Museum of Polish Arms in Kołobrzeg

The Museum of the Polish Armed Forces in Kołobrzeg, established on May 8, 1963, is located at 13 Armii Krajowej Street. As a historical and military institution, the museum focuses on military history and the history of Kołobrzeg. It includes the main exhibition "History of the Polish Armed Forces," a maritime open-air museum, the Cold War Museum in Podborsko, and a branch of the Museum of Aviation and Military Technology. The first exhibition dedicated to the Polish armed forces was opened on May 8, 1966, in the tower of St. Mary's Basilica and covered various topics, including the Swedish wars and the Battle of Kołobrzeg. After the building was returned to the Church, the collections were moved to Emilii Gierczak Street, where a new headquarters was opened on March 17, 1980. The museum boasts a rich collection of uniforms from both world wars and exhibits from the period of Polish statehood, including military vehicles, aircraft, and armored weapons. The Branch of the Kołobrzeg City Museum in the Braunschweig Palace, built in the early 19th century in the Empire style, showcases the city's history from the Middle Ages. The Maritime Open-Air Museum, opened in 2013, is located in the Fishing Port and displays, among other things, warships and elements of maritime culture. The Cold War Museum in Podborsko, opened in 2016, is the only preserved site in Poland related to the storage of nuclear weapons, featuring Soviet equipment. Meanwhile, the Museum of Aviation and Military Technology, currently under development in Rogów, will further enrich the institution's offerings. An interesting feature is the metrological collection, which references the tradition of weights and measures in Western Pomerania. Thanks to the diversity of its exhibitions, the Museum of the Polish Armed Forces not only serves an educational role but also documents important stages in the history of Poland and the region, while contributing to the preservation of local cultural heritage.