Slovenian Park of Military History is located in the town of Pivka in the Postojna region and is the largest museum complex in Slovenia and one of the largest military parks of its kind in Europe.
The exhibition is accessed through the Komanda, a former military barracks. First floor houses a multimedia room and the museum shop. The second floor is used for exhibitions.
Exhibition narrative is divided into several sections, the most important of which are the Slovenian independence process, the tank hall, and the outdoor area.
Road to Slovenian Independence
Central part of the Park of Military History is the “The Road to Independence” exhibition, which presents the process of establishing the Republic of Slovenia in 1991.
The exhibition’s main focus is on the events and social and political changes of 1980 and 1990, which led Slovenia to declare its independence from Yugoslavia.
Among the exhibits are the MiG-21 aircraft, the M-84 tank, and the BVP and BTR armored vehicles, which demonstrate the advance of the Yugoslav units.
Among the most important artifacts from the 1991 war are also the Gazelle “Velenje TO-001” helicopter and the T-55 tank, the armored unit that led the Yugoslav army’s aggression from the Pivka barracks.
Tank, Artillery, and Aircraft Collection
The main collection of the Military History Park is a collection of World War II tanks and artillery.
Among the most interesting armored vehicles in the collection are the American M3A3 Stuart tank, the Soviet T-34/85 tank, the American M4A3 Sherman tank, the M36 Jackson self-propelled gun, and the American M47 Patton tank.
The museum also houses a collection of aircraft, including the American F-84 Thunderjet and F-86 Sabre fighter-bombers, and the Soviet MiG-21 fighter-bomber. Visitors can also discover the interesting history of the TO-001 Gazelle helicopter, which played a role in the 1991 war.
Military Steam Locomotive 33-110
The largest and heaviest exhibit in the museum is located outside the exhibition halls. This German military steam locomotive was used during World War II to aid the advance of Nazi troops in the Balkans. Measuring nearly 23 meters in length and weighing approximately 95 tons, it is particularly important to the national technical heritage as it was the last steam locomotive in Slovenia used for regular rail traffic until 1978.
P-913 Zeta Sabotage Submarine
The 19-meter-long P-913 Zeta sabotage submarine is one of the exhibition’s most important exhibits. This submarine was built in 1980 in Split and was part of the Yugoslav submarine fleet protecting the Adriatic coast.
