The Showrooms of the National Museum of Military History, Luxembourg

Entrance Hall

Right at the entrance, visitors will be greeted by a crudely made U.S. flag. This historical piece, that was made by local women to welcome and greet their U.S. liberators on September 11. 1944, was only recently rediscovered in Diekirch. The red stripes of the flag were cut out from a former Nazi banner. The entrance hall also features remains of German and American aircraft that crashed in the surroundings of Diekirch in addition to some typical equipement (parachutes, flying suit, different bombs, oxygen tanks, aluminium screening chaff and pictures of several U.S. units and aircraft that were engaged in the Bulge sector.

Showroom 1

Dec 16-18, 1944: The German surprise attack. Shown here is a German anti-tank gun crew in action. The gun of Pak 40 (cal.7,5 cm) type was left behind by the Germans in Diekirch and has been repainted in its original tan/sand color camouflage paint. Gun crew normally consisted of 5 members. Of special interest are the different types of winter clothing worn by the crew (reversible camouflage smocks, overcoats), in addition to a variety of personal gear. The three main types of ammunition that could be fired are also displayed along with their wooden crates or airtight metal containers. The gun had a hard-hitting armor-piercing capability at ranges up 1.500 meters. This diorama was built to match the recollections of an anti-tank gunner (the soldier loading the shell into the breech in this display), who was 19 years at that time.

The 48-star U.S. custom made flag came from the nearby Vianden castle, where U.S. troops had put it up to give evidence to German troops that the town was under U.S. control

Remains of German tanks (tracks, armor plates, boggie wheels) were retrieved from abandoned fighting vehicles in 1945 and served until recently in farming. Tanker's dress uniform and decorations are from a German veteran of the "Panzer Lehr" division.

The German standard army issue bicycle was used during the "Bulge" by an NCO to carry our messenger missions. Displayed are also some of his personal belongings.

A German sniper in his distinctive camouflage smock with built-in face veil is taking aim from an electricity pole. His weapon is the scope-fitted model K-98 bolt action rifle.

A German "Grenadier" in his winter camouflage smoke is taking a break with his heavily-packed bicycle, to which he has strapped his persanal gear: havresack, canteen, mess kit, gas mask container, entrenching tool, shelter tent quarter. Fixed to the tie rod are two "Panzerfaust," a very effective close range individual anti-tank weapon that could knock out any tank at that time.

An American cargo parachute along with his canvas aerial delivery package got caught in a tree. Different colors were used for identifying the contens, once the parachute opened; blue: medical supplies; yellow: food: red: ammunition. This peculiar piece that was found on the Belgian-Luxemourg border is probably from the first supply dropping on besieged Bastogne. It is 1943 manufacture. Matching the parachute display are a German and American eye witness' report on the dropping.

Showroom 2

Diorama "Thanksgiving Day 1944." A pressurized gasoline-operated U.S. field stove is used by troops of the 109th U.S. Inf. Regiment (28th division) to prepare a deliciously crispy Thanksgiving turkey dinner, which no American Gi would like to have missed, despite being thousands of miles from home. Some soldiers did already have a previous meal of fresh fried eggs, which they had swapped against U.S. Army powdered eggs with the local farmers. While an assistant is cleaning mess kit, a medic presents a "Hershey" bar to the farmers son. During this time, just prior to the Bulge, liberated Diekirch had been assigned a rest&recreation area for battle-weary troops, where GIs could enjoy hot showers, good food, USO shows (Marlene Dietrich and Mikey Rooney came by), but above all the warm hospitality of the civilian population, just liberated from 4 years of Nazi occupation. The civilians cherished numerous U.S. food products they did not know before: peanut butter, corned beef, hash, spam, lemon juice powder, corn bread, and so on. Again this diorama was carefully built with the assistance of numerous GI and civilian "turey dinner" 1944 stories.

The still photographs (all captioned) on display throughout the museum are either from the WW II photographic library of the National Archives in Washington, D.C., the German "Bundesarchiv," Coblence, or from the Imperial War museum, London.

