St. Museum Canadian Allied Forces
1940-1945 |
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| The collection |
| After the start in 1980, the collection was for a long time mainly a private
collection of WW2 army vehicles. But the interest of Heiko Ates in army vehicles predates 1980. His
very first army vehicle was bought in 1979; a former Bundeswehr Jeep from just after the war.
Because of the enormous diversity in vehicles from all the different era's that fall in the
category 'army-oldtimer', a choice had to be made. The Liberation Day of 1980 led to the decision that
the collection would be defined by the years of World War II. |
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| Many of the army vehicles which still can be found in barnes, wrecking yards or silently rusting
away somewhere in the wild, exist today only because they could play a role in civil society after the war ended.
Especially the US Forces left behind huge amounts of vehicles. It just was not worth it to take them all back. The
European nations on the other hand, were all but bankrupt and often faced a destroyed infrastructure and a absence
of civil rule.
The redundant weapons and combat vehicles were - for the most part - given to the European allies, who used it
to rebuild their armed and police forces. For the most, because right after the war there was a flourishing black
market in the whole of Europe. This made situations possible where customs agents suddenly faced smugglers in fast
armoured cars. |
Cletrac airfield tractor from 1941 |
Field hospital nurses in France. August 1944 |
The numerous supporting vehicles like trucks, tractors, jeeps, ambulances, caterpillars, cranes
and all, found their way to all kinds of civil companies, in mostly the transport branche. But farmers also put
many of these vehicles to good use. All these vehicles were designed to work under the harshest of conditions
which made them very useful in those countries where everything had to be build up again.
The supporting vehicles are strongly represented in the collection. Firstly, because that's what can
be found; they are the 'survivors' who had a post-war civil career for decades till they were finally replaced.
Secondly, because the museum wants to show a development which became increasingly important with the
mechanisation of the armed forces. |
| That's the 'tooth-to-tail' ratio: the ratio between combat units (tooth) and supporting units
(tail). Which effectively means: to keep one combat unit in the field, are how many supporting units needed?
In the American Civil War (1861-65) that ratio was 9:1. During World War II - the first fully mechanised war -
it had dropped to 1:1.
Beacuse of this mechanisation the role of the supporting troops - medical service, staff, communications,
administration, technical service - only became more important. Without these units mobile warfare was impossible.
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GMC's on the Ledo-road from India to Birma |
A limber - munitionstrailer - saved from junkyard |
Because of the participation in historic events, it became necessary to expand the collection
with uniforms and equipment used by the soldiers who used these vehicles. After the commissioning of the hangar
at the Beckerweg the collection became well-known. More and more people from Groningen knew where to find mr Ates.
The collection contains a growning number of war-items who have a link with the Groningen area.
In the meantime the rolling-stock also kept expanding. Through other collectors, oldtimer-meetings and events
many vehicles found their way to the Beckerweg. With sometimes a post-war vehicle, which after restoration was
traded or sold. But also the summer holidays throughout Europe often produced a whole range of new restoration
projects. |
| Untill today the vehicles are the core of the collection, but nevertheless the collection has
become much more diverse. There are many authentic items like uniforms, pieces of equipment, weapons and finds
from excavations, but also everyday items like newspapers and magazines, foodstamps and bicycles.
In 2006 the collection had became so extensive that a museum with a face of 3000 m² (32,3000 sq ft) could
be filled easily. After the commissioning of our new accomodation at the Ulgersmaweg in 2008, that mission was
accomplished too. In the years to come the museum will always be paying special attention to the Canadian troops
who liberated the city of Groningen. But at the same time the museum has broadened her horizon to other theatres
of operations with for example an Africa-scene and a British airfield.
When you visit the museum it's as if you are back in time. In each of the the diorama's the visitor finds a
true and realistic representation of scenes as they occured in World War II. As unique as the collection, is the
manner in which the visitor can experience it. |
Avro Anson of the Observer Corps |
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