Historial de la Grande Guerre

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Historial de la Grande Guerre
Museum entrance
Museum entrance (Castle of Péronne)
Data
place Péronne , Picardy , France
Art
History Museum (First World War)
architect Henri-Edouard Ciriani
opening 1992
Website

The Museum of the Great War is a museum of the First World War in Peronne on the Somme in northern France.

prehistory

The idea of ​​building a World War I museum on the Somme arose in the mid-1980s in the General Council of the Somme department . Péronne was chosen as the location, a small town with 8,200 inhabitants in the Picardy region in northern France about 130 km north of Paris. In the course of the decentralization initiated by the government of François Mitterrand , the regions in France not only received new competencies, but also the opportunity to use a certain amount of public funds for investments in the region on their own responsibility. The starting point for the decision to use the money to build a museum about the First World War was the large number of tourists who visit the battlefields and memorial sites of the First World War in the region every year.

On both sides of the Somme river west of Péronne, the largest and most costly battle of the First World War had occurred from the end of June to the end of November 1916. In just five months, 420,000 British, 204,000 French and 465,000 Germans were killed, missing, wounded or captured. The British casualties, in particular, exceeded the worst expectations of their military leadership. On July 1, 1916 alone, when the assault on the German positions began after a week's shellfire bombardment, the British forces lost 57,470 men; 19,240 of them had fallen. July 1, 1916 was the bloodiest day in British military history . The British still honor their fallen by wearing red paper poppies , the Remembrance Poppies . With the inclusion of the poppy in the emblems of the “Historial” and the signs on the “Remembrance Tour” to the memorials of the Battle of the Somme , it has become a symbol of British remembrance culture.

The idea of ​​portraying the First World War not only from a French point of view, but also from the point of view of all the nations involved in the Somme battle, developed from the approach of supporting existing tourism with the construction of a new museum and expanding it if possible. To support the museum management, a “Center de Recherche” was founded, which is an independent organization according to the French law on associations. Its management (comité directeur) consisted of several scientists from France, Great Britain and Germany who focused their research on issues relating to the First World War, such as Jean-Jacques Becker , Stéphane Audoin-Rouzeau , Jay Winter , Gerd Krumeich and Annette Becker . These historians were not only active in the creation of the concept and during the construction and furnishing of the museum, but still work closely with the museum today.

Today this "comité directeur" has the following composition:

architecture

In 1987 an architecture competition was announced for the building of the new museum to be built. The winner of the competition was the Peruvian architect Henri Ciriani , who has lived in France for more than 20 years . With his design, Ciriani succeeded in merging the new building harmoniously with the medieval Chateau von Péronne, in whose inner courtyard the new building was integrated. On the other side, the new white concrete building borders a park and a small lake. Due to the hillside location towards the lake, the exhibition rooms rest on slender piles, some of which stand directly in the water. This gives the architecture, which is expressed in convincing and sober language and does not use any bombastic exaggeration, a certain elegance. The water of the lake, the park and the lawns are integrated into the overall ensemble of the museum through the large panes. The brick walls of the chateau reflect a soft, colorful light into the exhibition rooms, which has a pleasant effect on staying in the rooms.

The new building was built from 1989 to 1992 and was officially inaugurated on August 1, 1992. The museum and an attached international research and documentation center are housed on 4,236 m². The investment costs amounted to 95 million French Francs (= 14.5 million €).

Content concept of the exhibition

Tank Saint-Chamond in the courtyard

The “Historial de la Grande Guerre” is a social and mental history-oriented museum that shows how the ways of thinking and perception of soldiers and civilians developed from the pre-war period through the war period to the post-war period. The objects on display are labeled in French, English and German and some of their function is also described. They come from these three countries and enable a parallel international view of economic, cultural, social and political factors from the pre-war to the post-war period. The First World War is presented from an international perspective without neglecting the various national points of view. The concept is based on the assumption that the visitors' interest in historical contexts is best aroused by presenting them with a variety of often contradicting viewpoints. The exhibition sheds light on the prehistory and causes of the First World War as well as everyday life during war and the increasing totalization of a war shaped by industry and technology, including its political and cultural consequences. Military equipment is not completely dispensed with, but the focus is not on the course of war and battles, but on the effects on people; the individual exhibits illustrate the mood before the attack, the grief over the loss of a comrade, but also hygiene, nutrition, medical care, soldier humor or leave from the front . In the wall cabinets, only civil life in Great Britain, France and Germany is depicted on three levels one above the other. The form of the comparative presentation makes it possible to show both the similarities and the differences in the individual countries. Particular emphasis is placed on the depiction of religiosity in war and various forms of propaganda in the individual countries.

