the military historical museum of valencia

Asociación Cultural de Amigos del Museo Histórico-Militar de Valencia
Friend's Culture Association of the Military Historical Museum of Valencia
THE MILITARY HISTORICAL MUSEUM OF VALENCIA
Museo Histórico-Militar de Valencia
Asociación Cultural de Amigos del Museo Histórico-Militar de Valencia
Friend's Culture Association of the Military Historical Museum of Valencia
THE MILITARY HISTORICAL MUSEUM OF VALENCIA
The Military Historical Museum of Valencia is located in “San Juan de Ribera” base, on the
Valencian “Paseo de la Alameda”. The Barracks were built in 1898 and have been occupied
successively by different Corps: infantry, intendancy and logistic. At the present time they are
the only Barracks built for that purpose that still remain in the capital of Turia.
The most prominent thing in the construction, in addition to its typical structure of the period for
units with cattle, is its magnificent inner courtyard fully covered with glazed tiles and with a
mural dedicated to Spain represented by a gigantic tree whose roots have their origin in all its
regions.
VIRTUAL VISIT OF THE MUSEUM
The virtual visit of the museum is a tour for each of the rooms that compose it.
The space of the museum is divided in two places at the same time in two floors.
To begin the visit choose, in the plane, the stay or floor that you want to visit and click on it. This
way, there will appear the description of the hall and of the exposed items.
Along the museum there exist a few explanatory sheets (Hall’s sheets) and specification sheets of
some of the exposed material. These can download in the links that appear in the same text or at
the end of every Hall (For example H0001) or into the section "DESCARGAS" (DOWNLOAD), all
they only in Spanish.
Ground Floor
COURT
The visit begins in the court of entry where you can find the access to the halls, as well
as the social club of the cultural Association of the Museum’s Friends and the souvenirs’
shop. In a corner we will be able to see a missile MATRA, for MIRAGE F-1. It is a missile
infrared and electromagnetic type with an explosive load of 12 kg. (Trinitrotoluene), with
a range of 10 km. It has a system of self-destruction of 25 seg. In the center of the
court there is exposed the famous German gun of 88 mm. (FLAK 88/56), also used by
the Spanish Army.
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HALL 1
HEAVY EQUIPMENT I
Among halls 1,8 and 10 youi can find exposed the heavy material of different Arms and
Corps from the Army. In this first room, there appear several pieces of artillery form
different times and calibres like:
The field’s Howitzer Monomast 149/12.
The Field gun Schneider 75/28 (mod. 1906).
The howitzer Vickers 105/22 (mod. 1922).
The mountain’s howitzer Schneider 105/11 (mod. 1919)
The field gun Krupp 77/24
The mountain’s gun Schneider 77/22
It’s called the attention the closing of the gun VICKERS of 381 mm., mod. 1923. This
gun was mounted in Cartagena. In the info-panel we will be able to see some pictures of
it gunnery in 1931. The maximum range of this piece is of 35 km. And the weight of the
closing is of 1663 kg. For doing a small comparison we can say that any vehicle weighs
between 1000 and 1500 kg., with which we can ourselves doing an idea of the high
weight of the closing. This one was driven by hydraulic systems, as well as the elevation
of pieces, the load... The projectile, which we have to its side, is the correspondent to
that of the piece: it takes an interior load of trinitrotoluene, and has a weight of 885kg.
To throw this projectile to a distance of 35 km., it was necessary a projection load of
most than 100 kg. of gunpowder. It is possible to imagine easily the bang that was
taking produced in the moment of the shot. To compare we have placed a closing of
another gun of coast, in this case of 152,4 mm. (Also mod. 1923 VICKERS), and its
projectiles.
As for vehicles, it is necessary to stand out for its singularity: The Sanitary car of
disinfection made of 1922. It consists of a boiler to steam fed in its low part for coal, a
water tank and a stove or chamber of disinfection. The disinfection was realized by the
injection of the water steam to the interior of the chamber adding formaldehyde. It was
in use to disinfect all kinds of clothes, uniforms, blankets, sheets... This piece is the only
stove of disinfection that exists in Spain and, possibly, in Europe. We are in front of a
single piece, restored by the GROUP V of the AALOG - 31, in Valencia in 1996.
The Armoured multipurpose vehicle BMU-2, vehicle armoured for transport of controls. It
has an engine Land Rover and it is a prototype made by the company MACOSA for a
contest of endowment of this type of vehicles of the Army in 1983. This vehicle as such
was not made of series and therefore it is the only one.
The soviet light tank T 26-B, made between 1933 and 1939, armed with a gun of 45
mm. and a machine gun of 7,62. It was reaching a maximum speed of 28 km/h. It was
brought to Spain to provide to the units of the Republican Army in a quota of 350 units.
