Deutsches Panzermuseum
Encyclopedia
The German Tank Museum is an armoured fighting vehicle museum in Munster
, Germany
, the location of the Munster Training Area
camp. Its main aim is the documentation of the history of German armoured troops since 1917.
It originated in 1983 from the instructional collection of the Panzertruppenschule, the Bundeswehr
("German Army") school for training officers and NCO's of German armoured units. It is now a museum open to the public, jointly run by the municipality of Munster and the Panzertruppenschule.
The museum site covers an area of over 9,000 m² including 7,500 m² of exhibition halls. In 2003 the museum opened a new building for various special displays, a museum shop and a cafeteria.
and former East German (Nationale Volksarmee) tanks as well as 40 German tanks and other Wehrmacht
vehicles from the Second World War. In addition there are tanks from the Red Army
, British Army
and United States Army
from the war. Most of the vehicles are in working order, with restoration work ongoing to render all examples functional. The restoration staff of the museum do extensive research on every vehicle in order to return it to its original configuration and paint scheme.
Numerous other military-historic exhibits enhance the vehicle displays, including an international collection of steel helmets and specific exhibits relating to Erwin Rommel
that include many of his personal possessions. Also, every type of firearm and weapon used by the German Army in both world wars is displayed.
The large collection of armoured vehicles includes some rare or unique types. For example, the museum has an authentic replica of an A7V
German First World War tank, the only example of its type in Europe, and an armoured police vehicle from the Weimar Republic
era. In addition it has one of only two existing Sturmpanzer VI as well as a prototype version of the Jagdpanzer IV
. From the post-war era there is a range of Bundeswehr prototypes, including a Leopard 1, Kanonenjagdpanzer
tank destroyer and MBT-70
, the abortive US-German design. The interior of an American M48 Patton
tank, situated outside, can be entered via a flight of steps.
Munster, Lower Saxony
Munster, also called Munster , is a small town in the district of Heidekreis, in Lower Saxony, Germany almost equidistant from Hamburg and Hanover. The town is home to the German Army's largest garrison and is situated between the two training areas of Munster North and Munster South. It is also...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, the location of the Munster Training Area
Munster Training Area
Munster Training Area is a military training area in Germany on the Lüneburg Heath. It comprises two separate areas with different purposes: Munster North and Munster South . The two areas are separated geographically by the town of Munster and several barracks...
camp. Its main aim is the documentation of the history of German armoured troops since 1917.
It originated in 1983 from the instructional collection of the Panzertruppenschule, the Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
("German Army") school for training officers and NCO's of German armoured units. It is now a museum open to the public, jointly run by the municipality of Munster and the Panzertruppenschule.
The museum site covers an area of over 9,000 m² including 7,500 m² of exhibition halls. In 2003 the museum opened a new building for various special displays, a museum shop and a cafeteria.
Exhibits
The heart of the exhibition is a collection of about 40 BundeswehrBundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
and former East German (Nationale Volksarmee) tanks as well as 40 German tanks and other Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
vehicles from the Second World War. In addition there are tanks from the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
, British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from the war. Most of the vehicles are in working order, with restoration work ongoing to render all examples functional. The restoration staff of the museum do extensive research on every vehicle in order to return it to its original configuration and paint scheme.
Numerous other military-historic exhibits enhance the vehicle displays, including an international collection of steel helmets and specific exhibits relating to Erwin Rommel
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel , popularly known as the Desert Fox , was a German Field Marshal of World War II. He won the respect of both his own troops and the enemies he fought....
that include many of his personal possessions. Also, every type of firearm and weapon used by the German Army in both world wars is displayed.
The large collection of armoured vehicles includes some rare or unique types. For example, the museum has an authentic replica of an A7V
A7V
The A7V was a tank introduced by Germany in 1918, near the end of World War I. One hundred vehicles were ordered during the spring of 1918, but only 21 were delivered. It was nicknamed "The Moving Fortress" by the British because of the shape of the hull...
