Heeresgeschichtliche was amazing! The Heeresgeschichtliche is a War museum in Vienna. It was built according to the plans of Ludwig Foerster and Theophil Hansen. It was constructed from 1850 to 1856 and is considered the first Viennese museum. The architecture varies but it combines styles from the Byzantine, Hispano-Moorish to the Neo-Gothic. It was built within Vienna’s Arsenal or military complex. It was originally a new garrison for the city that included a military museum. It was built by the order of Emperor Franz Joseph I after the failed revolution of 1848. The revolution of 1848 was the German version of the French revolution. This revolution failed but not with out a large amount of bloodshed and destruction. In this destruction the old city garrison was destroyed.
Our assignment was to compare the Turks and the Christians. In this museum the Turks are portrayed very negatively. The museum emphasizes the successes of the Austrians and the many hardships the city suffered during the many wars it fought. The 17th century was a war filled century for the Habsburgs Empire. It was involved in the Thirty years war which was supposedly about Catholics vs Protestants while it also faced a threat from the east which were the Turks. The Thirty years war was more about european balance of power then an actual religious war. After the Thirty years war the Turks were still a thorn in the Habsburgs side. The Turks laid siege to Vienna twice in its history and both times the siege failed. The most famous siege is the second siege of Vienna. It was 1683 and the Ottoman empire had been laying siege to Vienna for two months. The Austrian king and most of Vienna’s citizens left the city months earlier and the only people left to defend the city was Ernst Rudiger Graf von Starhernberg the leader of 11,000 troops and 5,000 citizens. As supplies ran low and casualties sky rocketed Starhernberg feared his only option was to declare defeat. Days before he was going to surrender Vienna the Polish King Jan III Sobieski came to the relief of the city and fought back the Ottomen. This battle is known for being the largest horse charge in history. The Polish King Jan III Sobieski charged down the Vienna hillside with over 20,000 men. In many pictures in the museum we get a heavenly glow around the winners of the Siege. The Turks are shown as silly and gross looking. While the Christians are shown as proper and strong.
Below is a picture of the battle where the Polish king defeats the Turks.
Christian King Leopold I depicted as strong.
I found very interesting the artifacts from the Great War. It was very special to see the car and the bullet torn jacket of Archduke Francis Ferdinand. It is amazing to think that this event was the start of World War I in which so many people died. It makes one sad to think about all the loss and pain that so many people felt due to this assassination.
Another room was about World War II and the Nazi regime. It was saddening and breath taking to see all the propaganda that the Nazi war machine put out. I feel it is understandable that the Austrian people accepted Nazi rule so easily. The Germans and the Austrians have had such along and intertwined history under the Holy Roman empire I am surprised that they are not one nation. It makes me sad to see all of this inventiveness and human capacity spent in the attempt to kill one another. Also in this section was a some interpretive art showing the evil of the Nazi. I felt like this art work really conveyed its point. It made me sick just looking at it.
By the way this is what I would want to drive to school in for fun. ( I wouldn't have to worry about parking or traffic!)
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