A new World War II exhibit will open Saturday, March 23, at the 6th Cavalry Museum in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, in partnership with the University of North Georgia and Battlefield Archaeology. Opening day festivities will take place from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the museum.
The exhibit, "History Unearthed - The Six Battles of Kurland," features excavated German and Russian artifacts from World War II's Eastern Front. The vast majority of the artifacts come from the Baltic States, primarily the area of Latvia, known as the Kurland Pocket. It was there that the war in Europe finally ended.
Museum designer Mike Criscillis works with Dr. Steven Nicklas, anthropology/archaeology professor at the University of North Georgia, to arrange German artifacts for the new exhibit. / 6th Cavalry Museum contributed photoTo put the significance of the six battles of Kurland in perspective: On multiple occasions the Soviets lost more men in a single engagement than the United States lost in the entire war.
Battlefield archaeology is a diverse sub-discipline of traditional archaeology. Its goal is to develop a better understanding of ancient and modern military battlefields, the participants who fought on them and the artifacts they left behind.
Assorted Russian and German artifacts wait to be placed on display. / 6th Cavalry Museum contributed photoDr. Steven Nicklas teaches battlefield archaeology at the University of North Georgia, and the artifacts on display are part of his private collection.
Mike Criscillis, museum consultant at Caswell Partners Inc., is a retired military museum director who brought the idea of a permanent exhibit to the 6th Cavalry Museum a year ago.
"Mike has been a good friend to the museum and saw the partnership as a way to have a new exhibit that no one in the region offers," says Chris McKeever, 6th Cavalry Museum director. "The fact that this world-class exhibit ties to the schools through science, technology, engineering, math is a huge bonus."
To highlight the exhibit's opening day, the public is invited to join Nicklas for a behind-the-scenes look at the collection, how the archaeological dig was conducted and the historical importance of the Kurland Pocket battles in winning the Second World War.
His presentations will be held at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. with free admission to the museum.
For more information: 706-861-2860.
‘Keep Your Powder Dry’ screening Saturday
The Sixth Cavalry Museum is sponsoring a free screening of the 1945 movie starring Lana Turner, “Keep Your Powder Dry,” on Saturday, March 23, at Liberty Baptist Church, 2 Harker Road, Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. Show time is 4:30 p.m.The movie about the Women’s Army Corps during World War II was filmed in Fort Oglethorpe and Chattanooga. It includes scenes of Barnhardt Circle, the parade field and Post buildings on the museum’s grounds. Members of the 1st WAC Battalion will attend the screening in full dress uniform.For more information: 706-861-2860.- Staff Report