In terms of the exhibition concept, the visitor is not “taken by the hand” and guided through a chronological sequence of historical events with explanations, but rather he is encouraged to get an idea of ​​the exhibition objects. Written explanations of individual objects and a large number of maps that illustrate the conditions before and after the war with the course of the war help here. In addition, there is the opportunity to call up explanations in French, English and German via an audio guide that was prepared and spoken by the historians of the Center de Recherche for individual exhibits marked with numbers.

The museum concept includes an educational concept with teaching material for teachers in order to make visits to the museum by school classes as profitable as possible for the pupils.

Attached to the museum is an international research and documentation center, which also benefits from the advisory board made up of international scientists and makes a significant contribution to the presentation of the latest research results at the interface between historical studies and the museum presentation of the First World War. An additional exhibition room, which is not occupied by the permanent exhibition, offers the opportunity to show the results in special exhibitions.

In the region around Péronne, the Historial de la Grande Guerre has set up a commemorative trip (Circuit du Souvenir). On this tour you can visit a variety of places of remembrance of the Battle of the Somme. The signs are marked with a red poppy flower, which has become a symbol of the British culture of remembrance of the First World War.

The presentation of the exhibition in the individual halls

Hall 1
Hall 2: overview
Hall 2: German uniforms
Hall 3: weapons

In addition to the foyer, the cafeteria, a book and souvenir shop and a hall for temporary exhibitions, the "Historial" consists of the following rooms accessible to the public, which are listed in the order of a usual tour by the visitor:

Hall 1 (pre-war period)

The pre-war depiction begins with a large map showing the political situation in Europe before the First World War. The situation in the realm of Alsace-Lorraine receives special attention . The alliances of the major European powers are shown. Fleet policy plays a prominent role in Great Britain and Germany. A German colonial clock makes Germany's claim to want to be a major colonial power clear. Germany as an emerging industrial nation is represented by some technical innovations from well-known German companies. Technical and industrial progress in Germany is symbolized by objects by the important architect and designer Peter Behrens . Models of German and French school classes encourage a comparison of the school systems. Articles of daily use in civilian life show similarities in the three countries, while the depiction of the naval policy points to the impending conflict.

Central room (war eve)

In the foreground, black-and-white photos of people before the war are shown on strips hanging from the ceiling. People look like us; they appear in a peaceful atmosphere with their family, school class or friends. Others proudly pose in front of the camera. The 50 etchings by the expressionist Otto Dix from the famous portfolio “The War” are exhibited in showcases behind the photo strips . Otto Dix, who fought as a volunteer on the Somme, completed this work in 1924. In his etchings the horror and brutality of the war are depicted in a very emphatic way. His pictures form an impressive contrast to the peaceful images of civil life in the prewar period.

Hall 2 (1914–1916)

Various newspapers from Great Britain, France and Germany report on their front pages from different perspectives about the beginning of the war. The video monitors show enthusiasm for the war in London, Paris and Berlin. The soldiers are bid farewell by their relatives. In between, objects and scenes from everyday life can be seen: mourning clothes, war toys, letters, field postcards, memorial plaques for the fallen. Works of art by various artists deal with different aspects of the war and the suffering of the population. Above the showcases, a large wooden sign with the inscription “Don't fret, just wonder!”, Which the Germans hung on the town hall destroyed by British shells when they retreated from Péronne, encourages reflection.

