I really hate war, I’ve never joined an army and I’m not attracted by any kind of military stuff. But the National Museum of Military History in София is so special (and awkward to me) that I had to visit it. The museum belongs to the Ministry of Defence of Bulgaria and dates back already to the year 1916. It tells the military history of the country in multiple buildings, but most people will go there for the vast exhibition of military equipment.
On 40,000 square meters you’ll find fighter jets and helicopters, tanks, artillery and missiles. Most of them are from the Soviet Union of course, others are from the German Empire and Nazi Germany. But there is also equipment from the Russian Federation, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Hungary and France. From todays Germany you can find a large Tornado fighter jet that has been provided for exhibition.
It feels really strange for me to walk through this massive military equipment graveyard. Technology enthusiasts will be fascinated. And it leads to the question: why is there equipment from the Deutsches Kaiserreich and Nazi Germany? Well, Bulgaria joined World War I as an ally of the German Empire with the intent to get back lost regions after the Balkan Wars. And for exactly the same reason the kingdom of Bulgaria also joined forces with Nazi Germany during World War II. We know they failed twice.
Национален военноисторически музей
National Museum of Military History
ул. „Черковна“ 92
1505 Оборище
София
Bulgaria
https://militarymuseum.bg
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