In May of 1945, Pilsen became one of the few Czech cities to be liberated by the American army toward the end of the Second World War. Patton Memorial Pilsen is the only museum in the Czech Republic that is dedicated to the journey of the allied forces from the Normandy landings to West Bohemia. An array of original artefacts and veterans’ personal items are on display here.
Opening times
Wednesday–Sunday
9:00–16:00
You may arrange a tour at a time not included in the normal opening hours by contacting the museum curator (info@patton-memorial.cz).
Commentated tours for groups and school field trips can also be booked (panuskova@plzen.eu).
Admission
Adults CZK 100
Children, students and seniors CZK 70
Families CZK 200
Public transport
Address
Pobřežní 10
301 00 Pilsen
New exposition: From Normandy to Pilsen
This new exposition was opened in June 2019 during the 75th anniversary of the allied forces landing at Normandy. The exposition is not only dedicated to the liberation of West Bohemia, as it also maps the entire progress of the American soldiers from the Normandy landing to the Battle of the Bulge, and ends with the residency of US units in the Pilsen Region. Newly on display are artefacts direct from the battlefields as well as an entire series of never-before-seen exhibits and displays.
The curators of the new exposition have expanded it with items found at actual battle locations. When embarking on a tour of Patton Memorial Pilsen you will see, for example, a bayonet from an M1 Garand and soldiers’ field kitchenware and ammunition from the Omaha beach at Normandy. Part of the display also includes a so-called “Czech Hedgehog” (a static anti-tank obstacle), originally part of the pre-war Czechoslovakian fortifications, later to be used iupon construction of the Atlantic Wall in northern France after the German occupation.
Gifts from veterans
The museum received a large range of artefacts as a gift from veterans and their families. Among the most valuable are the personal items of the legendary General Patton, whose grandson, George Patton Waters, regularly travels to Pilsen for the Liberation Festival. Here you will also see the original army beret worn by this commander of the US Third Army.
