Museum of Military training ground Milovice

Exposition introduction

Dear visitors,

we welcome you all at the museum of military spaces of the city Milovice that was founded as a memorial institute of the city of Milovice in the years 2022 – 2023.

The goal of our museum is to present the unique story of the former military district Mladá and to bring closer on how the presence of a military training ground influenced life of the local inhabitants to our visitors.

In the year 1904 was the first military training ground in the Czech lands built in the close vicinity of the town Milovice, decided by the Austro-Hungarian royal ministry of war. The town Mladá had to step aside to the military training ground, as it laid in the middle of the training ground’s planned spaces. During WWI, 3 PoW camps were set up on the grounds of the Milovice training grounds, in which up to 48 000 PoW were prisoned.

After the founding of the Czechoslovak Republic, Milovice became the centre of military research and advancements. The Czechoslovak assault chariots were also founded here. A great contribution to the locals came with the introduction of rail service between the towns of Lysá nad Labem and Milovice. North east from Milovice, a military airfield Boží dar was built in the 20’s.

During occupation, the Milovice training grounds were expanded onto the neighbouring villages, that were evicted and partially destroyed. After liberation, a number characters of both military and cultural life served in Milovice. Local training facilities were modernised and an unprecedented civil infrastructure expansion of Milovice began as well. During the invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Warsaw pack, Czechoslovak soldiers and civilians of Milovice were of resistance to the invading armies.

After the signing of the Agreement about the conditions of temporary stay of Soviet forces in Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (CSSR), Milovice became the largest middle class military garrison of the Soviet forces. Milovice are seen as a symbol of Soviet military presence to this day. During their 23 year stay, the Soviet army caused massive ecological and material  damages, which the inhabitants of the city Milovice have to deal with to this day.

In addition to these subjects, our museum also offers plenty of interesting and unique exponents, including weapons and figurines dressed into their respective uniforms. You are allowed to physically touch some of the items. Inseparable part of the exposition is the kids line, which involves playful aspects. On every text panel is a QR code for opening the extended content on the website www.muzeum-milovice.cz