It gives also visitors an excellent opportunity to learn more about what actually occured during Cambodia’s ‘war years’.
– It has a unique collection, you will also be able to see war machines like the tank T-54, the jet fighter aircraft MiG-19, the helicopter Mil Mi-8 and the field artillery gun 85-mm divisional gun D-44. Before used in Cambodia, some of these war machines have even seen action during World War II. Among the collection there are also many sorts of landmines and rare photographs from the defined period of time in Cambodia.
– You can take a free guide to lead you around. Each of the guides has his own unique background: war veterans, eye witnesses of the war and landmine victims. Therefore, not only they could tell you about the last 3 decades of the 20th century history of Cambodia and about the collection of the museum, but also about their personnal experiences during the defined period of time.
– You can examine small arms, from a M16 or a AK-47 (Kalashnikov) till a machine gun like the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR). You can even examine a rocket launcher! Before used in Cambodia, some of these guns have even seen action during World War II.
The purpose of this museum is to keep the memory of such an important episode in the history of Cambodia alive and to preserve the unique collection for posterity.
The War Museum Cambodia has a unique collection. The collection on display was gathered since 1999 from provinces in which the most savage fighting took place (Siem Reap and Odor Meanchey) and is a mix of Chinese, American and Soviet hardware. Before used in Cambodia, some of these war machines have even seen action during World War II.
The museums collection is invaluable as most war relics have been sold for scrap. People have been gathering and selling such equipment because they got good money for scrap metal. For a tank they could have received $300 to $400 at least. Competition from scrap dealers was not the only problem the museum faced as it gathered its collection: most of the machinery was very heavy and it was difficult to gain access to dense jungle areas to remove the items.
There is a vast array of vehicles, artillery, weaponry and equipment on display. You will be able to see e.g. war machines like the tank T-54, the jet fighter aircraft MiG-19, the helicopter Mil Mi-8 and the field artillery gun 85-mm divisional gun D-44.
There is also a broad range of uniforms, flags as well as rare photographs from the defining period on display.
