Sue and I visited this museum in December 2012 and again in January 2015. It was then known as the Tøjhusmuseet (The Royal Danish Arsenal Museum), but it was renamed in July 2018 as the Krigsmuseet (The Danish War Museum).
The entrance to the Krigsmuseet.
A plan showing the layout of the Krigsmuseet.
The museum is located within the former building occupied by Christian IV's Arsenal (Tøjhuset) ...
A model of Christian IV's Arsenal (Tøjhuset).
Another view of the model of Christian IV's Arsenal (Tøjhuset).
... on the 'island' of Slotsholmen (Castle Islet), and forms part of a complex of buildings that includes several other museums, numerous government ministries, the Danish National Archives, the Royal Danish Library, the Prime Minister's office, the Supreme Court of Denmark, and the Danish Parliament building.
The ground floor of the museum has been revamped since our last visit, and the displays have been given specific themes.
The Battle of Heligoland (1864)
During the Second Schleswig War, the Danish Navy won a great naval victory over a squadron of Austro-Hungarian frigates in the Heligoland Bight. One of the Danish frigates that took part was the
Three ways of shooting
This explains why, how, and when cannons, howitzers, or mortars are used, and wthe differences between them.
Women and Cannons
In 1882 a Danish headmistress (Louise Fenger) organised a national drive to collect money for the reinforcement of the Copenhagen defences. The money raised bought eight cannons (which were known as the Women's Cannons) and one of them is on display in the museum.
Every Man's Weapon
Drones have become a vital tool for any troops involved in a modern war. In 2017-2018, Denmark’s elite special operations Jaeger Corps helped to train the Ali al Furat Brigade of the Iraqi Army. and during that training one of the vehicles they were using was hit by a 40mm grenade dropped from a modified hobby drone. No one was killed by the blast, but the vehicle involved – this Toyota pickup – suffered damage.
DEHAWK (DEnmark HAWK)
This triple anti-aircraft missile launcher (a HAWK Phase II system) was used by the Danes during the Cold War but has now been phased out of use.
Faster, Longer, Deadlier
For centuries, the evolution of athe cannon was very slow, but in the last quarter of the nineteenth century new innovations (e.g. advanced metallurgy, rifling, recoil recuperation) began to improve artillery.
The Splendour of War and the Power of Love
Whilst King Frederik IV of Denmark-Norway (1671 to 1730) was still the Crown Prince, he visited Italy where he fell in love with a beautiful and well-educated noblewoman, Maria Maddalena Trenta. Unfortunately, she was a Roman Catholic, and he was a Lutheran, and so they were unable to marry. In the end, he married Luisa of Mecklenburg-Güstrow for dynastic reasons and she became a Carmelite nun. During his time in Italy, he did acquire some very elegant and unique gilded Venetian cannons, which are now on display in the museum.
The Great Defeat
Both Danish and Prussian artillery pieces from the decisive Battle of Dybbøl are on display in the museum. Although the Danes fought well, they were defeated by the Prussians and as a result, the Danish Crown lost the duchies of Schleswig, Holstein, and Lauenburg.
The Cold War
As a member of NATO and becuase of her position controlling the narrows between the Baltic Sea the world's other oceans, Denmark played a not insignificant role in the Cold War. This is symbolised in the museum by this M115 203mm/8-inch nuclear-capable howitzer.
In addition to the above, there is a special display entitled A Distant War – A Danish Soldier in Afghanistan It tells the story of a young Danish soldier sent from the safety of his childhood bedroom in Denmark to distant Afghanistan, via Camp Bastion, the Green Zone and Gereshk, then home again via Tune Airport.
The rest of the ground floor is made over to more traditional displays of military artifacts and artillery.
The upper floor of the museum contains three separate displays entitled Denmark at War, Treasures of the Danish War Museum, and the Danish Navy.
I will cover the ship models in the section devoted to the Danish Navy in future blog posts.
A Leopard tank that was formerly used by the Danish Army is on display the museum's courtyard.
Is the Gruson Fahrpanzer still on display?
ReplyDeleteNigel Drury,
DeleteI am afraid not. Along with several other exhibits, it is currently in storage.
All the best,
Bob
Interesting museum, not one I knew about, so really good to read about its exhibits and lots of interesting photos. Carl
ReplyDeleteCarl,
DeleteThere is also a Resistance Museum, which is not far from the Little Mermaid.
All the best,
Bob
Great run through there, Bob. I’d forgotten I’d been to this museum - must be 25-30 years ago now!! (Scary how time flies…).
ReplyDeleteMartin S.,
DeleteThe museum has really improved a lot since my first visit som years ago, and I’d strongly recommend that - if the opportunity were to arise - you pay it another visit.
All the best,
Bob