Military Museum (Belgrade)

Military Museum Војни музеј Београд Vojni muzej Beograd
Established	1878
Location	Kalemegdan, Belgrade
Type	Military Museum
Website	www.muzej.mod.rs

Look privates of Serbian Revolutionary Army on 1804, uniforms of fathers of modern Serbia.

The Military Museum (Serbian:Vojni muzej ) in Belgrade was founded in 1878. The museum has over 3000 ancient and modern items. These include Roman swords and helmets, Greek helmets and daggers, Serbian heavy knight's armor, axes, shields, helmets, crossbows, armoured gloves, as well as Western medieval weapons. There are also more modern guns, firearms, and elements of soldier's uniforms and equipment. Diormas, plaques, and displays illustrate the use and historical context of the museum's collection.

It was founded by the Decree of Prince Milan Obrenović IV on August 22nd 1878 on preposition of Minister of the Army, colonel Sava Grujić. The first permanent display was opened in 1904, coinciding with the 100th Anniversary of the Serbian Revolution and as a part of King Petar`s Coronation Ceremonies. Soon after its foundation, the Museum entered Europe by participating in the Balkan Expo in London in 1907. There, with around 100 carefully chosen objects, the Museum attracted the attention of the London public and it was described in local newspapers. The Museum’s building was destroyed by Austro-Hungarian forces during the First World War, and countless priceless collections were destroyed or were seized. Again, more than two decades had past before the new Display opened. King Alexandar I Karadjordjević issued a Decree of Founding the Military Museum in theKingdom of Yugoslavia. Brigadier Vojislav Vuković, majordom of Royal Court, became the director of the Museum. The Systematical collecting of objects started and numerous donors, former soldiers and their descendants responded. Their names were signed in a special "Golden Book", the work of famous Russian artist Vsevolod Guljevič. The book is still kept in the Military Museum. A new, permanent Display was opened in 1937 in two buildings of which one is today a residence of City Bureau for the Preservation of Monuments. During the Second World War, the collections suffered new devastation. However, according to the program of occupation troops, some cultural institutions with Military Museums among them continued their work during the occupation. The collecting of objects and their preservation was the main responsibility of the museum staff. The Allied bombing of Belgrade in 1944 brought new destruction of the museum buildings and collections.

Inside the museum's main building, the exhibits are found in a single long hall progressing from ancient through medieval and then towards modern. All exhibits are labeled in the Serbian Language in both Cyrillic and many exhibits also have explanations in English. Outside the museum's main building, there are numerous tanks, howitzers, and armoured cars of many types. Some were acquired during World War II, when they were captured by Red Army and Yugoslav Partisans from retreating Nazi and Axis forces (Belgrade Offensive). These decommissioned tanks and artillery pieces line the walls and paths leading to the Military Museum from two directions. Recent exhibits address NATO actions against Serbia in the 1999's, including the use of cluster bombs, depleted uranium, and graphite bombs, some of which may have violated international law. A well-known exhibit features parts of a US F-117 stealth aircraft which was downed by a Serbian S-125 Neva/Pechora.

The Military Museum is located inside the walls of the historic Belgrade Fortress, situated at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. Belgrade Fortress is located within a popular park knows as Kalemegdan Park, near the center of the city.

Gallery

Humvee of the U.S. Army captured during Operation Allied Force in 1999.

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  Serbian medieval army equipment, 12 and 13th century.

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  Serbian armor and equipment, 14 and 15th century.

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  Uniforms privates of the Serbian Revolutionary Army (1804).

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  Flag of Serbian Revolution in 1804.

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  Uniforms of the Serbian privates 1841 -1845.

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  Uniform of Serbian officer 1900.

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  Serbian WWI army equipment.

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  Serbian WW1 Flags.

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  Franch FT-17, was a first Serbian and Yugoslav tanks imported on 1930.

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  A T-34 medium tank.

External links

For more information, visit the official site of Belgrade Military Museum

• Serbian medieval weapons and armours