Situated in the German city of Koblenz is “Die Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung” or in English “The Scientific Collection of Defense Engineering Specimens” or “Defense Technology Museum”.
The museum has an impressive exhibition space of 7,200 square metres and is thus one of the largest technically oriented collections in Germany. It was founded in 1962 as a part of the organization of “the Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement”.
UPDATE: From 19 June 2023 the WTS Museum is opened again for ALL visitors!
The museum has a large exhibition area, showing lots of different pieces of equipment, weapon systems and many other things. Although the museum doesn’t focus on World War II specifically, the number and quality of the items on display of this period are impressive, to say the least.
On display
The main exhibition focuses on the following categories divided over three floors:
- Hand and machine guns
- Artillery technology
- Ammunition
- Missile technology
They have a Henschel HS 293 V4 guided missile - Anti-Armor weapons
- Wheeled and tracked vehicles, engineer and recovery technology
They have lots of beautifully restored unique vehicles, but amongst them is an eight ton (armoured) Kraus- Maffei medium halftrack mounted with a 20 mm Flakvierling!
Oh, and hidden in the back they also have a heavy 18 ton SdKfz 9 Halftrack Type F3. - Aircraft and naval technology
They have a mini submarine “Seehund” U-boot Type XXVII like in Bremerhafen and a Jumo 004B jet engine used to power the Messerschmitt ME 262 jet fighter - Communications, electronic and optical equipment
A Kommandogerät 40 predictor is on display - Personal clothinhttps://landmarkscout.com/u-boat-seehund-a-kriegsmarine-midget-submarine/g and equipment
Underneath are a few pictures of the collection to give an impression of the museum.
Visit
For more information about the Defense Technology Museum and the opening hours visit the website.
