Museum of Military History Vienna

Guns 'n tanks

David from Vienna

""Museum of Military History" has the honor of being the first museum in Vienna. I think the most interesting exhibit is what Franz Ferdinand was wearing..."

The Heeresgeschichtliches Museum relies heavily on artefacts; many weapons and other trinkets have been collected from all kinds of skirmishes, from the Turkish sieges in the 17th century all the way up to the Second World War.

The building is a piece of living history in itself. Built in 1850, it has the honour of being the first Viennese museum, documenting Austria's military history from the Habsburg empire at the end of the 16th century up until 1918. Perhaps the most interesting and unique exhibition is the actual shirt Franz Ferdinand was wearing when he was assassinated, sparking the tinderbox that would lead to the annihilation of tens of millions in the First World War. Oh, and the car he was shot in.

The period of Austrofascism and subsequent National Socialism in the 30's is also dealt with extensively. Austria endured many horrors during the Second World War and has had its own peculiar difficulties in dealing with its fallout</a>; the Wien Museum, for example, mysteriously omits from its permanent 'History of Vienna' exhibition any mention of the world post-Jugendstil; this uneasiness still pervades.

The variety of exhibits is astonishing. There are military vehicles and weapons, canons you could live inside. Interestingly, there are also burnt-out tanks, aviation engines shorn of propellers, and other 'destroyed' objects, which really highlights the vulnerability of machinery. More than anything, this interesting aspect really brings home how people could be mangled when operating it. Located close to Hauptbahnhof, this museum is something of a must-see.

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Vienna Spotter David

About me My name is David. I'm a British expat living in Vienna since 2011. I originally only intended to stay in Vienna for a year or two, tops, but frankly, the city has a habit of getting under your skin, so I've never felt the need to move on. I've always worked in fields with people and lately I've taken up a job as a social worker. It's a great city to live in when you want to explore human nature. Other than that, my main hobby is cycling. I'm a bit of a nut when it comes to two wheels. I know every nook and cranny of the city by now, having cycled all ov...

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Dec 5, 2025

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