Along the Civil war some of them were captured and repainted with camouflage and
marking with San Andres’s cross in the most top part of the tower for the identification
of the planes of the National Army, avoiding so they were confused with the vehicles
that there had the Republican Army. The vehicle with engine to petrol had an
endowment of three soldiers (a driver, a chief of car and a drawer).
The horse-dawn carriage of intendency (1940), also so called CATALAN CARRIAGE. Used
for the transport of personnel and load until the 60’s in detachments of difficult access,
as batteries of coast and transmissions’ centers.
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HALL 2
AMMUNITION
In this room we can observe different types of ammunition of war. In the set, emphasize
for its singularity the missile of the cannon of dynamite (1898), the bomb of Sagunto's
site (1811) and the grenade “lanzamensajes” (throws messages) (1936-1939). One of
the showcases contains a very complete collection of fuses, in which can be observed
the technical evolution of the same ones.
HALL 3
MACHINERY AND WORKSHOPS
The Army always counted its own workshops for the maintenance and equipment. All the
machineries that are exposed in this room it corresponds to the first half of the century
XX. We can observe a press, duplicator REFLEX and a printer "DIAMANT" Hoger Forst of
1950.
HALL 4
FIREARMS AND SWORDS AND KNIVES
A historical tour of the firearms and their technical evolution.
In the central part of the room we can find a collection of guns and machine-guns of
diverse countries, all of them used in the Spanish Civil war. The collections exposed in
this Museum come from the former Artillery’s Park of Valencia, wherefrom everything
recovered this material. Among this weapon they must emphasize on machine-gun, of
Mexican origin, Mendoza (1914) and the gun-machine Fiat Revelli (1914), Lewis (1914),
Colt-Browning (1919), the P.M. 1910 MAXIM Soviet and the Spanish Alfa (1944) with all
its complementary elements. In the showcases that compose this room we find:
Firearms:
With piston’s system: a pistol of spark transformed to piston of Rovira Ripoll's armory,
armourer of the century XVIII-XIX; that of the armourer of Bilbao Domingo Arechavaleta
(1831) and those of the gunnery Ramon Clarán (1815). Pistols and revolvers of small
calibre, the majority of 6,35 mm., emphasizing those of the marks REMINGTON and LE
FAUCHEAUX, the pistol BOPE 1940, weapon of four cannons in line, and the revolver
mod. 1916 BELL-DOC of the calibre 22 shortly, that calls the attention by it small size.
Also the revolvers WEBLEY, BRITISH and BULLDOG, similar to the weapon with which
there was murdered the Prime Minister Cánovas Del Castillo in 1897. Regulation pistols
of the Spanish Army, almost all of top calibre (7, 65 ó 9 mm.), from that it is necessary
to distinguish the ASTRA 400, WALTER P-38, the STAR or the pistol MAUSER.
Weapons that show the technical evolution from the system gun of spark up to the
assault rifle CETME model B. It is necessary to emphasize the guns English TOWER,
transformed of spark to piston in Spain. All the weapon of spark comes from the War of
the Spanish Independence, which took place in the century XIX. Pistols BERTHIER,
MANNLICHER CARCANO and the famous MAUSER pistol
The REMINGTON rifle used in the North American Secession’s War; the WINCHESTER
rifle. Curious weapon as the rifle that takes connected a periscope of wood that was
allowing to point and to shoot without need to put the head out over the trench, or a
cane of walk transformed into a camouflaged weapon capable of shooting missiles of 20
mm., made by VICTOR SARRAQUETA in 1896.
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Submachines as MP-28 SWEISHER mod. 1928, made in Spain with the nickname
"NARANJERO” (orange grower's). All three Spanish copies were realized in the factory of
weapon of Valencia, and they have this nickname because the first workmen of the
factory were agricultural laborers of the compilation of the orange. The famous ones MP40 of German manufacture and the American Thompson, both used during the World
War II. Grenade-launcher rifle, as the North American M-79 M1 or that of Soviet origin.
That is indeed a MOSSIN-NAGANT rifle remodelled to adapt it to the pipe of the
grenade-launcher.
Knifes:
Different models of sabre, emphasizing the mod. 1807 of Napoleonic era, and diverse
bayonets. Two of them calls the attention by its length and they were regulation in the
Spanish Army in Cuba. There appear pieces of great historical value as:
The reply of the "TIZONA", the sword of the EL CID.
The “falconete” of the century XV.
