THE WWII MUSEUM OF LAHIJAN
THE FIRST AND ONLY WW2 MUSEUM IN IRAN
About the Museum
The WWII Vanguard Museum of Lahijan was established in 2017 as a private collection focusing on WWII artifacts and serving as an educational center for WWII history.
The collection has been curated by Caren J. Omidi from various locations worldwide and displayed in different rooms within an old office building. Each room is designed to represent a specific theater of the Second World War.
When discussing World War II, familiar battles like the Battle of Normandy, Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands, the Battle of the Bulge, the Battle of Stalingrad in the Soviet Union, and the Battle of Iwo Jima in the Pacific often come to mind. However, the role of Iran in this global conflict is often overlooked. In August 1941, Anglo-Soviet forces launched an invasion of Iran to secure a strategic pathway for sending military aid to the Soviet Union. Subsequently, the US established the Persian Gulf Command to facilitate the delivery of lend-lease assistance to the Soviet Union through the Persian corridor. In 1943, the leaders of the three main Allied nations, including FDR from the USA, Churchill from the UK, and Stalin from the USSR, convened for the Tehran Conference. Located in the province of Gilan, beside the Caspian shores, Lahijan is renowned for its agriculture and forests. Amidst these natural attractions, the WWII Vanguard Museum stands as a unique site dedicated to preserving the history of World War II in Iran. Despite being bombed and occupied by the Soviet Union during the war, Lahijan now hosts the first and only WWII museum in Iran. Established in 2017, the museum was meticulously curated by Caren Omidi, who collected artifacts from various nations, including France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, the US, the Czech Republic, and Italy. Additionally, newspapers and documents were sourced locally in Iran. Since its official opening to the public in May 2021, the museum has become a vital resource for understanding Iran's involvement in World War II.
Visiting Hours: Monday–Friday, 11:00 AM–6:00 PM
Address: Abshar 1, Ghasab Mahalleh, Langarud–Lahijan Road, Lahijan, Gilan Province, Iran
ساعات بازدید: دوشنبه تا جمعه، ساعت ۱۱:۰۰ تا ۱۸:۰۰
نشانی: استان گیلان، لاهیجان، جاده لنگرود–لاهیجان، قصابمحله، آبشار ۱
شماره تماس:09112886198
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Educating students is one of the primary missions of The WW2 Museum of Lahijan. Each month, groups of students ranging from primary schools to universities visit the museum to delve into the history of World War II.
The WWII Vanguard Museum of Lahijan
Room of the Axis Powers
Room of the Allied Powers
The Iran room
The Gun Room
The Soviet Room
The Projector Room
The Gun Room
The Museum's building
This U.S. Army Staff Sergeant represents the American soldier of the late Second World War, wearing the M1943 field uniform, introduced in 1943 to provide a practical, durable, and weather-resistant combat outfit. Its olive-drab jacket featured four spacious pockets and a detachable hood, while the U.S. Army expanded across multiple theaters of war, playing a decisive role in the Allied victories of 1944–1945.
The M1941 field jacket, worn with olive-drab wool trousers, was a standard U.S. Army field uniform during the early years of American involvement in World War II. It was widely used by American soldiers in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and the European theater, before being increasingly supplemented by newer field clothing as the war progressed.
The M1942 jump uniform was designed specifically for U.S. Army paratroopers, featuring large pockets for carrying essential combat equipment and distinctive high-lacing jump boots. During Operation Husky in Sicily in July 1943, American airborne troops wore the original, unreinforced version, which proved vulnerable to tearing during combat operations.
The dark-blue uniform represents the traditional dress of enlisted personnel in the United States Navy during World War II. Navy blue wool clothing was commonly worn in colder weather and for service duties, while sailors wore different working uniforms and lighter clothing depending on their assignment and the climate.
Before the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944, U.S. Army paratroopers received reinforced M1942 uniforms with additional canvas patches at high-wear areas, including the elbows, knees, and pockets. Designed to withstand the demands of airborne operations, these uniforms were worn by American paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions during the D-Day invasion.
The U.S. Army Melton wool overcoat was a heavy, double-breasted olive-drab coat designed to provide warmth during cold-weather service. During the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944–1945, American soldiers wore these overcoats in the freezing conditions of Belgium and Luxembourg.
The U.S. Army’s Herringbone Twill (HBT) uniform was made from durable cotton fabric with a distinctive V-shaped weave, originally intended as a work and fatigue uniform. Its lightweight construction made it useful for training, maintenance duties, and, in some circumstances, combat, particularly in warmer climates and during the summer months.
This uniform represents a U.S. Army officer wearing a khaki service shirt and coat, used primarily for warm-weather service and formal or garrison duties. Officers served in every major theater of the war, leading American forces from North Africa and Italy to the liberation of Western Europe.
The 'Market Garden' plan employed all three divisions of First Allied Airborne Army. The US 101st Division was ordered to capture Eindhoven, and bridges over the canals and rivers north of the town.
American 101st Airborne paratrooper in a class-A uniform in an English pub 1944
French nurse early war years 1940
American MP 1945 in the occupation of Germany
Iranian soldier August 1941.
US Army Sergeant in The Persian Gulf Command in Iran
The WW2 Memorial
US Army WW2 checkpoint in the museum's front yard
WW2 German Stahlhelm
US M1 Helmet found in Bastogne
French WW2 kepi hat for artillery officers
Original uniforms from the Allies during WW2
Iranian soldiers training with a machine gun 1930s
British Brodie helmet
"Vive les Allies" from VE day 1945 in France
Photo of two Iranian soldiers in the 1930s
A Persian Gulf Command shoulder patch—handmade by a local Iranian during World War II.
The Persian Gulf Command of the US cup with a map of Iran
Rommel's Afrika Korps figures 1941-1943
World War II–era Iranian gas mask
