Thursday 3 October 2013

A trip to Vienna

Hi Folks

Just wanted to share a recent experience that although not Wargames based might prove interesting. Earlier this week I had the fortune to visit Vienna, capital of Austria. Given its rich historical military past I thought there might be a museum that could be of interest. I was not disappointed.

Sited in a green and verdant park just outside the city centre the old Vienna Arsenal houses a fairly impressive collection spanning the history of the old Hapsburg empire through to the Second World War and beyond. The building itself is beautiful and somewhat reminiscent of a church/palace inside with it pillars, statues and painted ceilings. Unfortunately I only had 40 minutes to whip round and take in the various exhibits. The following photos are a snapshot of this trip and if I ever return much more time will be spent in this place.

Front Facade of Museum at the Vienna Arsenal



First up on my quick tour was the section devoted to the Great War. Pride of place in this exhibit was the car that the Archduke Ferdinand was riding in when he was assassinated in Sarajevo in 1914. This of course is seen as the kick off for events between 1914 – 1918. Of particular interest is the bullet entry point in the rear passenger bay. Next door to the car is the uniform the Archduke was wearing still bearing the stains of bllod. I was struck quite cold by the site of these two exhibits realising the enormity of events that were to follow.

There was no sense in the museum to glamorise the great war but at the same time I felt there was no sense of waste as you might do in an equivalent museum here in the UK. It was just a bit sterile.

The Archdukes Car - Austrian Built


The offending bullet hole


The Archdukes Uniform

Next door to the great war exhibit was a hall talking about the second world war and the incorporation of Austria into the third Reich. There were a few interesting exhibits but the highlight of this section and perhaps the whole trip was come face to face with the beast of the 88mm Flak gun. Since being a young kid I have always marvelled at this piece of kit and to see one in the flesh was brilliant.


German Reconaissance Plane


the 88mm Flak Gun !!!


V2 Rocket Engine

It was interesting that there were plenty of bits of memorabilia from the Nazi period but again very sterile. Stop Press: Just looked at the above picture and I have to say to see the V2 engine sited next to the Jewish Concentration Camp uniform just seems wrong....

Rather strangely there was a massive section on the Austrian Navy’s prowess (news to me) and there were plenty of models and cut away battleships. Centre piece to this exhibition was the conning tower of U20, an Austrian U boat sunk in 1916 in the Adriatic and then salvaged in 1962.   


U20 Conning Tower


A door to the outside lead to the tank park. This is clearly unloved with just these metal behemoths standing and rusting their lives away. Interesting to note that all the tanks on display were either Russian, British or American and the majority post war.


Self Propelled Gun


Patton ?


US Tank


Russian Tank Killer


British Centurion



Charioteer





Entrance Hall





Fantastic Ceiling Frescos





Venturing back inside I headed off to the hall that covered the thirty tears war and the wars with the Turks. There was a stark difference here when compared to the earlier halls. More pictures, flags and perhaps more sensed of National pride. The highlight here being a really early ‘hell blaster style’ weapon mounted on a gun carriage.

Early Hand cannons


Armour and Halberds


Multi Nut Cracker....


30 year war uniforms




Multi Musket Cannon thingy


Turkish Rifles


Nice display of Turkish weaponry


A Mortar - 1790's

Moving across I headed into the halls dedicated to the Napoleonic Wars and the Wars with Prussia/Italy in the 1830-40’s. The highlight here being the first aerial reconnaissance vehicle. A balloon captured in 1996 from the French.



French Balloon - original gondola
Austrian General - really nice bronze




Austrian Grenadier


As I left I caught site of a jet plane – a Saab Drakken hidden beyond the entrance.







So in summary an interesting flying visit, some great displays, and some great history. However there was nobody there...perhaps twenty visitors in total (mostly American). 

8 comments:

  1. I went there a few years ago too and was equally amazed at all the Austrian Navy stuff. Great photos, by the way...

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    1. Cheers Legatus

      Just been checking ourt your blogs(s) - very impressive. I also see thst we hail from the same county we must say hello sometime.

      Best wishes and thanks for your comments

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  2. Thanks for this, very interesting! - I was not concerned at the V2 engine being next to the concentration camp uniform, as these poor people were used as slave labour to build these weapons.
    Thanks again!

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  3. Great post! I was there 2 years back or so and I can completely relate to the feel you get thinking about that car and uniform. If you take time you can spot a bullet hole in the uniform. We came pretty late, so had to leave early and just did a fast walkt trough the hall with bunkers and land warfare related exhibits if I remember correctly.

    I think that tank is patton indeed as I can't think of any other tank that it could've been. The "US tank" is Chaffee light tank :)
    Park outside was closed, so I'm glad you were lucky enough to be able to see those.

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  4. You got a lot done in the time!

    Good stuff. My wife loves Vienna so if we go I know one of the places to go to - I went on business years ago but never had time during the day to myself.

    Regards

    Edward

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  5. The family and I went last year, and we really enjoyed the museum.

    My son was only two at the time, so we could not stay as long as I would have liked,,,

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  6. A great post. I relly like these museum visits that I get for free :-)

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