A U.S. signal man is working his way up a wooden electricity pole to repare a torn field telephone line. The soldier is from the 17th Airborne Division that fought north of Diekirch in late January 1945. In addition to the special climbing equipment: leather harness, spikes, and his personal gear, he carries a cal. 45 Thompson submachine gun, often referred to as the "Chicago typewriter."

A variety of packboards for carrying heavy loads are also shown in this room.

Showroom 3

Of special interest is the U.S. Corps of Engineers plywood assault boat M2 that was turned into a display case to create room for some typical U.S. and German engineer and explosive ordnance equipment, such as TNT charges, anti-tank ("Teller"-) mines, blasting machines, saws, mine-detectors, and so on.
Other explosives such as anti-personal mines, non-metallic German booby traps, flares, improvised charges and grenades, in addition to a selection of technical-and soldier's manuals are displayed in the glass cas at the entrance. Don't forget to take a look at the selection of recently-dug out artifacts ranging from personal equipment to heavily-rusted life ammunition.

Several boggies, idler wheels, track parts are of destroyed U.S. and German tanks that were found in the area. Two opposite display cases show a close-up of a German and an American tanker and enable a striking comparison of typical equipment. Whereas the 8,8 cm shell manipulating German tanker displays all of his decorations (Iron cross 2nd and 1st class, close combat badge, 6 single handed tank 'kills'), his American counterpart is well wrapped up against cold weather in his tanker suit with distinctive crash liner helmet with built-in earphones and "moustache" microphone. His personal weapons are a ,45 cal. Colt pistol as well as the short M3 submachinegun in the same caliber, an automatic weapon cherished especially by tank crews, nicknamed "grease gun".

A German mortar crew fires from a hastily set up position. Gun crew consists of 3. As the German infantry was very poorly equipped with vehicles, the basic parts of the mortar (baseplate, bipod, and tube) had to be strapped to the back of the soldiers, who in addition to their personal gear and weapon, also had to pull an infantry trolley holding up to 300 kilos of basic ammunition. The mortar shown here (of Gr.W. 34) type is a smooth-bore weapon that could fire high-explosive- (dull red paint) and smoke shells (dark green, stencilled 'Nb') up to 2.500 meters by use of rin-shaped increment charges that were attached to the shell fins. Diorama gives also striking view of different reversible camouflage pattern winter uniforms. These exellent garments, were however no longer standardized with the German army in 1944/45. Several typical mortar shell crates are also displayed in the infantry trolley, commonly referred to as "leichter Infanteriekarren".

Showroom 4

Matching the large-scale picture on left side of stairs is a 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun position, manned by a crew of 3. The gun, nicknamed "Hitler's Headache" was very effective against medium altitude aircraft, as well as against light armored vehicles in ground use. The gun was loaded with 4-round shell clips; its crew and ammunition was protected by walls of sandbags against aircraft cannon fire and ahell splinters. The peculiar piece on dispay here is of 1943 vintage and belonged to the 447th AAA Bn (Anti aircraft artillery battalion).

Showroom 5

At the entrance, your attention is drawn immediately to an oversized German power saw, used by the 5th Parachute Engineer Bn to cut lumber for the construction of a makeshift bridge to cross the Our River, capable of bearing the weight of light tanks. Two representatives of the same unit in their distinctive jump smock, nicknamed "bone bag" and their paratroop helmets are on display above the NSU saw. They are equipped with the G-43 self-loading rifle and the 9mm "Schmeisser" MP 40 submachine gun, referred to by the GIs, as the "burp gun."

Display cases on both sides of the room show striking comparisons between German and American food rations, small personal belongings, ranging from shaving cream to cigarettes, and medical equipment. Of special interest are the following items: GI can opener, Coleman stove, the detailed contents of K and C rations, Hershey bar, German "Schoka-Kola" chocolate, artificial honey surrogate, black army bread, morphine shot, and sulfamide powder. Don't forget to compare the different types of German steel helmets with the U.S. ones, some of which have painted divisional insigna.
The display case on the right has 2 originals of Gen. Patton's Christmas greeting card/prayer, that were printed in Luxembourg in December 1944 and distributed to every soldier of his Third Army. In addition to personal belongings of key unit leaders from both sides, there also also the heavily-rotten remains (helmet, cartridge, belt, purse, buttons) of personal equipment of two German soldiers, whose bodies were found as late as 1980. The two soldiers who died on January 19, 1945 near Diekirch, who were identified, and whose pictures are displayed, are both buried at the German military cemetery of Sandweiler, Luxembourg, right across from the U.S. cemetery of Hamm.

A BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle)-carrying GI of the 5th U.S. Infantry division has pulled a civilian white blanket over his winter combat dress to blend with the terrain. Often, Luxembourg women and girls would sew "snow capes" from sheets, long underwear, table cloths... to give to the GIs leaving for front line duty in snowcovered and very cold terrain of the Luxembourg Ardennes. As a protection against frostbite and "trenchfoot" the soldier has put on a pair of rubber/leather shoepacks, nicknamed "Mickey Mouse" boots.

The white jungle--a foxhole for a 30 cal Browning machine gun crew in snowbound terrain, reconstructed exactly to match the official picture. One of the soldiers shown in both diorama and picture is still alive and autographed the picture. Together with his 2 buddies (one of whom was resting underneath the blankets in the background, the moment the picture was taken in January 1945) he stayed 6 days in this position at sub-zero F temeratures with no hot food. All three survived the "battle of the Bulge."

The walls of this showroom sport a variety of German Infantry equipment and packs for carrying supplies and heavy loads.

Showroom 6
(vehicles)

This larger showroom soon to be completely transformed presently has the following vehicles and artillery pieces on display.

• "Calamity Jane" U.S. M2 Howitzer, cal 105 mm. This workhorse of the WW II (and later on Korean conflict) U.S. artillery is a gift from the U.S. army. It is of split-trail type to be pulled normally by a deuce/half GMC track. Its 105 mm ammunition was of semi-fixed type: fuzed projectile and propelling charge holding brass case were only assembled prior to firing. The howitzer, which is displayed here with all its accessories in original ammunition boxes, had a maximum range of 12.500 meters. Gun crew normally consisted of 5 soldiers.

• The large caliber shell on its loading tray is an 8 inch (210 mm) howitzer "Persuader", displayed outside the museum. This 108 kilogram heavy shell could be hurled up to 36.000 meters with the maximum propelling charge. The matching gun, that was used until recently by the Belgian artillery, is again a gift from the U.S. Government, who had leased the piece to Belgium.

• Sherman tank model M4A1E8, the so-called "Easy 8", wide track, cast hull, high velocity 76 mm gun, displayed outside the museum, is a gift from the Dutch army. Its nickname "Blockbuster 3rd" gives credit to Capt James Leach, then the commander of B Co, 37th Tk Bn of 4th Armored division, who fought in Northern Luxembourg in January 1945. The tank is also equipped with a 50 cal machine gun, a 30 cal coaxial, and a 30 cal bow machine gun in addition to shovel, axe, pick, and crow bar.

• "Joe's meatgrinder," a quadruple 50 cal machine gun anti-aircraft gun mount of the 449th AAA Bn. "Swastikas displayed on the armor plate are for 4 aircraft kills. Very effective against low-flying aircraft, it was deadly when used against soft-skinned and living ground targets, hence its nickname. Gun mount, which is fitted on its M-55 trailer and displayed with its 200-round ammunition drums, is a gift from the U.S. army.

• "Firecall", an M3 Half track (1943 vintage) built by the White motor company. Designed to carry a mechanized squad over rough terrain, this armored personnel carrier was equipped with a 50 cal. machine gun in the front, as well as 2 flexible 30 cal. Browning machine guns in the rear compartment. The vehicle shown here is marked as Lt. Col. George Ruhlen, Commander of the 3rd Field Artillery Bn, 9th Armored Division's command vehicle. "Firecall" is the name of the horse, Ruhlen rode as a cadet at West Point. The vehicle on display, which is in drivable condition, is a donation from the French Army, which used U.S. WWII half tracks until fairly recently. A legend by itself, the Willys "Jeep," the small sturdy vehicle that won the war. Officially known as General Purpose (GP) truck utility, 1/4 ton, it performed numerous tasks, often far beyond the theoretical capacities it had been designed for. The jeep was four-whell driven, which made it a very strong and reliable light all purpose vehicle. The specimen displayed here, is the reconnaissance version with a powereful radio and a 50 cal. machine gun. It is stencilled as a vehicle of the 5th Reconnaissance Bn of the 5th U.S. Infantry division.