The Hindu-Persian kit: HULL, SHIELD, SWORD AND SHARI. Century XVIII
HALL 5
ARTILLERY
This room is dedicated to the weapon of artillery. A singular piece of this room is the
minelayer ERHARDT or mortar of trench of 76 mm., declared regulation in the German
army in 1911 and that was used in the Spanish Civil war. Other pieces of this room are
The Mountain gun of 75 mm. (speed shot)
The steel gun KRUPP of 90 mm. mod. 1878 and used in the Spanish-American war.
The cannon NORDENFELDT of 57mm. Called of "coop" and it corresponds to one of
minor calibrate cannons that used as cannon of coast in the artillado of Cuba.
HALL 6
ENGINEERS
The engineers have two fundamental missions: on the one hand the link by means of
the transmissions, and for other one her of facilitating the step of the own units and
impedes the step of the enemy units (what we are called sappers)
In the center of the room we have a bridge BAYLEY simple model to scale 1:6 that
corresponds to a detachable bridge, which is loaded in trucks, and which the sappers
mount to save obstacles; in this case a water route. Also we will see a light bridge of
forefront of 10 tons mod. 1936, mounted on the occasion of the Valencia’s flooding in
1957.
As elements of transmissions to emphasize a heliograph, device with two mirrors that by
means of the reflex of the sunbeams and the transmission in system Morse was allowing
the sending of messages to a visible distance always between operators. It was very
used in the Wars of Cuba and of Morocco. In the showcase we will be able to see diverse
material of transmissions: telephones, head offices, etc. Emphasizing a plant of
transmissions Morse used in the War of Africa (1921). In the low part there is sappers'
material: gauntlets, grenades, etc. Besides we will find an issuer of interferences Agris
type MA-AN of 2 kilowatts, which was in use to interfere the enemy radio broadcasts. In
this case Independent Spain was used to interfere the emission of the Radio called once
finished the Civil war.
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HALL 7
THE ARMY AND VALENCIA
We find in this room diverse plans and reproductions of the existing ones in the
Historical Military Service of Madrid in which there are seen different barracks of the City
of Valencia, among which it is necessary to emphasize the plane of floor and gathering
of the Park of the Citadel - today non-existent - besides an engraving of the City at the
end of the century XIX.
Also figures a shield of stone of the City of Valencia that dates back to 1.736 and one
exhibitor with the keys of the city. The keys of the City of Valencia were dedicated to the
General Captains on having taken possession of his position. Possibly these keys could
open some doors placed in the former wall of the city, as the Towers of Serranos,
Quart's towers, Porta de la Mar, etc.
In the center of the room we can estimate, with all detail, a reproduction to scale of the
Royal Palace S. XIII, kings' headquarters and General Captains. During the War of the
Independence, the French General Suchet, in 1810, besieged the city and the Valencian
ones destroyed the Palace - that was out of the wall of the city - to prevent the
Frenchmen from becoming strong in it and taking advantage of his buildings to bombard
the city. The model recreates its aspect in Middle Age.
HALL 8
HEAVY EQUIPMENT II
As in the Hall 1, this is dedicated to heavy material. In this room there stay the exposed
two only pieces, The truck bedroom and the truck dining room Chevrolet used by the
headquarter of the Generalissimo during the campaign of Catalonia in the Civil war.
Besides, we find:
The German Pak 40/75.
Howitzer NAVAL-REINOSA 105/26 Mod.1943
Howitzer 105/26 R50
Heavy mortar of 120 mm Mod. Valero.
The anti-tank 60/50 PLASENCIA
The anti-aircraft JEPE 40/70
HALL 9
TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS.
Temporary exhibitions of all types are made in this hall
HALL 10
HEAVY EQUIPMENT III
On having entered the room, to the left side, we find a boat. The regulation for the
control of baths in the sea of the troop was required to annotate the beach zone and the
alertness with a boat for the aid of possible accidents (the majority of the recruits could
not swim). In the 50’s, Engineers' regiment nº3 of garrison in Valencia acquired in a
scrapping this boat that fulfilled its functions until it was put aside in the Military Camp
of Salinas (Manuel).Made in Norway by KRISTIANSAD. S with NR 1141 in the year 1957,
has a capacity for 33 persons. Restored by the AALOG. 31
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To the right, we see several elements of measurement of distances called rangefinders,
which are in use to determine the distance of the target to beat for the weapon of
artillery. The bigger size that here we can see is the rangefinder of coincidence BARRSTROUD, to calculate distances between 2.500 and 25.000 m. Other models measure
more small distances, well for the system of coincidence or for stereoscopic vision.
We find, also, two anti-aircraft machine guns OERLIKON-BECKER of 20 mm. (mod.
1949) and an U.S. anti-aircraft quadruple machine gun calibrates 12,70 mm.. This
weapon was capable of shooting more than 2300 missiles per minute and it has an
electrical system for the direction of the shot.
