regimental museum (Norwich)
    Royal Scots Dragoon Guards museum (Edinburg)
    Royal Welch Fusiliers Regimental museum (Caernarfon)
    National War Memorial (Edinburgh)
    Sherwood Foresters Regimental museum (Nottingham)
    Shipwreck museum (Hastings)
    Southampton Hall of Aviation
    Staffordshire Regimental Museum (Lichfield)
    Submarine museum (Gosport)
    The Aerospace museum (Cosford)
    The Black watch museum (Perth)
    The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry Mus. (Bodmin)
    The Guards museum (Londen)
    The Gurkha museum (Winchester)
    The King’s Shilling, Inverness Castle (Inverness)
    The museum of Artillery (Londen)
    The Prince of Wales's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Regiment mus. (York)
    The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment and Queens Regimental museum (Dover)
    The Royal Scots museum (Edinburg)
    The Royal Warwickshire Regimental museum (Warwick)
    The Shropshire Regimental Museum (Shrewsbury)
    The Shuttleworth Collection (Old Warden)
    The York and Lancaster Regimental museum (Rotherham)
    Tower of Londen
    United Scots Services museum (Edinburg)
    Warwickshire Yeomanry museum (Warwick)
    Wellington Aviation museum (Morten-in-March)
    Wellington museum (Londen)
    Western Approaches Headquaters (Liverpool)
    Worcester Town museum
    Worcestershire Regimental museum (Worcester)
    Worcestershire Yeomanry Calvalery museum
    Yorkshire Air museum
    U-534 (Birkenhead)
    9th/12th Royal Lancers Regimental museum (Derby)
    15th/19th The King’s Royal Hussars & Northumberland Hussars (Newcastle)
    1st Queens Dragoon Guards museum (Cardiff)
    The Tank museum (deel 1, Bovington Kamp)
    Lima Sector Operations Room 12 Group RAF Fighter Command (RAF Digby)
    Battle of Hastings 1066 (Battle)
     
  20. MalcolmII

    MalcolmII Senior Member

    Gordon Bennett!!!!! :eek:

    Aye
    MalcolmII
     

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