WW1 Museums

A fact corresponding with the huge historical importance of the Great War are the fairly high number of museums - especially in Europe - more or less dedicated to WW1. Here are mentioned some of the most important ones.

The Royal Museum of the Army and Military History in Brussels, Belgium.
This BIG museum is located in one of the buildings of the Cinquantenaire Park in Brussels and contains about one hundred thousand items. This collection makes it into the top military museums in the world. The WW1 collection is remarkable, containing both tanks (one Mk IV, one Whippet and one FT-17) numerous WW1 guns (could it be around 50?) and a huge amount of weapons, uniforms etc. Albeit traditional in presentation, the collection itself is just astounding.

Check this link: http://www.klm-mra.be/ Or this one: http://www.planetware.com/brussels/belgian-army-museum-and-museum-of-military-history-b-br-arm.htm

The Army Museum in Paris
Another BIG museum, with a really impressive collection. The WW1 Section has recently been redone, and it's very nice: austere, informative. There is no clutter and no surfeit of things, but if you are interested in just the hardware, you could be just a tad disappointed. Well worth a visit though! Highlights: A FT-17 Cannon, a "75", two different creep-tanks, plus a number of rare French mortars.

Check this link: http://www.invalides.org/pages/anglais/infos_a.html

The Imperial War Museum in London
One of the best. Very nice WW1-collection, plus a "Trench Experience" - if you like that kind of thing. Among the highlights: a Mk V, plus some WW1 heavy guns, and some ordinary field guns. Very well kept items.

Check this link: http://london.iwm.org.uk/server.php?show=nav.00b

Museo Storico Italiano della Guerra in Rovereto, Italy
The Italian War Museum was founded in 1921 in remembrance of the First World War and in it are preserved arms and documents relating to wars from the 16th to the 20th centuries. As well as its permanent collection, it organises temporary exhibitions, and publishes books and articles dealing with WWI and other 20th Century conflicts. Perhaps the best beside the Military Museum in Brussels. A very big collection of uniforms, weapons and equipment plus a big number of WW1 Artillery pieces, some rare. Highlights: One of the worlds only two surviving Austro-Hungarian 30.5cm M.11 "Schlanke Emma" is kept here. Of course best on Italian and Austro-Hungarian topics. Beautifully situated in an old castle.