First Floor
Hall 11
FLAGS AND UNIFORMS
The hall is composed for: Lateral showcases, where there are exposed uniforms of
diverse epochs - all of the Spanish Army - and Flags and Banners previous to 1940,
some of them are yielded by the Excmo. Town Hall of Valencia. Several Somatén's flags
are exposed. The word “Somatén” comes from a Catalan voice, with meaning as unlike
as "we are in time" or “doing noise". It is a question of an institution of armed people
that they were meeting to touch of bell or alarm to attack bandits or to defend himself
from the enemy. They were not concerning to the army though normally they were
collaborating with them. In 1863 the Government of the First Spanish Republic dissolved
the Somatén, but the raising Carlist forced the Republican President Estanislao Figueras
to restore the institution of the same one, at the time that the urban militias were
organized. The definitive accolade they receive it of the Government of Primo of Rivera,
which in 1923 extends it to the whole Spain; in 1931 the Second Republic dissolves all
the Somatenes except those of Calatayud, and in 1945 they are authorized again in the
whole national territory. The decree of August 25, 1978 dissolves it definitively. The
latter period of 33 years has a very precarious life and it is possible to qualify as
institution, though almost forgotten in the majority of places. The majority of the
exposed flags correspond to the cities or villas of Castellón's province.
Uniform Valencian Volunteer (1811).
Official's uniform of Cavalry of the Regiment Victoria Eugenia.
Uniform of Second Lieutenant of the IPS, of the speciality of Health.
Uniform of Second Lieutenant with strap of standard-bearer of Artillery. Colonel's
uniform used in the War of Africa to beginning of century (1923-1927)
Flag of La Pobla de Vallbona's Somatén.
Flag of Lucena del Cid’s Somatén.
Flag of the Regiment of Light Artillery n º 6
Flag of the Segorbe’s Hunters battalion.
Flag of the provincial Militias of Valencia
Republican flag of the Battalion of Rear n º 7
Central showcases in which there are represented, by means of dioramas, several
castles, fortifications and barracks:
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Barracks of the Regiment of Infantry "Majorca" n º 3
Barracks of the Regiment of Infantry "Guadalajara" n º 20
Segorbe's castle. The Carlist Castle was constructed on the occasion of the III War,
given the Segorbe's singular situation as point of step forced between the Kingdom of
Valencia and Aragon.
Castle of Peñíscola. Belonging to this locality, which was delivered by the Moors the
King Jaime I in 1233 before the fall of cities as Burriana, Morella and Ares. Jaime II it
yielded as place to the Templar knights, which in 1293 began the fitting out and real
construction of the famous castle. Dissolved the Templar order and founded that of
Montesa, the castle passed to concern to the latter up to finals of XV century. At the
beginning of the above mentioned century when the archbishop of Saragossa, Pedro de
Luna, chosen as Pope with the name of Benedicto's XIII and removed during the Schism
of West, established his headquarters in Peñíscola they sheltering there to the being
surrounded by the Frenchmen in Avignón. From 1415 and for 8 years there occupied one
of the towers of the castle up to his death. You can there turns also the whole
fortification that surrounds the city, which dates back of times of Felipe IV, who gave the
orders to reinforce the wall of the above mentioned city, nowadays restored.
Lorca's castle - fort. It has its origin in an Arabic fortress that was built on a Roman city.
Alfonso X won the Arabs in 1244 and there he gave the orders to build in the summit a
tower of the honoring called (in his honor) Tower Alfonsina. For 200 years it was a
strong Christian, frontier square with the Moor Kingdom of Granada, and it was capable
of sheltering up to 3000 soldiers. Castle of Santa Barbara of the city of Alicante that was
constructed on the mount Benacantil about the year 230 before Jesus Christ and
attributes the General Carthaginian Amilcar Barca. Since then Roman, visigoths, Arab,
etc. They were modifying its structure until presented the current physiognomy that is
represented in this model.
L'Aquila's castle.
San Telmo's castle.
VICKERS Costal Artillery.
HALL 12
MODELS AND DIORAMAS
As the hall 11, this hall is divided in:
· lateral showcases, with flags and uniforms,
· and central showcases, in which they turn out to be represented, in excellent and
detailed models, relevant facts for the History of Spain.
First we find three dioramas that represent actions freed in the defence of Valencia in
the War of Independence (1808-1814):
- Quart's towers. Battle of Valencia (1808). It represents the first battle against The
Grande Armee in the city of Valencia. After the tenacious defense of the Valencian ones,
the French Marshall Moncey desisted from his determination and retired towards Madrid.
- Leave of Ribarroja del Turia's garrison towards Sagunto's battle (1811). It represents
the exit of the troops, across Ribarroja del Turia's bridge towards Sagunto's front. In this
town was provided the hero Romeu at the head of the honest militias.