German First World War tank, the only example of its type in Europe, and an armoured police vehicle from the Weimar Republic
Weimar Republic
The Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...
era. In addition it has one of only two existing Sturmpanzer VI as well as a prototype version of the Jagdpanzer IV
Jagdpanzer IV
The Jagdpanzer IV, Sd.Kfz. 162, was a tank destroyer based on the Panzer IV chassis built in three main variants. As one of the casemate-style turretless Jagdpanzer designs, it was developed against the wishes of Heinz Guderian, the inspector general of the Panzertruppen, as a replacement for the...
. From the post-war era there is a range of Bundeswehr prototypes, including a Leopard 1, Kanonenjagdpanzer
Kanonenjagdpanzer
The Kanonenjagdpanzer 4 - 5 was a German Cold War tank destroyer equipped with a 90mm anti-tank gun, which remained from the outphased M47 Patton tanks...
tank destroyer and MBT-70
MBT-70
The MBT-70 was a 1960s German-U.S. joint project to develop a new main battle tank, which was to be equipped with a number of advanced features. It utilized a newly developed hydropneumatic "kneeling" suspension and housed the entire crew in the large turret...
, the abortive US-German design. The interior of an American M48 Patton
M48 Patton
The M48 Patton is a medium tank that was designed in the United States. It was the third and final tank to be officially named after General George S. Patton, commander of the U.S. Third Army during World War II and one of the earliest American advocates for the use of tanks in battle It was a...
tank, situated outside, can be entered via a flight of steps.
German Military Museums
- AeronauticumAeronauticumAeronauticum is the official German maritime aircraft museum - located in Nordholz . The museum has a large collection of aircraft that has been used by the German Marine/Navy. The name of the museum derives from the English word Aeronautics.-External links:*...
, German naval aviation - located in Nordholz - Luftwaffenmuseum der BundeswehrLuftwaffenmuseum der BundeswehrThe Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr , together with the Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr, is one of the major military history museums in Germany. The museum acts as an independent military department...
, German airforce museum in Berlin - Militärhistorisches Museum der BundeswehrMilitärhistorisches Museum der BundeswehrThe Bundeswehr Military History Museum is the military museum of the German Armed Forces, the Bundeswehr, and one of the major military history museums in Germany. The museum is under the technical and administrative chain of command of the German Armed Forces Military History Research Office. It...
, major German military museum in Dresden
Tank museums
- Bovington Tank MuseumBovington Tank MuseumThe Tank Museum is a collection of armoured fighting vehicles in the United Kingdom that traces the history of the tank. With almost 300 vehicles on exhibition from 26 countries it is the second-largest collection of tanks and armoured fighting vehicles in the world.The Musée des Blindés in France...
- United Kingdom - Kubinka Tank MuseumKubinka Tank MuseumThe Kubinka Tank Museum is a large museum of armoured fighting vehicles in Kubinka, just outside Moscow. It has many famous tanks from World War I, World War II and the Cold War. The museum also houses many unique vehicles, such as the Panzer VIII Maus, Troyanov super-heavy tank and a Karl-Gerät...
- Russia - Musée des BlindésMusée des BlindésThe Musée des Blindés or Musée Général Estienne is a tank museum located in the Loire Valley of France, in the city of Saumur. It is one of the world's largest tank museums....
- France - Parola Tank MuseumParola Tank MuseumParola Tank Museum, officially Armoured Vehicle Museum is a military museum located in Parola, near Hämeenlinna, in Finland. It displays various tanks, armoured vehicles and anti-tank guns used by the Finnish Defence Forces throughout its history. A rare exhibit is an armoured train used in...
- Finland - United States Army Ordnance MuseumUnited States Army Ordnance MuseumThe U.S. Army Ordnance Museum is a museum that is in the process of being re-located to Fort Lee, in Fort Lee, Virginia. Its previous building—at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Aberdeen, Maryland—was closed in September 2010, although many outdoor exhibits are still accessible to the...
- United States - Yad La-ShiryonYad La-ShiryonYad La-Shiryon is Israel's official memorial site for fallen soldiers from the armored corps, as well as one of the most diverse tank museums in the world. The cornerstone for Yad La-Shiryon was laid on...
- Israel