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10 World War 2  Museums in the World You Should Visit One Day

Humanity has faced some of the goriest catastrophes, whether purely natural or orchestrated by man, and the Second World War is perhaps one of the bloodiest conflicts in the history of man. Millions of lives were lost in combat and genocide, cities were starved to death, buildings and livelihoods were reduced to rubble, economies were brought to their knees, and insurmountable suffering was occasioned.

It is impossible to adequately capture the horrors of the war or the events that made up what we term World War II. However, considerable efforts have been made to preserve this sad part of human history, and museums are part of that. Walk back in time to the notorious Nazi concentration camps, the somber holocaust grounds, attack landings, and more of the events of the war, and appreciate the critical need to preserve world peace. Here are the 10 World War II museums you should visit one day.

1. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum

Gateway, Auschwitz II by Pzk.

Located in Poland, Auschwitz-Birkenau is considered the most infamous Nazi concentration camp. This is where the Nazis established a site of untold horrors and deaths under the guise of a prisoner-of-war camp, during their occupation of Poland. A record 1.1 million lives would meet their gruesome deaths here, including approximately 960, 000 Jews. The site comprises the Auschwitz I concentration camp and the extermination site at Birkenau.

As you walk through the somber grounds, remains of the gas chambers, the disturbing barbed wire fences, and barracks, it’s hard not to capture the horrific revelations of the monstrosity of man. The museum was established in 1947, and the site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. If you’ve watched the movie, ‘Schindler’s List’, some of the scenes were filmed here. Schindler was a German officer, who saved some of the Jews during the holocaust by employing them in his factory. The museum is not recommended for children under 14, and you can reserve your entry card on their website. See more details on their website.

Read more on: Tracing the Origins of World War II: How did the World War 2 Start?

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS: WIEZNIOW OSWIECIMIA 20, 32-603, OSWIECIM, POLAND

CALL: + 48 33 844 8000

OPEN: 7.30 AM TO 4 PM DAILY

2. Museum of the Great Patriotic War

Japanese WW2 Light tank (Ke-Nu) on display at the museum. Photo by Alan Wilson.

Also known as the Victory Museum, it is located in Moscow, at Poklonnaya Hill. It was opened to the public on 9 May 1995, and it showcases Russia’s contribution to the Second World War, particularly exhibits on the Eastern Front of the War. The Great Patriotic War is the term used, mostly in Russia to refer to the conflict between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany during World War II. Scores of lives were lost on both sides in one of the bloodiest combat in the war. While the Soviet Union eventually won, insurmountable destruction and loss of life remain the price paid in war. The museum stretches an impressive 14, 143 square meters of permanent exhibits, including military vehicles and cannons and 5, 500 more for temporary exhibits including real-life paintings.  It features 3 commemorative halls, including the Hall of Commanders.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS: PLOSHCHAD’ POBEDY, 3 MOSCOW, RUSSIA

CALL: + 7 499 499 81 81

OPEN: TUESDAY 1 PM – 10 PM

            WEDNESDAY- SUNDAY 10 AM TO 10 PM

3. Topography of Terror

Image by Ank Kumar-

The name itself gives you a teaser of what backstory this one has. Located in Berlin, Germany, it is established on the very site where the infamous Nazi secret police, the Gestapo headquarters, and Nazi leadership stood. This is where the Nazi officers planned and schemed during World War II. It is also where political prisoners were tortured to death by the Gestapo, and the cellar was excavated shortly after the war. The buildings were bombed by the Allied forces shortly before the end of the war in early 1945. While the first exhibition was in 1987, a new documentation center was built and opened in 2010, featuring 3 permanent exhibitions, and an impressive library with information about the Third Reich and Nazi leadership. The site has both indoor and outdoor spaces. If you’re interested in the Nazis and everything about the atrocities committed, this is a good place to start.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS: NIEDERKIRCHNESTRABE 8. 10963 BERLIN, GERMANY

CALL: + 49 30 254 509 50

OPEN: 10 AM TO 8 PM DAILY

4. National World War II Museum

C47 aircraft at the museum by Jim Bahn.

This museum is situated at the heart of New Orleans, and the exhibitions focus on the contribution of the United States to the war. It showcases events and related exhibits regarding the war from an American perspective. Interestingly, it was named the National D-Day Museum, in commemoration of the Allied invasion of Normandy on 6^th June 1944 in what was referred to as Operation Overlord. This was termed D-Day, and it marked a significant step towards the liberation of France. The museum was opened on 6^th June 2000, and it features several exhibitions of military aircraft including the Supermarine Spitfire, displays on the attack on Pearl Harbor, and galleries depicting events such as planning for D-Day. A recommended 3 to 4 hours tour will ensure you get the most out of your visit.

See the Top 10 Astonishing Facts about the National World War II Museum, New Orleans.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS: 945 MAGAZINE ST, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70130, UNITED STATES

CALL: + 1 504 528 1944

OPEN: 9 AM TO 5 PM DAILY

5. Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum

Memorial tablet at the Hellfire Pass terminus near the museum by Brokensphere.

To be at the mercy of your enemy during war, as a prisoner of war is one of the many fears a soldier faces. This museum in Thailand tells the tale of unimaginable suffering and death faced by Allied prisoners of war at the hands of the Japanese during World War II. Thousands captured were used for hard labor, constructing and maintaining the Burma-Thailand railway. Underfed, beaten, and subjected to harsh working conditions, the prisoners dug up rocks by hand and beaten shovels, day and night. The lights used in the tunnels at night made the place resemble hell, hence the name Hellfire Pass. You can walk the memorial trail as you learn of this part of history, but wear comfortable shoes due to the rough terrain. Audio tours are available.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS: 207 MOO 11 THAO SAO, SAI YOK DISTRICT, KANCHANABURI 71150 THAILAND

CALL: + 66 34 919 605

OPEN: 9 AM TO 4 PM DAILY

6. Historical Museum of the City of Krakow: Oskar Schindler’s Factory Branch

Facade of Schindler’s factory by Adam Jones. Wikimedia Commons.