See also: Military Vehicles and Artillery on display in this museum

Showroom 6
(vehicles continued)

The German counterpart of the Jeep, is normally known as the VW 82 or "Kübelwagen," the military version of the popular Volkswagen beetle. Again, as in the previous case, there are many varieties, but none of them four-wheel driven. Total weight is only 750 kilograms, which made it an easy vehicle to be "saved" by its own crew, once it got stuck. It has an amazingly high ground clearance, which was very useful for crosscountry missions. Color scheme applied here is the late 1944 pattern, consisting of tan, rust brown and dark green shades. The pinup "Kohlenklau" was a very popular cartoon with German troops. The vehicle is shown as the command car of the second Bn of the 916th Grenadier Regiment. It is of 1941 vintage and has been imported from Poland.

Of special interest is the 18 ton German tank destroyer type 38 (t), referred to as the "Hetzer" (baiter). Its very successful chassis of Czech manufacture, its high speed, close radius, and hard hitting high velocity 7,5 cm gun, in addition to its low and projectile deflecting silhouette, made it one of the best light anti-tank vehicles of WW II. Crew normally consisted of 5 tankers. It is in superb condition and can be driven. Although a WW II veteran, this peculiar vehicle never saw combat action. When the war ended it was found along with some additional 156 "colleagues" in a plant in Czechoslovakia, where production had started in early 1944. Switzerland acquired all those tanks and used in its forces' units until 1972. Most of the vehicles were put on reserve duty, some, as this one, went to foreign museums as gifts. Please note the remote-control MG 34 machine gun, that could be fired from inside the fighting compartment. The "Hetzer" has the 1944 classical 3-color camouflage scheme applied.

The "Schwimmwagen" is the amphibious version of the VW 82 "Kübelwagen." Equipped with a more powerful engine, a watertight hull, a water propellor, it also differed from its non-amphibious cousin by being four-wheel driven, which considerably increased its capabilities. The Schwimmwagen was mostly used by reconnaissance troops, and was designed for 4 men. In case of need, the propellor could be lowered to be powered directly by the engine, was stream crossing missions. Only few survived WW II, which made the Schwimmwagen a much-sought collector's item. The sturdy canvas top was rarely used, to allow better in and out of the vehicle.

Even rarer is the NSU-built Kettenrad (tracked motorcycle), of which the museum has even two specimen. This extremely sturdy and reliable vehicle, that performed amazingly well in deep mud or snow, was designed to bring supplies to the most remote areas by means of a small trailer that could hold up to 500 kilos of cargo. The Kettenrad, that saw already action in 1941, was only built in limited quantities. It has a water cooled 1.200 ccm Opel engine and a 4 speed grearbox. The grey color is the pre 1943 standard paint, that was kept until the end of the war.

Side by side are two different models of U.S. "Staff" or "Command" cars. The WC 24 and the WC 51, both built by Dodge. The early WC 24 type was too heavy a vehicle for the purpose it had been designed for, and was soon replaced by the successful WC 51, the specimen of which on display is a gift by the Luxembourg army. Both vehicles normally had powerful radios installed and often served for reconnaissance missions by higher staff. The museum will also soon feature displays of the following pieces: U.S. 155 mm howitzer, U.S. M4 High speed tractor, German 2 cm anti aircraft gun in both mono-and quadruple barrel version, U.S. Harley Davidson motorcycle, German Zundapp motorcycle with side car, U.S. GMC 2,5 ton truck, U.S. M 20 Heavy Wrecker, German RSO full-tracked vehicle, U.S. Communication shelter......

