The Memorial’s collections were originally created thanks to donations by veterans and their families. Today, they offer us a precious record of the battle and the daily lives of the soldiers.
Objects in our collection
Immersion
The Memorial displays over 2 000 objects for you
Composition of the collection
Verdun Memorial’s collections span a wide range of different types of objects linked to the Battle of Verdun and the Great War. They include archives, war diaries kept by soldiers, photographs, everyday objects belonging to soldiers, militaria, medals and images of various types (drawings, lithographs and posters). The majority were donated by veterans and their descendants. The Memorial strives to show the Battle of Verdun from both the French and German angles, and consequently the collections also include German objects. These include a horse plaque inscribed with the word “Kriegskamerad” (war comrade) and acquired more recently, in 2023, the painting “Höhe 304, Granatwäldchen” by Adolf Erbslöh.
Military objects: uniforms, equipment, headwear, individual and crew-served weapons, large items such as field kitchens, guns, trench artillery, Berliet trucks and aeroplanes;
Objects illustrating life at the front: mess tins, canteens, trench art, tools, pipes, etc.
Objects illustrating life behind the lines: cards and games, patriotic objects, etc.
Objects relating to mourning, remembrance and commemoration: awards and decorations, flags, memorials, commemorative plaques, etc.
Architectural elements: fragments of stained-glass windows, sculptures, etc. from villages or monuments that were destroyed.
The document collection consists of newspapers, posters, prints, drawings, paintings, diaries, correspondence, photo albums, books, photographic plates, propaganda stamps, certificates, campaign maps, various documents (memos, service records, ration cards, etc.), postcards and more.
When the Memorial was founded in 1967, the collections consisted mainly of various articles (such as military uniforms) and heavy equipment (guns, field kitchens, Berliet trucks and aeroplanes). Since then, they have grown continually. Each year, a number of individuals contact the Memorial to offer objects, letters and documents that have been kept by their families. As well as expanding the collections, these proposals bring new physical traces of the battle to the attention of Verdun Memorial and its specialist team.
In addition to receiving donations from individuals, the Memorial occasionally purchases specific objects or works that help to provide a complete view of the conflict. These acquisitions, which may be financed by the public or private sector, enrich the visitor experience and help us to pass knowledge of what happened during the First World War, and the Battle of Verdun in particular, to future generations.
Since the Memorial was founded, many French and German partner institutions have shown their support by loaning items. The restoration of the site was an opportunity to expand our links with numerous institutions and individuals. This brought more than 200 objects into the Memorial’s new permanent exhibition. The Diors Collection, owned by the Meuse Departmental Council, made a particularly significant contribution. We extend our grateful thanks to the following partners for their support and assistance:
Diors Collection, Meuse Departmental Council
Grand Verdun Urban Community
The Great War Museum in Meaux
Historial of the Great War, Péronne
La Contemporaine - BDIC
National Visual Arts Centre – National contemporary art collection
Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr, Dresden
Marius Berliet Automobile Foundation
Dassault Aviation
Donate an object
The collections of Verdun Memorial – Battlefield have been built up since 1967 thanks to numerous donations. Today, donations are the main way in which we add to our collections. By donating an object, a photograph, a document or another item, you are helping our collections to grow, keeping the memory of the Battle of Verdun alive and passing it on to new generations.