- Sagunto. The Defense of the Fort “2 de Mayo” (1811). It represents the defense of
Sagunto's castle before the assault of the Marshall Suchet.
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In the same room we think another model that represents the site of Morella's city in
1838. Morella, placed in Els Ports's region in Castellón, it was defended by the Carlists
supervised by the General Cabrera, also known like "Maestrazgo’s tiger". The liberal
ones decided to take possession of this locality as a fundamental place to eliminate the
resistance Carlist. In the summer of 1838 the General Oráa displeases his troops - in the
model represented in blue colour - surrounding the city. The Carlists, beside possessing
the city, were dominating some strategic points, and diverse guerrilla warfares were
scourging to the liberal units. The liberal artillery placed opposite to the door of San
Miguel managing to open a gap in the walled enclosure that was defending the whole
city, and they hoped that they were falling down the night to try to take to the assault
the same one.
The Carlists placed at the foot of the gap wood, furniture and everything that one that
could burn, and when they heard to the liberal troops to approach, lit fire of musketry in
the above mentioned point. Due to these circumstances and to scarped of the area, the
liberal ones did not manage to take the city. The model represents precisely this instant,
in which we can see the gap and the fire. Due to the mistake of ammunition and
provisions and the mistake of logistics, the liberal ones had to retire. The General Oráa
was dismissed from office and the General Cabrera was nominated A General
Lieutenant. Two years later, in 1840, the liberal ones took the City, to hands of the
General Espartero, not without before to destroy more of the half of the buildings.
The following one diorama corresponds to the moment of Alfonso's XII proclamation as
King of Spain on December 29, 1874, in the proximities of Sagunto's city. We can see
the castle, the Roman theatre and part of the city, the former highway of Barcelona and
the diversion that leads to Segorbe and Teruel. On January 3 of this year the First
Spanish Republic finished with the resignation of his last president, Emilio Castelar. To
his fall there was formed a provisional government presided by the General Serrano,
Duke of la Torre. Among compromised the Restoration of the Monarchy there was
meeting the Brigadier Luis Dabán, chief of a brigade located in Segorbe, who, with part
of his unit, moved up to Sagunto on December 26, 1874. The General Martínez Campos,
in agreement with Dabán, went out of Madrid the same day and stopped to pass on the
28th, day of Santos Inocentes, preventing that the foolhardy attempt of Monarchic
Restoration was taking as a simple act. On the following morning, in a field of olive trees
of Gausas's zone, close to the highway that he leads to Valencia, the Brigadier Dabán
ordered to form the picture to the troops to his control, them presenting later to the
General Martínez Campos, who went to the units declaring the monarchy restored in the
person of Alfonso XII. When the restoration agrees in Madrid his General Captain Don
Fernando Primo de Rivera, was constituted a provisional government presided by Don
Antonio Cánovas del Castillo. This movement was known as Regencia's department, and
it would govern in action up to Alfonso's XII arrival, which one was finding in Paris. One
of the first visits or trips that the King made in Spain went precisely to Valencia in
gratefulness to the fact of which his proclamation had been in this region.
Finally, we can see two models of the Spanish-American war of 1898 in which the last
Spanish colonies got lost.
- The first one is the bombardment of the U.S. Navy on the city of San Juan of Puerto
Rico, on May 12, 1898. In this action the Admiral Sampson tried to take the city
supposing that in its bay there was sheltered the Armada of the Admiral Cervera, though
this was not this way. The city answered with its batteries bravely making desist from
the attempt to the U.S. Navy.
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- The following model represent the battle of the hills of San Juan and El Caney, of
Santiago and the disposition of the last combats fought in this date close to the same
city. In the right wing, in the top, we see the settlement of El Caney, which was
defended by 500 Spanish and besieged for more from 6000 (the proportion was in this
case more than 10 to 1). In this settlement there was produced the heroic defense of
the General Vara del Rey, who died in the combat. In the hills of San Juan the
disproportion was major, in this case of 15 to 1, but the Spanish soldiers defended
themselves with abnegation and value. The number of falls was the most top in the U.S.
Army that in the Spanish army; nevertheless, due to the proportion of forces, the
conclusion was the loss of Santiago and, with this, the capitulation of the Spanish Army
and the loss of the Island.
HALL 13
MILITARIA
On having entered to the room we meet a panel of 15 ceramic tiles where one sees the
historical evolution of the shields that has had Spain from the Catholics Kings (1.492)
until our days. In the showcases we can see military badges, medals and cords.
HALL 14
MINIATURES
This room is dedicated to the military miniatures.