Located in Krakow, Poland, the Historical Museum is comprised of 14 branches in the city, inclusive of Town Hall Tower, Defensive Walls, Under the Eagle Pharmacy, Barbakan, Old Synagogue, and the Schindler’s Factory. The Oskar Schindler’s Factory is one of the most fascinating, and perhaps hopeful picks in my opinion and this is why. Schindler is remembered for saving approximately 1200 Jews during the Holocaust. Interestingly, he was a member of the Nazi Party. He would employ Jews in his enamel factories in Poland, indirectly rescuing them from extermination by the Nazis.

The Steven Spielberg war movie, Schindler’s List (1993) is an adaptation of his life and the related events during the war. (Great recommendation!). This division of the Historical Museum of Krakow is housed in one of his factories. There are several exhibits on site, including a reconstruction of the basement where the Jews were hidden, a list and photos of some of the survivors he saved, pre-war signs, and the desk and chairs from the set of Schindler’s List. It also hosts the Museum of Contemporary Art of Krakow, so there are lots to see after your tour. It’s undoubtedly a reminder of the power of humanity in the face of atrocity.

Many atrocities were committed during the war, and you can read about some of these in the  10 Brutal Facts about World War II.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS: LIPOWA 4, 30-702 KRAKOW, POLAND

CALL: + 48 12 257 0096

OPEN: 10 AM TO 6 PM DAILY, Closed on the first tuesday of the month

7. Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

An inner section of the museum by Runarut.

As you would have guessed, this museum focuses on the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese Navy Air Service on December 7, 1941. This unprecedented attack on USA’s pacific fleet caught the latter by surprise and is credited as one of the main catalysts to the Americans’ decision to actively join the Second World War.  The museum was opened on December 7, 2006, and houses some of the aircraft and military apparatus associated with the attack. For example, the Japanese A6M2 fighter aircraft crash-landed at an island in Hawaii after the attack is preserved here. A B-17 Bomber that survived the attack is on display as well. Another interesting exhibit is the Boeing N2S-3 Stearman, which was used by former US President George W. Bush as part of flight training.  There’s a lot to learn here, and a good 2-hour long tour should get you as much exposure as required.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS: 319 LEXINGTON BLVD, HONOLULU, HI 96818, UNITED STATES

CALL: + 1 808 441 1000

OPEN: 9 AM TO 5 PM DAILY

8. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

A section inside the museum: photographs of holocaust victims by MPSharwood.

The Holocaust saw the systemic extermination of approximately 6 million Jews in Europe and is one of the most horrific schemes to have been orchestrated by Nazi Germany and its allies during World War II. The US Holocaust Museum offers some considerable insight into the holocaust, through documentation in form of artifacts, registered survivors’ lists, historical photographs, archival footage, oral history testimonies, archival documents, and other library material. Millions have visited this place, including heads of state, students, foreign officials, and others.

The vast resources relevant to holocaust history are simply incredible, and anyone interested in appreciating this part of the war history will have a lot to learn from. The museum contains two permanent exhibitions; the Hall of Remembrance and the Permanent Exhibition, in addition to numerous temporary exhibitions. Visitors are allowed to light candles in the Hall of Remembrance in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. It’s free and open to all.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS: 100 RAOUL WALLENBERG PI SW, WASHINGTON DC 20024, UNITED STATES

CALL: + 1 202 488 0400

OPEN: 10 AM TO 5.30 PM

9. Airborne Museum

One of the buildings at the museum by Duch.seb.

Located at the heart of Saint-Mere-Eglise in the La Manche region of Normandy in France, this museum commemorates the American paratroopers of the 82^nd and 101^st Airborne Divisions. The latter landed in the Normandy region on June 6, 1944, in what is referred to by the Americans as D-Day. It was part of Operation Overload and a major undertaking in the liberation of France during World War II. It was opened in 1964, in honor of the American heroes. It holds a record of more than 10,000 items associated with the Normandy landings, including the C-47 Skytrain and CG-4 glider. Most of the items are American, in addition to some replicas of German equipment. If you’re interested in learning about the Normandy landings, it’s a good place to start. Check out their website below for online reservations, ticket prices, and rules for your visit.

Read more on: End of World War 2: 10 Important Things to Know.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS: 14 RUE EISENHOWER, 50480 SAINT-MERE-EGLISE, FRANCE

CALL: + 33 233 41 41 35

OPEN: 10 AM TO 6 PM

10. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Inside the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum by At by At.

The atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was one of the most devastating destructions on humanity occasioned during World War II.  It remains the only time nuclear weapons have been used in warfare. The bombing of Hiroshima on 6^th August 1945 by the United States razed down around 70% of the city’s buildings, causing thousands of deaths and prolonged hazardous exposure to radiation for those who survived. It has taken considerable strength and effort to rebuild and recover even psychologically over the years, and this Peace Memorial Museum documents the before, during, and after moments of the atomic bombing. It was established in 1955 and is located in the Peace Memorial Park of Hiroshima.  Collections and displays of materials that showcase the terrors of the event, and exhibits showing the aftermath serve not only to commemorate the victims but also to educate the masses on the horrifying effects of nuclear weapons while calling for the elimination of the same for the sake of international peace. Check out their website below for more practical information and access details.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS: 1-2 NAKAJIMACHO, NAKA WARD, HIROSHIMA, 730-0811, JAPAN

CALL: + 81 82 241 4004

OPEN: 8.30 AM TO 5 PM DAILY