Showroom 7
(Civilian Evacuation)

Diorama shows the civilians of Diekirch abandoning the town during the night to December 20, 1944 under American supervision. A team of U.S. engineers is preparing to blow a tree lining the road to create a roadblock. This is done by means of TNT charges, which are stuffed into the notch hacked with an axe. During the same time a U.S. soldier, assisted by a Luxembourg state policemen (blue coat and helmet), as well as by a local resistance fighter are guiding the civilians in the right direction. The soldier is in contact with his unit by means of an SCR 300 radio set. Please note the heavily packed Willys jeep with the "wire cutter" welded to the front bumper. Of special interest is also the equipment of the resistance fighter with his only "regular" piece of uniform being the red-white-blue armband, identifing him also as an auxiliary policeman, hired by the U.S. military government.

Showroom 8
(weapons, ordnance and ammunition display)

This room features an almost complete collection of American and German weapons, ammunition , explosives, and anti-tank ordnance used during the Bulge. Most of the artifacts were found in the area, some of them have been acquired or traded with other military museums. Rare items are: German artillery rocket "Screeming Meamie", 12 cm German airborne assault rifle FG 42, American watercooled Browning machine gun 1917 A1, U.S. "Pozit" artillery fuze, machine gun ammunition belt filling machine. In addition, there is an extensive display of close combat and other edged weapons from both sides. Also, a superb example of German camouflage is the complete reversible autumn/winter mottled pattern combat dress of a Waffen-SS soldier. A collection of pictures showing the various types of weapons in action adds to this room.

Showroom 9
(Luxembourg resistance and POW camp in the USSR)

A small display is dedicated to the local resistance fighters of Vianden, who from September 1944 until the end of the war were of great help to the U.S. soldiers, escorting patrols, guarding bridges, fighting infiltrating German patrols, and providing valuable combat intelligence. Their equipment was extremely diversified, reaching from the WWI French rifle to the light Czech machine gun. Both reconverted American and German uniforms were used. Their total number (including three woman) amouted to 34.

Tambow is the name of a POW camp in the USSR, where numerous Luxembourgers, who had deserted the German army, where they had been forced to serve (at the risk of their families being sent to labor camps if they did not comply), were kept by the Russians. They lived in miserable conditions in logpole huts that were partially dug into the ground because of the extreme cold in winter. It took months after the war ended for them to come home. The display cases in the room have articles and personal belongings of those unfortunate Luxembourgers, 183 out of 968 died at the camp of disease, undernutrition and desperation.

Showroom 10
(U.S. nurse)

Lt. Lois Gates, an U.S. nurse with an Evacuation Hospital is shown here taking a footbath in her helmet in October 1944 in Wiltz. The diorama is a mock up of the actual picture (see adjacent photo panel), after a visitor (a Young U.S. captain) had recognized his mother. Please note the distinctive U.S. Army women's field uniform (trousers buttons on the side) and boots.

Showroom 10 A
(German command post)

The scene displayed here as a diorama actually took place in the basement of the museum (former brewery), which in December 1944 and January 45 was considered shellproof by the Germans, who used it as a command post. Diorama shows a messenger (in white camouflage) bringing in a note for the switchboard operator. A medical NCO and an infantry officer are heaving a meager lunch. The inscription on the wall reads "Victory will be ours despite all odds." This diorama was built with German veterans, who actually stayed in the building during prementioned time frame, as advisers. Please note the variety of weapons, the 10-line feild telephone switchboard, and the drinking water and food containers next to the stove.

Showroom 11
(Sauer river crossing)

January 18, 1945. At 3 a.m. troops of the 5th U.S. Infantry division jumped off to cross the icebound Sauer river to retake Diekirch and secure the Sauer river valley, thus crushing the German defensive line on the north bank of the river. Dramatic diorama with 24 dummies in snow camouflage shows combat engineers and infantry pushing plywood assault boats to the banks of the river... under German mortar and machine gun fire. Some soldiers who were not issued the custom-made snowsuits are using civilian bedsheets to blend with the terrain. An unfortunate GI, who got badly injured by a German wooden mine, is given emergency medical care by two medics, before being evacuated by means of a M 24 Studbaker weasel (tracked vehicle displayed with medical personnel and driver). This 150 square meter diorama was financed by numerous American contributors, who under the initiative of Mr. Harry Gray, former Chairman of United Technologies, Hartford Con. (And participant himself in the crossing) founded the "European Liberation Foundation" in 1987 to provide the funds for building this striking mock up. Show was made of concrete, plaster of Paris, and whitewash; construction of this diorama took 14 months. Please note large picture and series of photos of river crossing.

