Vienna Day Five: The Austrian Army Museum

AAfter our visit to the Imperial Treasury, we traveled to the Heeresgeschichtliches Museum, or Austrian Military Museum.

Here, we traced the path of Austrian military history  from the 17th century up through World War II. Swords, pikes and armor marked the beginning of the exhibit and the rise of Austrian power in Europe. 

Many paintings scattered throughout the museum gave a visual representation of scenes of war and those that were involved. Further pieces of militaria including firearms, cannons, maps, manuals, uniforms, banners, were displayed presenting Austrian military prowess (but also highlighting Austrian defeats and their causes). This was most apparent in the section dealing with Austria's defeat at the hands of Prussia in 1866.

Some highlights of the exhibit included the car Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were riding in when they were assassinated, the uniform he was wearing still rife with blood and holes, and the chaiselongue he died upon which sparked the First World War. 

Unfortunately, the section on the First World War was closed due to renovations.

Moving forward, we witnessed the rise of National Socialism in the Austrian state and its involvement in the Second World War. The museum also provided coverage of the German Wehrmacht's (to which the Austrian Army had been incorporated following the 1937 Anschluss) successes -- such as the famous 88mm anti-aircraft and anti-tank gun

-- and its defeats, as symbolized by the remnants of the German Sixth Army at Stalingrad

We finished our visit in the Panzer Garden.