The museum
What this
museum is
about ?
This Museum gathers war material collected in the neighbourhood of the Hainaut
province (where the 1st SS Division Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler was located in
February 1944).
Origins of the museum
The museum displays weapons, unifroms and war material.
Museum authorities
can be contacted by phone only.
This museum has no dedicated website, however it is referred to on the Association
of Museums in Wallonia among the list
of existing museums, as well as the Belgian, French and German Association
of Greater Region Museums.
Location information
The museum is located
in Ecaussinnes:
14, rue Arthur Pouplier
7190 Ecaussinnes d'Enghien
Belgium
Tel/Fax: +32 (0) 67 44 25 11
Opening Hours : on appointment only.
Admission is free (the father of the museum's author couldn't afford
his son the entrance ticket of a WW1 museum when he was young, therefore
the author when became adult decided that his own museum would be free
of charge for
visitors,
many schools visit the museum today which plays its remembrance perpetuation
role by informing younger generations that freedom has a price.
The museum includes free toilets and even a bar.
Personal note
.The author had to sell half of his collection to start his own business
(at this moment the museum did not exist). Then he succeeded in business,
this allowed him to purchase new collectible items (including a part
of those
he had
sold before) and founded his own museum. This is a lesson of willingness
and courage for many people. Following my visit I can state that the
added-value of this museum is the guided visit providing information
on "history of history", each item has its own story which
is explained to the visitors. Among displayed items you will find announcements
of the German authorities stating that some citizens were held as hostages
in order to be executed if "terrorists" were not handed over
to the Wehrmacht. You will find also very rare weapons like the MP 3008
(the German copy
of the British Sten gun) or the Mauser 1932 type 712 called "Schnellfeuer"
and even the "Raupenschlepper" (German anti tank with PaK 40).
The visitor will find equipment of the Belgian, British, Canadian, American
and German armies. Are also displayed outside the museum a British 25
Pounder gun, a Jeep Willys and a Dodge lorry (more vehicles are under
repair and restoration). The museum received also the official
visit
of the
Chinese Ambassy in Belgium (there were Chinese people in Ecaussinnes
who resisted against the Gestapo during WW2).