In the lateral showcase, of the right we can see "parade of the Victory", which was
celebrated in commemoration of the Victory in the Civil war (1936-1939); it is composed
by 4.017 men, 938 vehicles and 196 tows. The author, D. Jose Mellado Porres, inverted
20 years of his life in to realize this work.
To the left side, in another showcase, we can find a collection of vehicles used by the
Spanish Army in different years.
In the center we can seeing the model that represents Baler's site, locality to 232
kilometres to the northwest of Manila, head-board of the so called district Prince, with an
approximate population of 1900 inhabitants, was the scene of one of the most singular
episodes of the war of 98, where men's handful they resisted for 337 days the siege of
the rebels tágalos in the church of the above mentioned locality. Fifty men of the
Expeditionary Battalion nº2 supervised by the Lieutenant D. Juan Alonso and the
Lieutenant D. Saturnino Martin Cerezo, they came to Baler On February 12, 1898 with
the mission to relieve to the company ordered by the Captain Roldán, with them Captain
de las Moreras was travelling as new Political Military Commander of the district and the
provisional doctor of Military Health D. Rogelio Vigil de Quiñones.
Already in October of the previous year (1897) another detachment, supervised by the
Lieutenant Mota, there had suffered an assault in which there turned out to be dead the
Lieutenant and 9 soldiers. The Biacnabactó's fragile agreement put a brief cease-fire that
were resumed firmly in June. 27 of the above mentioned month, before the events that
were approached, the whole detachment was sheltered in the church of the village, the
only solid construction, doing collection of all the provisions and ammunitions which they
were relying on. The Spanish flag was hoisted in the belfry and there they remained with
the men who defended her until the day of the capitulation. On October 18, 1898 there
was dying of beri-beri the Lieutenant Alonso Zayas Jefe of the Detachment and the
second Lieutenant Martin Cerezo took the control of the same one.
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Many were the attempts of assault, the attempts of deception in order that the
detachment was giving up itself and a lot of the vain attempts of showing the raw
reality, Manila had fallen down in hands of the North Americans on August 7 and
December 12 the agreement of peace was signed in Paris. But those soldiers, completely
isolated, suffering the food shortage, the scourge of the tropical diseases, the
continuous harassments and assaults, the psychological punishment of turns enclosed in
an enclosure of not more than 300 m2, always vigilant and lacking in dream, they did
not come to terms until June 2, 1899. On this day the Lieutenant Martin Cerezo read one
of the supposed falsified newspapers that two days before him was delivering an
emissary and in the news of the destiny to Malaga of one of his companions of weapon,
the tágalos could not invent this information and he understood that everything had got
lost.
To the bottom we contemplate three dioramas:
- The summer residence of the General Goering. Yielded temporarily by his author,
D. Aurelio Gimenez Ruiz, is realized with all luxury of details (the interior of the
building is furnished and illuminated)
- The Remagen's bridge. Donated by D. Javier Planells Sáez. It is constructed to
exact scale (1:35) and represents the moment in which the US soldiers manage
to cross, for the first time, the river Rhine in the World war II.
- Berlin. It represents the struggles marries to house in the last days of the war in
Europe.
These three models were rewarded in AMT's contest Torrent. Also there can meet
several naval models realized by D. Jose Caballer Caballer, when stands out the
mining gunboat "EOLO" to scale 1:50 constructed from planes.
HALL 15
ART GALLERY
In this room we can enjoy works of art directly related to military facts and historical
prominent figures. On having entered we can observe a reproduction facsimile of the
paintings appeared in the “Moli dels frares” (Mill of the Friars) of Campanar's garden,
here in Valencia. In it is represented the siege to Salses's castle in the French Roussillon
in 1639 when the above mentioned Castle and territory were included to Spain. The
painting reflects of completely graphical form the siege to the Castle - that at the time
was in Spanish hands - on the part of the French soldiers and the help to the besieged
ones on the part of Spanish troops of refreshment. In the right wing of the painting
there is a French fallen sentry surely died by surprise for the units that come to helped
to the same one. Above there is a cannon that according to the literature that offers in
the own painting he says: "piece of 60 pounds of bullet that comes from Perpiñan".
This one was an important information to demonstrate that so called " Asitio Castillo de
Salça" was really to Salses, in the French Roussillon. We can estimate, in the so called
Hill of the Tortoul, a battery of three cannons that do fire on the French troops
registering a high mortality (even the projectiles can be observed in its path). A
counterattack is effected by a French battalion that tries to silence the above mentioned
batteries, but another Castilian battalion of Infantry, which gets about itself to defence
of the battery as written in the proper painting, defends the position making move back
to the Frenchmen. The cavalry carries four flags, which have been reproduced for
decoration of the hall, and that represent to Castile, Aragon, Naples and Sicily, which
they were the Union of Army in Spain in times of the Count Duke of Olivares. We see a
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clash of harquebusiers in the center of the painting and both sergeants closing rows with
his pikes. In the left part of the painting the castle meets a Flag that represents the
Spanish Crown. In this period, Portugal forms a part of Spain. A leaflet exists to the sale
in the Museum with a historical complete study of Salses's siege.
