THE MUSEUM BLOG
History & news
Learn and understand the story, whether it’s the one with a capital “H” or the anecdotes that make it up. Find resources as part of your studies. Or discover the objects of the museum, are all reasons to consult this series of articles that we offer here. Most of them were written by our team and by one of the founders, Patrick Fissot, history professor and collection director. If you too would like to help spread the story, contact us.
An authentic Bailey bridge for the museum
Take a look at the installation of a real Bailey Bridge in the museum. This was in the autumn of 2019
The Weasel M29, a WWII all-terrain vehicle
The Normandy Victory Museum has a rather unusual US Army vehicle on permanent display. This is the Weasel, also known as the M29 Weasel Tracked Cargo Carrier. We invite you to learn more about this Swiss Army knife-like vehicle that found its place in the Battle of Normandy.
At Omaha Beach, Florent Plana pays tribute to the Bedford Boys. Behind the scenes of the shoot
Florent Plana is a tour guide with a passion for the Second World War and is known for his interviews with veterans. He has a special connection with Omaha Beach, where several scenes from the film “They Won’t Die Twice” were filmed
“Women in war” Thematic exhibition
In 1939, when men were mobilized, women were on all fronts. They are found in domestic tasks as usual but also in the production of weapons, mechanics, fields, in hospitals, in the resistance and in battles. This exhibition pays tribute to them and highlights their sometimes overlooked actions.
A newcomer to the “Poche de Roncey” scene (Pocket of Roncey)
Enter the scene of the Poche de Roncey and discover a newcomer who moved in with the officers of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 6 in March 2021.
The battle of the hedges, one of the Greatest Battles in History
The summer of 1944 witnessed terrible confrontations between the American and German armies in Normandy. For 11 weeks, in the Cotentin and then in the centre and south of La Manche, the American army, led by General Eisenhower, fought hard against the Reich troops. It was the battle of the hedges.
Lee Miller, the model, the woman and the war
A muse to the greatest artists of her time, Lee Miller embodied the feminine ideal of the 1930s. During the war, she proved to be an outstanding reporter at the time of the liberation of the camps. Photographing the enemy seemed liberating for this wounded woman whose life and work would remain intimately linked.
Sophie Scholl and the “White Rose”, a female symbol of German resistance
On February 22, 1943, three German students from the University of Munich were executed. They are accused of acts of high treason and subversive propaganda for repeatedly distributing leaflets. Among them, Sophie Scholl, a young woman barely 20, became a symbol of resistance and courage against Hitler’s murderous madness.
The PTT jacket of René Duclos, resistance fighter of the Centurie-OCM network in the 1940s, enters the museum.
Another piece of history enters the museum. René Duclos’s jacket will be on display in a few weeks with its history. So that we never forget the sacrifice of these men, for our Freedom.
Behind the barrels of a cellar, three helmets found bear witness to the horror of the fighting
Discovered under a barrel, still covered in dust, these three helmets are riddled with impacts from the fighting. A camouflaged German helmet from a Heer unit, an SS helmet with remnants of camouflage and a heavily damaged American light helmet can be seen.
The A10 Airfield at Carentan, an American airfield in 1944
Did you know? The Normandy Victory Museum is located on a historically famous former American military airfield: the A10 Airfield. It is still in operation and small aircraft can still use its shortened 400 metre long runway.
Let’s discover the Resistance in the Manche through some objects of the museum.
This small wooden coffin was sent in 1944 to a shopkeeper in the Saint-Lô area, a notorious economic collaborator, along with a letter full of “recommendations” for the years to come and how to behave… It reveals a strong spirit of resistance.
June 17, 1940, in La Manche…
As the German 7th Division under Rommel advanced inexorably towards Cherbourg and the war drew closer to La Manche, a handful of die-hards clung to the defensive lines in the Cotentin region and tried to halt the enemy’s meteoric advance.
Food rationing in La Manche during the Second World War
Because of its agricultural situation and a certain self-sufficiency in food, La Manche, even if it suffers, seems to be somewhat spared from the shortage, at least as far as food is concerned.
Interested in these subjects?
Learn more about these fascinating subjects, see authentic exhibits, soak up the atmosphere and understand what life was like for civilians and soldiers during this decisive period of the Second World War. Book your skip-the-line ticket and enjoy a visit from 1h30 to 3h (or more!) depending on your level of curiosity.