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Today, June 27th is National PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) Awareness Day. This is an especially important date for us to acknowledge here at the American Heritage Museum, due to the immense number of veterans that suffer from this terrible condition. As reported by the VA (Department of Veterans Affairs), in 2022, 6,407 veterans took their own lives. That's 17.6 veterans every day. Many of these were related to struggles with PTSD.So as we close out Men's Mental Health Month, we would like to urge a gentle reminder. Check in on your family, friends and loved ones. These struggles are often silent and overlooked, and sometimes all it takes to help someone is for them to know that someone cares.If you are struggling with your own mental health problems, there are people who can help. Call 988 or text TALK to 741741 to reach a representative at the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. 💚 ... See MoreSee Less
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What is your favorite Anti-Tank Gun of all time?Join the conversation and share your thoughts! 💭 Each week, We're posing a question about historical military vehicles, and we want YOU to weigh in. Whether you’re a history buff, or just curious—we want to hear your thoughts! Leave a comment below to cast your vote! 👇#QuestionOfTheWeek ... See MoreSee Less
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Join us on Saturday, July 5th, 1pm to 2:30pm, for an engaging talk by award winning author George Hayward on his book The Party Dolls.On 10 May 1969, two American prisoners of war escaped from a brutal Hanoi prison camp called the Annex. Their story is one of incredible bravery against the longest of odds. It’s also one of bitter conflict. Air Force Captains John Dramesi and Ed Atterberry escaped with help from their fellow prisoners, but that help was not given freely. The suffering it brought killed Atterberry, and scarred others for life. For more information on the event see: www.americanheritagemuseum.org/event/speaker-series-the-party-dolls-escape-from-the-zoo-annex/ ... See MoreSee Less
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Here is this week’s challenge for “What is it Wednesday?” - What is it?! For a little extra challenge, this one is in black and white!Thanks to everyone who played last week… the answer for June 18th is a tire marking on our MAZ-543… see the previous post for the full details!Good luck on this week’s challenge! #americanheritagemuseum #historymuseum #visitma ... See MoreSee Less
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North Africa


M3 Lee
– USA | TANK

Matilda MK.II – UK | TANK

Sd.Kfz 10 1-Ton – GER | PERSONNEL CARRIER/PRIME MOVER

Leichter Panzerspähwagen SdKfz 222 – GER | SCOUT ARMORED CAR

BMW R75 & Sidecar – GER | MOTORCYCLE & SIDE CAR

7.5 cm Pak 40 – GER | ANTI-TANK GUN

The North African Campaign of the Second World War started June 10th, 1940, when Fascist Italy declared war on Britain and France. It lasted until May 13th, 1943, when the last Axis troops in Africa surrendered in Tunisia, including the defeated Afrika Korps sent by Hitler to prop up his faltering Italian ally.

The United States officially entered the war against Germany on December 11, 1941. Struggling against Japan while arming and training its brand new mass armies in haste, the United States began direct military assistance to Allied forces in North Africa on May 11th, 1942. Canada provided a small contingent of 348 officers and enlisted. Australians, Indians, and South Africans also fought under British command in Egypt and Libya, where Britain’s 8th Army and the ‘Desert Rats’ were led by General Montgomery. Meanwhile, Free French forces struck out for North Africa from deep inside West Africa, as the Allies sought to drive the Axis out of Africa as a preliminary to the invasion of Italy and Germany.

The training, build-up, and transport of green American forces took time. While tanks and troops were supplied to the British, large numbers of American troops did not arrive in North Africa to join in the Allied effort until the start of Operation Torch in November, 1942. With some American material assistance, including tanks and aircraft and intelligence assets, British and Commonwealth forces fought the Axis in campaigns in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts (Western Desert Campaign). Anglo-American landings in Morocco and Algeria (Operation Torch), as well as Tunisia (Tunisia Campaign) book-ended a coordinated Allied strategy of driving and squeezing the last Axis armies in North Africa from east and west, until their total defeat and surrender in Tunisia May 1943.

The battle for North Africa was primarily a struggle for control of the Suez Canal and access to oil from the Middle East and raw materials from Asia, but also an effort to drive Italy out of the war as a prelude to invasion of southern Europe and a planned bombing campaign against Germany. It was the place German and American armies first faced off against each other. After early and terrible losses to the Germans, soldiers from America joined the ongoing Allied effort in North Africa and helped turn the tide of war decisively against the Axis. Next would come landings in Sicily and southern Italy. Based in a secured North Africa, bombers and invading armies would next bring the war home to the heartlands of the fascist nations themselves.

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EVENT TICKETS ONLY FOR SATURDAY & SUNDAY - No General Admissions available this weekend during Father's Day Tanks, Wings, and Wheels special event.

There will be no General Admissions tickets available on Saturday, June 14th and Sunday, June 15th during the Tanks, Wings, and Wheels Father's Day Weekend - all visitors on Saturday and Sunday must purchase event tickets for Saturday and Sunday for access to the American Heritage Museum. $30 Adults | $25 Seniors/Veterans | $20 Children 3 to 16 years old.