THE MUSEUM BLOG
Between history and today
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.
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Jeep vs. Dodge: two symbols of the Second World War on the roads of Normandy
What’s the difference between the Jeep and the Dodge, the two iconic vehicles of the Second World War in Normandy? Find out in this article.
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
Exceptional acquisition of registers from 1944 with photos of Utah and Omaha
Discover three books of coastal photos of the Utah and Omaha sectors, from Grandcamp-Maisy. These documents of exceptional historical interest are on display at the Normandy Victory Museum, and we’d like to share the images with you here.
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 the men were mobilised, the women were on all fronts. As usual, they were involved in domestic chores, arms production, mechanics, in the fields, in hospitals, in the Resistance and in battle. This exhibition pays tribute to them and highlights their sometimes little-known 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 saw terrible clashes between the American and German armies in Normandy. For 11 weeks, in the Cotentin and then the centre and south of La Manche, the American army, led by General Eisenhower, fought hard against the troops of the Reich. It’s the battle of the hedges.
Lee Miller, the model, the woman and the war
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 battered woman, whose life and work would remain intimately linked.
Sophie Scholl and the White Rose
On February 22, 1943, three German students from Munich University were executed. They were accused of acts of high treason and subversive propaganda for having repeatedly distributed leaflets. Among them was Sophie Scholl, a young woman barely 20 years old, who would become a symbol of resistance and courage in the face of Hitler’s murderous madness.
Resistance fighter René Duclos’s PTT jacket now belongs to the museum
The PTT jacket of René Duclos, a member of the French Resistance, was donated to us by his family in 2020. A priceless gift for which we thank them. This jacket, now on display at the museum, allows us to tell you the story of its owner.
Three helmets testify…
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 La Manche through a few objects
This photo of a small wooden coffin, meticulously crafted and addressed to a “collabo”, allows us to tell you about the Resistance in La Manche during the Second World War. At the end of the article, we present several Resistance objects, selected from the many on display at the Normandy Victory Museum.
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.
Rationing in La Manche during the Second World War
During the Second World War, supply and production problems were very serious. Everything was in short supply! In order to guarantee a “vital minimum”, the government set up a nationwide supply system. What was the situation in La Manche? Our historian tells you all about it.
Push open the doors of history
Visit the Normandy Victory Museum Musée de la Bataille des haies. We are in Normandy, Manche dpt, France.