Also, in this room, the figures of NELSON and of the Duke of WELLINGTON, in smelting,
are of great artistic value. Its proceeding from the Park of Artillery. It is necessary to
emphasize the water-color, work of the painter Rafael Boluda, in which there is
represented the heroic charge on Madonna's battle of the Elm (1744) that led Lusitania's
dragoons against the forces of the King Carlos Manuel of Sardinia. In the above
mentioned action Lusitania's regiment managed to make move back to the enemy
forces, at the cost of losing fourth three parts of the whole of his men. The King Philip V
rewarded to the Regiment with the use of a skull and two crossed bones that nowadays
it is the emblem of the Light Regiment of Cavalry Lusitania number 8, quartered in the
military base of Marines (Valencia).
Opposite, we can contemplate the engraving done to nib realized by D. Manuel García
Larrea in 1944 in Valencia, which titles like "Execution of the General Torrijos". To the
interior part of the room there is exposed, among others, the anonymous work "The
Siege of Haarlem's city” and the picture, of big dimensions, named " The capture of the
fort of Alpuente's hill ". Its author is Jose Cusachs. The painting was realized in 1900
and it reflects a historical fact happened on August 19, 1875, when the last Carlist War
was ending. The fort of Alpuente's hill occupied by the Carlists was turning out to be
impregnable and was difficult to beat for the artillery. In this situation there took the
decision to raise to Moratilla's hill four pieces long KRUPP of 8 centimeters.
The author of the picture was to this Regiment. The transport of the pieces was realized
to arm, disarming them before; they were late four hours and a half according to the
reports of the period. This action turned out to be definitive for the surrender of the fort.
In the painting we can contemplate the gunners taking the dismantled piece. The
Captain astride directs the operation. To give a more didactic character to the work
there is ahead a showcase with the weapon represented in the picture. There are the
rifle Remington that carry the soldiers to the back, the saber that goes the sergeant in
the hand and the revolver that the captain leads hung to the belt. The Flag Carlist who
was undulating in that moment in the fort of Alpuente's hill, is a restored piece that
preserves the shield and the embroidered original letters.
HALL 16
CIVIL WAR
We are going to meet in this room a collection of pictures painted by Miguel March
Pedrós, professor of Fine arts, in which 23 paintings show scenes of the Civil war,
accompanied in many cases for documents with reference to the topic formed of each of
the paintings. Heading the room there are the portraits of the President of the Republic
Manuel Azaña and of the General Francisco Franco. In one of the showcases of the room
it shows "military archaeology of war". Not only are interesting the purely military
pieces, but also those of the daily life in the trenches and in the rear. All these pieces
have been dug up of the trenches of the fronts of Teruel.
Another showcase will show us a complete collection of hand grenades, some of very
showy them. It has exposed two binoculars, one of them, the Ducati mod. Syrian, it is
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similar to the used for the General Franco in the direction of the battle of the Ebro. Also
there is a flag of the Italian Division Freccenere of 2 º regiment Black Arrows that fought
of the National side. Besides we will see a machine gun Maxim who was given the
General Miaja, chief of the Republican Army up to the ending of the war, in a visit that
did to the factory n º 12 of armament of Valencia.
HALL 17
LOGISTICS
The Logistics is a fundamental part of the armies and without this one they do not have
the operability necessary for its correct functioning. The principal mission is it of
supplying of everything necessary for the life, functioning and effective combat of the
troops. From the ammunition, the fuel, the nourishment, the supply of material and
equipment... they are indispensable elements of which the Logistics entrusts providing.
Because of it in this room there is exposed diverse representative material of this type of
units.
In the first showcase of the right we will be able to see diverse topographic devices for
the raising plane, construction of routes of communication, etc. We will see a
metroestereoscopio that is a device used to measure the visual three-dimensional
keenness of the telemetries. Also we will think meteorological stations of campaign that
allow to know the atmospheric variables that must get in the calculations for the shot of
artillery. Also we have a box of lenses of graduation of sight, a game of diapasons, a
brass mortar of the beginning of the century XX for the production of pharmaceutical
specifics and surgical diverse material representing to the military health.
