| Armored Weaponry Museum of the Museum of Polish Army | |
| Established: | 1963 |
| Location: | Poznań, Poland |
| Type: | Museum division |
| Director: | ppłk Tomasz Ogrodniczuk |
| Website: | muzeumbronipancernej.pl |
Muzeum Broni Pancernej Centrum Szkolenia Wojsk Lądowych im. Hetmana Polnego Koronnego Stefana Czarnieckiego w Poznaniu, abbreviated Muzeum Broni Pancernej CSWL (Armoured Warfare Museum) is a large collection of military vehicles, formerly located within Land Forces Training Center in Poznań, Poland.
The museum has the largest collection of armoured fighting vehicles in Poland, displaying around 60 vehicles from the First World War, interwar, Second World War and Cold War periods. In 2018, the old museum was closed to visitors; it was re-opened in early 2019 in a new location.
left|thumb|The original storage shed used until 2019.The museum was established in 1963, as a small collection of vehicles formerly used by the local military training center. It was located in former barracks in Sołacz district. For most of the Communist period, the only vehicles in the museum were those of Soviet (or USSR's satellites) production. After the fall of communism in Poland in 1989, the museum started to acquire non-Soviet exhibits (Western or German) as well.
The museum was located inside a single hangar, housing much of its exhibits, although some vehicles were stored outside.
The museum's curator is Lt Col Tomasz Ogrodniczuk, who also participates in the restoration efforts and would occasionally drive certain vehicles during the "Armoured Parade" - from the museum's hangar to the Training Center's parade square.
In November 2013 it was announced that by 2015, the museum will be turned into a branch of Land Forces Museum in Bydgoszcz. This offered several advantages, the most important being financial aid from the state, and also that the museum will be open to visitors for all year long.[1] Ultimately, however, the museum was turned into a branch of Polish Army Museum in Warsaw. In January 2015 it was announced that the museum will be moved to an unused hangar near the Ławica airport by June 2017.[2] As of 2017, the museum was no longer accessible, and expected to be reopened in spring 2019, after the restoration of the hangars and relocation of the exhibits is finished.
The museum was eventually reopened on 8 October 2019.[3]
In 2008, a German Sturmgeschütz IV assault gun was recovered from the Rgilewka river near Grzegorzew. It was moved to Poznań and by the summer of 2009, it was restored to running condition. As of 2012, it's the only running StuG IV in the world and one of three preserved examples at all (one is also in Poland and second in Latvia)
On August 5, 2011, a German Sd.Kfz. 6 artillery tractor was excavated from Warta river near Białobrzeg. Exactly one year later, on August 5, 2012, its restoration was officially finished. Thanks to the restoration team's efforts, much of the vehicle is original (only the wooden elements and thinnest metal parts were replaced), though as of 2012, its engine is still being restored and it uses a replacement powerplant.
In April 2012 the museum acquired the wreckage of TKS tankette (lower hull only) and first presented it on June 2 of that year. The restoration took two years and was finished in May 2014. In October 2012, renovation of BTR-152 APC was finished. Almost simultaneously, the restoration of IS-2 heavy tank was launched. One month later, T-70 tank was also taken to repair shop. They were finished in June and February 2013, respectively.
In late 2012 a Renault FT tank was brought from Afghanistan and initially brought to Poznań and exhibited shortly near the Poznań National Museum and the Bazar Hotel. The tank was to be restored in Poznań with the help of Armoured Warfare Museum, however it was eventually sent to Polish Army Museum in Warsaw and restored by the end of 2013.
In June 2013, a Cruiser Tank Mk VIII Centaur Mk I was brought from Portugal. Such tanks were used by Polish Armed Forces in the West during World War II for training. Its restoration began in May 2014.
In September 2013, three new vehicles were acquired from Norway - a wreck of Panzer III medium tank, an M47 Patton main battle tank and an M88 Recovery Vehicle. It was the second time when the museum worked together with Norwegian authorities, the first being the acquisition of the TKS tankette. Thanks to the assistance from Polish Army Museum in Warsaw, another wreck was donated to the museum, and the two wrecks were used to complete a single vehicle.
In 2014, the T-54 and T-55 tanks were taken to Wrocław to take part in the shooting of Bridge of Spies, standing for NVA vehicles in East Berlin. Steven Spielberg and Janusz Kamiński left their signatures on the latter tank.[4]
In June 2015, an M10 Achilles tank destroyer was donated to the museum and is currently under restoration.
In September 2016, a Daimler Dingo scout car was donated to the museum from the United States. Such cars were used by the Polish Armed Forces in the West, and after a renovation, it was given the markings of 15th Poznań Uhlan Regiment.
In October 2017, the museum acquired a 7.7 cm FK 96 n.A. gun, once exhibited outside of the Czocha Castle, which was severely damaged by elements and tourists. In December of that year, the renovation of the gun was finished, and it was decided it will stay in the museum to prevent further destruction. Around the same time, the museum acquired another artillery piece, a 10.5 cm leFH 18 howitzer. Since its restoration, it has been exhibited side by side with its dedicated tractor, the Sd.Kfz. 6.
In January 2018, the museum acquired three new vehicles: a Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer tank destroyer, an M4A1 Half-Track and a replica of an Austin Putilov armoured car (all three from private owners). All three vehicles are in running condition.
In May 2020, a Fox Armoured Car, found in Italian scrapyard by Polish soldiers taking part in Operation Irini, was delivered for restoration. Much like the aforementioned Dingos, such cars were used by the 15th Poznan Uhlans Regiment and one of the aims of the restoration process is to determine whether this particular vehicle was a part of this unit during the war.
Exhibits in italics are under restoration and are not part of current exhibition (as of 2020).
Formerly, because the museum was located inside the military area, it was necessary to pre-arrange the visit by acquiring an entry permit from the CSWL command.[6] However, during certain events (Child Day in May/June and the CSWL Patron's Day in September/October), visitors could enter it without permits.
Since the museum was moved to a new location, no permits are needed, but tickets must be acquired before entry. The museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday, however opening hours might be subject to change without prior warning due to organisational matters (e.g. arrival of new exhibits).
The old museum was located on the 86/90 Wojska Polskiego Street, north-west from the city center. The new site is located closer to the Ławica airport, on 4 "3 Pułku Lotniczego" Street, close to the intersection with Dąbrowskiego Street, with the nearest bus stop being Tatrzańska.