Certificate of the Red Army driver Kuzma Shershnev, issued in April 1945
Certificate of the Red Army driver Kuzma Shershnev, issued in April 1945. Certificate of the Red Army driver Kuzma Shershnev, issued in April 1945.
One can only guess how much effort went into preparing the exhibition “Motors of War” among the staff of the Museum of the Great Patriotic War and collectors of cars that provided their cars.
The task of the exhibition is quite simple: to acquaint visitors not only with the Soviet GAS and ZIS, which went through the whole war, but with the fleet of allies and opponents. It's no secret that for a long time our museums were dominated by domestic-made equipment, with the possible exception of the absolutely “cosmopolitan” collection of tanks in Kubinka, Moscow Region.
The famous restorer and collector Vyacheslav Len talks about his cars
The famous restorer and collector Vyacheslav Len talks about his cars. The famous restorer and collector Vyacheslav Len talks about his cars.
There were many cars of the war period, but almost all of them are in private hands, occasionally appearing at exhibitions. Even for the May 9 parades on Red Square, the organizers preferred to order some parody freaks on modern chassis than try to negotiate with dozens of owners of individual antique cars scattered across the country.
In this case, an unusual public-private partnership led to the creation of a full-fledged exposition on the museum’s territory, consisting not only of wheeled and tracked vehicles for various purposes, but also “related items” from the mid-20th century: from uniforms and driver’s licenses to first-aid kits and cameras. Real exhibits speak for themselves, a comparison of the technical capabilities of different countries participating in World War II turned out to be very clear.
The catch phrase “War is war, and lunch is scheduled” is suitable for any army in the world
The catch phrase “War is war, and lunch is scheduled” is suitable for any army in the world. The catch phrase “War is war, and lunch is scheduled” is suitable for any army in the world.
The war veterans invited to the opening of the exhibition on March 4 received the event with enthusiasm unexpected for their age. The contribution of military-historical clubs that literally “revived” the frozen exhibits deserves special mention.
By the way, despite the venerable age, all cars that have undergone restoration are on the go. Only a couple of cars were in the museum hall in the form in which they were found. But their condition allows us to at least roughly estimate the amount of labor invested in restoring other exhibits to their original state.
Light German all-terrain vehicle Stoewer and his crew
Light German all-terrain vehicle Stoewer and his crew. Light German all-terrain vehicle Stoewer and his crew.
