Great Patriotic War Museum

Minsk, Belarus

The Belarusian Great Patriotic War Museum is a museum commemorating the German-Soviet War after the end of Nazi occupation sprung up even before the close of the war. The museum first opened shortly after the liberation of Minsk from the Nazi invaders, on 25 October 1944, making it the first World War II museum to open during the course of the war. It relocated to its current location in 1966. The museum staff also engages in historical research: particular areas include Belarusians in the Red Army, local anti-fascist and partisan activity, and the history of the Auschwitz death camp.

References:

Comments

Your name

Website (optional)


Address

Praspyekt Nyezalyezhnastsi 25, Minsk, Belarus
See all sites in Minsk

Details

Founded: 1944
Category: Museums in Belarus

More Information

www.warmuseum.by
en.wikipedia.org
minsktourism.by

Rating

4.8/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


Minsk City Hall (0,4 km)
St. Joseph Church (0,3 km)
Holy Spirit Cathedral (0,4 km)
Cathedral of Saint Virgin Mary (0,5 km)
Church of Saints Simon and Helena (1,3 km)
Peter and Paul Cathedral (0,7 km)
Belarusian National Arts Museum (0,6 km)
Holy Trinity Church (1,4 km)
Loshyca Manor (6 km)

User Reviews

Hendro Yosua (9 months ago)
Amazing library! Very beautiful at night
Ashton Brantingham (10 months ago)
I have been to many war museums, and this was a unique experience. To see from the point of view of soldier's and civilians living in those times is humbling. The presentation of this museum is immaculate, and English speaker friendly.
Michel (10 months ago)
Rating this place is difficult. On the one hand it's quite big and filled with objects and replicas (a lot of weapons) from the war, displayed skillfully and with comprehensive information in Russian, Belarussian and English. On the other hand there are some big objectivity issues and the facts need to be reevalued and updated. Definitely worth a visit.
Ian Burtonshaw (11 months ago)
One of the best museums for Soviet WW2 awards I have ever been to. The rest is pretty good as well but the awards and story's behind them is the biggest part and well worth visiting just for them.
Nicklas Gustafson (12 months ago)
If you´re interesting about WW2/GPW and visit Minsk, this is something you must see. One woman as working their had knowledge in German language - she helped me to answer some question. But the exhibition talk for itself and no further question is actually necessary. Yes I liked this museum, exhibitions, the architecture, internal environment.
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Best of Middle Rhine Valley, Germany
Photo from Flickr, copyright adegie

Historic Site of the week

Czocha Castle

Czocha Castle is located on the Lake Leśnia, what is now the Polish part of Upper Lusatia. Czocha castle was built on gneiss rock, and its oldest part is the keep, to which housing structures were later added.

Czocha Castle began as a stronghold, on the Czech-Lusatian border. Its construction was ordered by Wenceslaus I of Bohemia, in the middle of the 13th century (1241–1247). In 1253 castle was handed over to Konrad von Wallhausen, Bishop of Meissen. In 1319 the complex became part of the dukedom of Henry I of Jawor, and after his death, it was taken over by another Silesian prince, Bolko II the Small, and his wife Agnieszka. Origin of the stone castle dates back to 1329.

In the mid-14th century, Czocha Castle was annexed by Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia. Then, between 1389 and 1453, it belonged to the noble families of von Dohn and von Kluks. Reinforced, the complex was besieged by the Hussites in the early 15th century, who captured it in 1427, and remained in the castle for unknown time (see Hussite Wars). In 1453, the castle was purchased by the family of von Nostitz, who owned it for 250 years, making several changes through remodelling projects in 1525 and 1611. Czocha's walls were strengthened and reinforced, which thwarted a Swedish siege of the complex during the Thirty Years War. In 1703, the castle was purchased by Jan Hartwig von Uechtritz, influential courtier of Augustus II the Strong. On August 17, 1793, the whole complex burned in a fire.

In 1909, Czocha was bought by a cigar manufacturer from Dresden, Ernst Gutschow, who ordered major remodelling, carried out by Berlin architect Bodo Ebhardt, based on a 1703 painting of the castle. Gutschow, who was close to the Russian Imperial Court and hosted several White emigres in Czocha, lived in the castle until March 1945. Upon leaving, he packed up the most valuable possessions and moved them out.

After World War II, the castle was ransacked several times, both by soldiers of the Red Army, and Polish thieves, who came to the so-called Recovered Territories from central and eastern part of the country. Pieces of furniture and other goods were stolen, and in the late 1940s and early 1950s, the castle was home to refugees from Greece. In 1952, Czocha was taken over by the Polish Army. Used as a military vacation resort, it was erased from official maps. The castle has been open to the public since September 1996 as a hotel and conference centre. The complex was featured in several movies and television series. Recently, the castle has been used as the setting of the College of Wizardry, a live action role-playing game (LARP) that takes place in their own universe and can be compared to Harry Potter.

Map Top Sights Tags Historical Periods City Guides About Us Sign Up Upload new site
© 2019 SpottingHistory.com. All rights reserved.