Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917

The Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 in Zonnebeke is a Belgian museum devoted to the 1917 Battle of Passchendaele (also known as the Third Battle of Ypres).

Main building of the museum
The dugout leads to a communication centre, a first-aid post, headquarters and beds for soldiers
Officer at desk in dugout
Trenches
Model of the Zonnebeke Church Dugout, constructed by 171st Tunnelling Company
"Falls The Shadow" by Helen Pollock

In this battle, in only 100 days, almost 500,000 men were killed to gain only eight kilometres of ground. The museum is housed in the historic château grounds of Zonnebeke and focuses on the material aspects of the First World War.[1]

History

The history of the Memorial Museum Passchendaele (MMP1917) started in 1987. It featured the first exhibition about the Third Battle in Ypres (1917). This exhibition consisted of visual materials from the Imperial War Museum. With 9,000 visitors annually, who attended, amongst other events, a large ceremony at Tyne Cot Cemetery and battlefield tours.

It was decided to put the château at the museum's disposal, with attention fixed on the war years, but also the Zonnebeke Augustinian Abbey and local history. The museum itself opened in 1989.

In 2002, it was decided to renew the museum. The museum was increased to three additional floors. The renewed museum opened on Anzac Day 2004.

In 2007, during the commemoration of 90 years since the 'Third Battle of Ypres', the museum organised six thematic exhibitions that took place in different locations, along with creating three new trails.

In 2013, the restoration of the former vicarage was completed to be used as 'Kenniscentrum'.

Theme: The Third Battle of Ypres

The main theme of the museum is the Third Battle of Ypres, also known as the Battle of Passchendaele. This was a major battle in 1917 during the First World War which was fought by British, Anzac and Canadian troops and the German army. The total loss of human lives is about 450,000, for only 8 km gain of ground. With this battle, the main goal was to eliminate an important part of the German Army.

Location

The historic château of Zonnebeke located on the area around the battlefields of 1917. It is within less than 3 km from Polygon Wood and Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest cemetery of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

The track

The track of the museum is about 600 metres and is situated in the château grounds of Zonnebeke.

The collection

The collection from the MMP1917 is rather dynamic. The head collection consists of militaria and many personal objects and documents.

- The old collection (obtained between 1989 and 2002)
- The Hill 60 collection
- The Vieux-Berquin collection
- The Fierens collection
- The personal collection

Knowledge centre

In April 2014 the new knowledge centre Passchendaele opened. In the former vicarage of Zonnebeke there are documentary collections of the MMP1917 and the Zonnebeekse Heemvrienden. The centre also includes a scientific research centre.

References
  1. "Summary: memorial museum passchendaele 1917". Retrieved 12 June 2015.
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