Heeresgeschichtliches Museum
Arsenal
Franz Joseph I
Archduke Franz Ferdinand / car / clothes / bullets
The Heeresgeschichtliches Museum, the oldest state museum in Vienna, was constructed from 1850 until 1856 at the request of Emperor Franz Joseph I to replace the old city garrison that was destroyed during the 1848 revolution. Built as one of the first structures in Austria with Ringstresse-styled architecture; this large military history museum displays one of the world’s biggest collections of bronze cannons, which are all arranged at the Arsenal grounds, outside the museum.
The Heeresgeschichtliches Museum is located at the Arsenal Center near Belvedere Palace in the southeast of Vienna’s third district. As part of the original design of the Arsenal’s center, this museum served as a shrine to the Empire’s leaders and military leaders as well as a historical museum.
The Heeresgeschichtliches Museum outlines the Habsburg military history from the 16th century up to 1945, including triumphs as well as defeats. It has five major parts – the main entrance hall with the famous Hall of Generals and 4 large exhibits, wherein military artifacts and collections are displayed.
Each of the four large exhibits is dedicated to a part of Austrian history, starting with the Thirty Years’ War, the Ottoman Turks, and the Napoleonic Wars as well as World War I and World War II. The museum also features a small exhibition hall where the displays are changed regularly. A special display case in front of the Franz-Josef Hall displays the six orders of the House of Habsburg wherein Franz Josef used during public occasions.
One of the most popular parts of the museum is the Sarajevo room, which is located in the World War I Hall. It contains mementos from the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife in 1914, the main event that sparked World War I. On display are the bloodstained uniform of the archduke, the pistol used in killing the couple, the bullet-scarred vehicle in which they rode and the chaise longue wherein Franz Ferdinand was declared dead.