The different uniforms of the nations involved in the war are exhibited in the shallow pits in the ground. It was decided not to use mannequins with different faces. In addition to the uniforms, the soldiers' items of equipment can also be seen in the pits: helmet, belt, spade, hatchet, knife, side gun, hand grenade, drinking bottle, ammunition and, for the British soldier, a complete tea case with porcelain cups for tea at five o'clock. Since the pits are not secured by glass, but only by light locks, it is possible to view all objects from close up without hindrance.

Cinema room

In the cinema, a 30-minute long film by Laurent Veray entitled “En Somme” will be shown in French and English, which shows the cruelty of the war and the suffering of the people without any national pathos in very impressive images, without for any of the warring countries To take sides.

Room 3 (1916–1918)

The totalization and mechanization of the First World War reached its climax. The war has affected civilian life far from the front more than ever. Supplying the population is becoming increasingly difficult. Posters urge the population to collect bones or fruit pits so that they can be used. Under the heading “The potato saved Germany”, calls are made to grow more potatoes. The propaganda machines on all sides are running at full speed: The French mock Kaiser Wilhelm on the cross, Kaiser Franz Joseph on the gallows and the crown prince as a dwarf. France is called "a brothel nation" by the Germans. But there are also more private, contemplative exhibits such as the silhouettes to illustrate the activities of women in the war.

In the military sector, the mechanization and automation of war is documented using the weapons used: machine guns, mortars, small artillery, bazookas and hand grenades are on display in the depressions in the floor. Large weapons such as airplanes or large guns can only be seen in models or pictures. The use of the first tanks is shown in video films. Different types of gas masks show the development of protection against the advancing gas war . Mechanical self-protection devices are supposed to protect the soldiers from enemy fire. The complete "surgical set" of a French field doctor can be seen in a suitcase.

Hall 4 (post-war period)

The returning soldiers are greeted in their homeland. The political conflicts begin in Germany; a poster in the style of French art warns drastically against the Spartakusbund . The war invalids are cared for: A video film shows war invalids with newly developed prostheses.

For decades and still today, objects from the First World War such as spades, helmets, knives, etc. have been found on the former battlefields. In a corner of the room these items are exhibited untreated as they were found.

literature

  • Tobias Arand: Between emotion and distance - two museum ways of approaching the First World War. The 'In Flanders Fields Museum' Ypres / Belgium and the 'Historial de la Grande Guerre' Péronne / France. In: History, Politics and their Didactics. 31, issue 1/2, 2003, pp. 74-83.
  • Susanne Brandt: The Historial de la Grande Guerre in Péronne, France: a museum at former First World War battlefield. In: Museum international. 2004, pp. 46-52.
  • Francois Chaslin: Architecture and Peace. The “Historial” in Péronne. In: Bauwelt. No. 47, 1992, pp. 2651-2657.
  • Frederick Hadley: Museums and Memorials of World War I on the Somme. In: G. Hirschfeld, G. Krumeich, I. Renz (eds.): The Germans on the Somme 1914–1918. Essen 2006, pp. 263-271.
  • Hugues Hairy: Overcoming enemy images? The representation of the war in international cooperation. The Historial de la Grande Guerre in Péronne. In: H.-M. Hinz (ed.): The war and its museums. Frankfurt 1997, pp. 157-163.
  • Gerhard Hirschfeld : The Somme battle of 1916. In: G. Hirschfeld, G. Krumeich, I. Renz (eds.): The Germans on the Somme 1914-1918. Essen 2006, pp. 79-89.
  • Gerd Krumeich : The First World War in the Museum, The Historial de la Grande Guerre in Péronne and more recent developments in the museum presentation of the First World War. In: Barbara Korte, Sylvia Paletschek , Wolfgang Hochbruck (eds.): The First World War in the popular culture of remembrance. Essen 2008, pp. 59–71.
  • Medard Ritzenhofen: A new museum: The "Historial de la Grande Guerre" in Péronne. In: The Architect. Issue 12, 1992, p. 599.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Présentation et Missions - Historial de la Grande Guerre. Retrieved March 14, 2018 (French).

Coordinates: 49 ° 55 '44.8 "  N , 2 ° 55' 50.2"  E