June 22nd, 1941. Operation Barbarossa begins.![]()
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Hitler's 1939 Nonaggression Pact with the Soviet Union came to abrupt but predictable end on Sunday, June 22, 1941. At dawn on that day, German forces launched Operation Barbarossa along an 1,800-mile front that ran from Leningrad to the Black Sea. The three German army groups included 150 divisions containing three million men, 3,000 tanks, 7,000 artillery pieces and 2,500 aircraft. The German forces were further strengthened by more than 30 divisions of Finnish and Romanian troops. It was in effect the largest and most powerful invasion force in history. Like previous campaigns, Barbarossa was planned as a blitzkrieg led by armored units.![]()
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The invasion took the Soviet leadership completely by surprise and caught the Red Army in an unprepared and partially demobilized state. Stalin had been informed that the Germans would invade but he did not believe the sources. Over the first few days, the German Luftwaffe destroyed more than 1,200 Soviet aircraft, many of them on the ground. By mid-July the Germans had advanced more than 400 miles and were only 200 miles from Moscow. Heavy Autumn rains would turn the Russian roads to deep mud and the sub-zero temperatures that followed in November would further stall and finally end the German advance.
4 hours ago ·
~ A new addition to this year's American Elegance performance: 1926 Chrysler Model 72 Roadster. Show starts around 1 PM Saturday and Sunday. More information see: www.americanheritagemuseum.org/event/tanks-wings-wheels-2/
5 days ago ·
Word on the streets says Al Capone will be showing up at AHM in his 1940 V-16 Cadillac on June 19th and 20th - to case the place for his new casino and speak-easy.
1 week ago ·
Visitors to the American Heritage Museum this past weekend had the opportunity to view a display of impressive artifacts from the Allied campaign to liberate Italy (1943-1945). The Allied advance through Italy produced some of the most bitter, costly fighting of the war, much of it in treacherous mountain terrain. Rome was liberated 77 years ago this month but at the time the event was completely overshadowed by the D-Day landings in Normandy.![]()
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The weekend exhibition was organized and expertly described to several hundred Museum visitors by Abigail Metheny of Concord, MA and Jesse Campana of Brick, NJ. Both are avid students of the history of the Italian Campaign as well as skilled collectors of WWII memorabilia. Abigail and Jesse appeared in US Army uniforms from the period: Abigail as a US Army Nurse and Jesse as an Army private. ![]()
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The AHM extends its appreciation to Abigail and Jesse for their wonderful commitment of their time and expertise. We look forward to welcoming them back to the Museum sometime soon.
1 week ago ·
The American Heritage Museum is running a very unique sweepstakes fundraiser "Behind Enemy Lines - WWII Tank Experience." We hope that you could share this with your friends. ![]()
Here is the link with all the details: ![]()
americanheritagemuseum.tapkat.org/behindenemylines![]()
Proceeds go to our education outreach programs and operations.
2 weeks ago ·
- This event has passed.
Tanks, Wings & Wheels – Featuring American Elegance
June 19 @ 9:00 am - June 20 @ 5:00 pm
$15 – $25
A fantastic Father’s Day weekend event! Many of the Collings Foundation’s astounding classic automobiles will be out in the sunshine in a grandiose automobile presentation at 1:00pm daily called American Elegance. Accompanying colorful vintage radio broadcast narration will be sure to entertain! Several other exhibitions and surprises will be afoot. Historic aircraft and tanks will be on display.
The American Heritage Museum will be open along with the two additional annex buildings on our campus: the AHM aircraft hangar and the AHM automobile collection. The hangar features 12 aircraft from 1909 to 1945 and a collection of Midget, Sprint, and Indy Cars. The automobile collection features over 25 rare automobiles from 1900 through 1946. These additional buildings on the American Heritage Museum campus are only open for special event weekends such as this one – all museum buildings and outdoor events are covered with this admission.
Advance Sale and Event Day Admission Tickets
Admission for the Saturday and Sunday events are as follows:
$25 Adults | $20 Seniors/Veterans | $15 Children Under 12
American Heritage Museum Members, WWII/Korean War Veterans and Children Under 3 are Free – No ticket required.
Admission discounts can not be used for special event weekends.
Purchase your tickets online for faster processing through admission:
– Click here to Buy Tickets Online for Saturday, June 19, 2021
– Click here to Buy Tickets Online for Sunday, June 20, 2021
Tickets may be purchased the day of the event by Credit Card or Cash at the entry gate on the access road as well.
Tank Driving Experiences and Tank Rides Available
Tank Driving experiences and Tank Rides will be taking place over the weekend. You can register online, by phone, or on-site, but spaces are limited!
Tank Driving Experience Prices:
– M24 Chaffee Light Tank (20 minutes driving the tank) – $995.00 donation (tax deductible)
– M4 Sherman Medium Tank (20 minutes driving the tank) – $1495.00 donation (tax deductible)
Tank Ride Experience Prices:
– M24 Chaffee (10 minute ride) – $595 per group of Three (3) persons – two in the turret, one in the bow gunner position.
– M4 Sherman (10 minute ride) – $595 per group of Two (2) persons – one in the turret, one in the bow gunner position.
Schedule your tank driving or ride experience above or call 978-562-9182 to reserve.