We will see a machine of manufacturer sews used by the workshops of harness-making
for the confection of footwear, canvases, etc., and a small sample of what was the
equipment of a cobbler, besides a machine of combing of the year 1940 used to comb
the mattresses where the soldiers were sleeping. An object to standing out is the
taquipanógrafo. It is an invention of 1946 of the Commander of Engineers of the
Spanish Army Don Justo Ros Emperador, who is in use to raise mechanically panoramic
cylindrical on the plane. Beside eliminating the influence of the draughtsman he invests
a little time in his tracing and possesses an easy managing, since it is based on the
obtaining of the perspective on the levels curves that appear in the plane. This
contributes three advantages: to determine directly the levels of the area that it
represents, to help to understand its relief and to facilitate the step of the panoramic
one to the plane.
HALL 18
"MAESTRAZGO"
Room dedicated to the Regiment of Infantry "VIZCAYA" n º 21. In the straight side of
the room we find the splendid recreation of the office of the Colonel of the Regiment in
the years 40. To another side we have a cannon of 106 mm., of tense shot,
characterized for not having setback to the shot off being. All the weapon has setback
due to the action effected by the drive of the projectile and the pressure of the gases in
the opposite direction. This cannon uses a perforated pod, for which the gases escape,
as well as also on the posterior part of the closing. The advantage is that this weapon
can be mounted on vehicles, the disadvantage is that in the moment of the shot cannot
place anybody behind the weapon due to the recoil singer of fire and the heat that is
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produced. It possesses a gun to help to aim and to shoot a bullet that indicates the
exact point where the projectile would strike if we were shooting the cannon.
On this piece we can contemplate the Insignia flag of the Regiment. To its side there is a
panoply composed by a MAUSER, a CETME, a submachine ZETA.
HALL 19
ILLUSTRIOUS PROMINENT FIGURES
The former General Captains, also called Virreyes, were the representatives of the King
in the Kingdoms of Valencia and Murcia. Among them, the figure distinguished from San
Juan de Ribera that was A General Captain of Valencia from 1602 until 1604 and that
who gives name the Barracks that shelters the facilities of this Museum. In this room it
is necessary to emphasize the General Almirante Gabriel Ciscar and Ciscar, native of
Oliva (Valencia), which was three times Regent of Spain and promoter of the first
Spanish Constitution in 1812. As mathematician he was the Spanish representative in
the congress that adopted the Metric Decimal System, and that took place in Paris. He
was a great fighter for the freedom, facing Fernando VII and the absolutism. After the
intervention of “Cien Mil Hijos de San Luis” (One hundred thousand of St. Louise), the
Spanish Parliament declared the moral disability of the King and to replace it named a
Regency in 1823 integrated by three General Lieutenants. Once more Ciscar formed a
part of it, fixing his residence in Cadiz.
When the King Fernando VII recaptured the power his first decree was to condemn to
death the regents. Paradoxically a French ship led it to Gibraltar; Lord Wellington
granted to him a pension that allowed him to live in this town up to his death at 69
years old.
Other one distinguished, Francisca Guarch Folch born in Castellfort, fought of the side
Carlist in the wars of that period dressed as a soldier to accompany her brother,
managing to obtain for her actions in campaign the Medal to the Military Merit that
shines in the picture that represents her.
Illustrious personage is Antonio Ripoll Sauvalle, born On January 22, 1881 in Cartagena
and that has a shining career in his military life. At the age of 17 already he was a
lieutenant. He lost the arm in the war of The Philippines in 1898 returning as disabled
person to Spain. Ten years later, being destined again in Cartagena, he requests to go
volunteer to the conflict of Africa that finishes of exploding. In the combat that took
place On September 30, 1909 he fell down died and in 1911, to posthumous title, the
San Fernando's distinguished Cross was granted to him. Here shows his orthopaedic arm
that went after suffering the amputation on behalf of his arm.
The Excmo. Sr. D. Marcelo Azcárraga, General Captain of Valencia, is represented here
in a picture of 24 ceramic tiles signed by Emilio Gisbert, realized in 1911 in the factory
Piqueres de Manises. This piece is a transfer of the National Museum of Ceramics and
Arts "Gonzalez Martí" of Valencia.
HALL 20
SANITARY CORPS AND MILITARY TRAINING
In this room one finds exposed material of the Sanitary Corps, like medicine chest, firstaid kit of campaign, surgical material of campaign, uniforms of the Ladies of Sanitary
Corps of the 80’s, etc. Is observed exposed a suit (Nuclear, Bacteriological and
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Chemical) NBQ, and the most curious mask NBQ for horses and mules. Also we can see
different works and models to scale made by students of the Military Education.
HALL 21
AUDIO-VISUAL
This room is used to show different educational and divulgative videos and photos to the
groups of visitors who come to the Museum.
HALL 22
TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS.
Temporary exhibitions of all types are made in this hall
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