The Military Museum of the Republic of North Macedonia was established in 2006 as the first specialized national museum in the 28-century long military history of Macedonia, which manifests the independence of our country and the struggle for freedom and gaining state independence. The Military Museum was officially opened on 1 August 2006 at a location in the “Goce Delchev” barracks in the Municipality of Aerodrom. In order to bring the contents of the Military Museum closer to the general public and to enrich the cultural-historical offer for domestic and foreign visitors, the Military Museum was dislocated with a Government Decision in 2008 to the central city area under the Skopje Fortress Kale. The positioning of the Military Museum as a specialized national institution for military history research in Macedonia in the city centre enhances inter-departmental cooperation and adds to the contents presented on the monuments of eminent military leaders and ideologists of the Macedonian struggle for statehood and independence set up in the central city area, as well as the contents of the NI NI Museum of the Macedonian Struggle for Independence, the Archaeological Museum of the Republic of North Macedonia, the Holocaust Memorial Center for the Jews of Macedonia, The Museum and Tomb of Goce Delchev in the Holy savior church, the Museum of Macedonia, and other institutions in the area of culture, education and science located in the core of the most attractive tourist offers in the capital of the Republic of North Macedonia. The administrative premises and internal exhibition space of the Military Museum are located in the building of the Old Skopje Bazaar, which is jointly used by the National Institution Museum of North Macedonia, the National Conservation Centre of the Republic of North Macedonia and the Military Museum within the Ministry of Defence. The Military Museum uses the available capacity of the building which houses a Cinema Hall, a Souvenir Shop, the Central Depot, the Conservation Laboratories and the space for temporary exhibitions. In 2012, the Military Museum became a permanent member of the renowned International Network of Peace Museums based in The Hague, the Netherlands as the first and only national museum in the Balkans and the region of Southeast Europe together with the Nobel Peace Centre in Oslo, the International Red Cross Museum in Geneva and other world famous museums whose main mission is to promote world peace (link http://www.inmp.net). After entering the international network of museums for peace, the Military Museum was organizationally transformed into a Museum of Peace and Security-Defence Research within the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of North Macedonia. The Military Museum has so far been visited by a large number of kindergartens, primary and secondary schools and students, as well as foreign military delegations and numerous visitors from almost all over the world.
HISTORY OF FORMATION
- 1995-2005 Scientific-research and educational activity as part of the subjects Military History of Macedonia and Military History at the undergraduate studies and the subject Evolution of Warfare at the Command and Staff Academy of the Military Academy “General Mihailo Apostolski” in Skopje
- 1997 A Protocol on Cooperation in the Field of Military History, Military Archives, Military Museology and Military Publications was signed in Skopje between the General Staff of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia and the General Staff of the Army of the Republic of Turkey
- 1997 The greatest discovery in the field of military history of our country – Dr. Vanche Stojchev, as a member of a military delegation of the Ministry of Defence visiting the Military Museum of the Turkish Armed Forces in Istanbul unveiled the original specimen of the Cherry Ball used in the Ilinden Uprising in defence of Krushevo Republic in August 1903.
- 2000 The Ministry of Defence published for the first time in the history of Macedonia the book entitled “Military History of Macedonia” by Professor Dr. Vanche Stojchev, which received the state award “November 13” in the same year.
- 2002 A meeting and exchange of experiences with the US Army Center for Military History was held in Skopje.
- 2002 Participation of a representative of the Ministry of Defence in an international scientific symposium organized by the Consortium of the Partnership for Peace held in Sofia, Bulgaria, on the topic “European Military Policy from 1870-1914” with the paper “The Defence Policy in the Balkans and the Division of Macedonia in 1913 “.
- 2002 A delegation from the Ministry of Defence in the field of Military History had a meeting and conducted a scientific research at the Military History Service of the Army of the French Republic in Paris.
- 2003 On the occasion of the jubilee “100 anniversary of the Ilinden Uprising”, the Ministry of Defence organized the temporary reception and exhibition of the original copy of the “Cherry Ball” in Skopje and Krushevo. In the period from July to September 2003, the original Cherry Ball was the greatest attraction during the jubilee celebration and was seen by many citizens of our country and visitors from abroad. Today this valuable exhibit, in accordance with the strict international acts and domestic laws in R. Turkey that regulate museum activities is housed in the Military Museum in Istanbul.
- The Ministry of Defence supported financially the shooting of the documentary film about the Cherry Ball in cooperation with the Macedonian Radio and Television.
- 2003 At the Military Academy “General Mihailo Apostolski” in Skopje, a scientific debate was held on the occasion of “100th anniversary of the Ilinden Uprising” and the results of the scientific research project “Information Support for Teaching Military History” were presented. The guests of the Ministry of Defence from the Military History Service of the Army of the Republic of France also participated in the scientific Symposium organized at the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Ilinden Uprising.
- 2004 The Ministry of Defence translated and officially promoted the book “Military History of Macedonia” in English
- 2005 Expert team from the Ministry of Defence led by Colonel Prof. Dr. Vance Stojchev developed the project for the establishment of the Military Museum
- 28 June, 2006 Government Decision to open the Military Museum
- 1 August, 2006 The Military Museum was officially opened at the Goce Delchev barracks in Skopje, Municipality of Aerodrom.
MISSION
The Military Museum is an exceptionally important specialized national institution that:
– discovers, collects, researches, preserves and keeps objects, documents and other testimonies related to the Military History of Macedonia,
– organizes permanent and temporary exhibitions,
– organizes educational programs and events.
The main tasks of the Military Museum are as follows:
– affirmation of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia and the military past of the country
– education of the youth
– strengthening of the national awareness by unifying the citizens around the cultural heritage of the country.
ORGANIZATION
In accordance with the legal regulations and the internal organizational acts of the Ministry of Defence, the Military Museum is a specialized national museum within the Ministry of Defence.