Showroom 12
(60 mm mortar, German prisoner, and mine clearing)

After the successful river crossing, troops took cover in the shot up buildings of Diekirch. As no support weapons were immediately present, the infantry made extensive use of 60 mm mortars to fire uptown, to break the German resistance. Diorama shows mortar team adjusting the weapon in a destroyed local workshop. All of them are wearing Army-issue snowcamouflage.

• A German soldier just surrenders to a U.S. private with a Thompson submachine gun. The GI is pulling out the German soldier's individual ID booklet, while all his equipment has already been thrown on the ground.....where in April 1945, returning civilians may have retrieved it.
• A U.S. E.O.D. (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team has located a German antitank mine and is carefully removing the dirt around it.

Showroom 12
(continued/Display case)

Of special interest is General Breckinridge's post war uniform, he donated to the museum. As the Regimental Executive officer. Breckinridge was instrumental in preparing the final plans for crossing the Sauer river and liberate Diekirch and Bettendorf and adjacent areas. The NAZI items are all war souvenirs, donated by veterans of the 5th Inf. Div. from their occupation duty in Germany in 1945. A unique artifact is the book from Hitler's personal library at Berchtesgaden.

Showroom 13
(German field kitchen)

As a counterpart of the U.S. field kitchen catering the turky dinner, this diorama shows the famous German "Gulasch gun" spoke-wheeled field kitchen in a local farmhouse. Whereas the cooks are just preparing chow, basically consisting of pressure-cooked vegetables and meat, tired soldiers are eating, cleaning their weapons or are on the lookout for food in the abandoned farm house. A "Kettenrad" tracked motorcycle is just leaving the kitchen with several thermocontainers to resupply the foxhole line troops.

• Three German artillerymen are discussing an American "safe conduct", psychological warfare leaflet and are evaluating whether they should surrender or continue fighting. Their artillery piece is a 1. FH 16, the 10,5 cm German equivalent of the U.S. 105 mm howitzer.
• A German radio operator in full camouflage dress is carrying out his mission in the basement of an abandoned house. He was lucky to find as war booty some American rations, several Hershey bars, Lucky strikes, and even wine and beer. His weapon is the rare ERMA 9 mm submachine gun with lateral magazine well.
• A Waffen-SS NCO (Unterscharführer) is puffing his cigarette while propped against his "Panzerschreck" anti tank rocket launcher. Please note the camouflage shelter tent quarter and distinctive spotty twill fatigue trousers.
• Two very rare items: A German 250 kilogram concrete bomb with white smoke chandles and a U.S. M3 demolition snake, a special mine-clearing device used by the U.S. Corps of Engineers.

Showroom 14
(German machine gun nest)

During the night of December 22, the first snow fell. These 4 German soldiers of the 5th Parachute division (Please note mixed paratroop and infantry equipment consisting of standard rimless paratroop helmet, camouflage jump smock, regular infantry issue equipment) are manning the formidable light machine gun MG 42. They also have a variety of other weapons such as: assault rifle MP 44, several Panzerfaust, C-96 automatic pistol, flare pistol, Mauser rifle fitted with grenade launcher, various hand grenades. The soldier in the background is using the field telephone to report any enemy movements back to the command post. The dugout is partially covered with pine tree logs to provide protection against artillery fragments. Foxholes like this one were locates on the outskirts of Brandenbourg to protect the battalion headquarters that was temporarily physically installed there. As in previous dioramas, German veterans of this unit assisted as advisers to reconstruct the scene with great care given to detailwork.

Showroom 15:
(The Luxembourg army museum)

The 3rd floor of the NMMH houses exhibits on the Luxembourg army. While the chapter on the post WWII history of Luxembourg's army is completed, other exhibits going back in time until 1815 take shape for future opening.