Quick note: This museum came to life basically be cause of a single man. He had spent his entire life building up the largest private collection of WWI uniforms and trench art. When he died, he gave his entire collection to the city of Meaux which ended up with an entire warehouse full of his collection. And they decided to build a museum to display this collection, and then added more stuffs and it became the museum you see today. One of the best I've seen on WWI.

As a lover of museums, I'm so grateful when JD gives us tours of museums I'll probably never get to see. Even if it's an abbreviated tour, I thoroughly enjoy these walk-throughs and JD's commentary.

What a brilliant display of all the different soldiers "marching to war"!! My favorite part!!

Don't ever stop making videos! Your "pure heart" of wanting to present history with all its features (whether good, bad, or ugly) is very much appreciated by me. History is never as pretty as we want it to be, but that doesn't mean that we should ignore it or change it. Keep up the awesome work!

Hey JD, when you showed that "French 75" I was kind of surprised that you did not expand on it. It was perhaps the most successful artillery piece of the war and set the standard for modern field guns. It was the first to use a hydraulic-pneumatic piston recoil buffer and did not move hardly at all during repeated firing, unlike those big Krupp guns that would "roll recoil" back 10 yards every shot. It also has full "counter-recoil" mechanism to place the gun back into firing position after every shot. It also had the "Nordenfeldt" type breech mechanism, which uses a rotating block with a notch cut into one side. When rotated, the notch exposes the chamber so a round could be inserted, then the block was rotated back and closed. All these features made these amazing guns super quick and accurate to fire and a good crew could get 25-30 rounds per minute from these 3 inch cannons! Pretty amazing for a cannon designed in 1897! During development, the French military kept these guns a highly guarded secret especially how the recoil system worked. The French Army loaned several hundred of them to the USMC when they entered the battle on the Allied side late in the war. The USMC also loved their "French 75's". I think you could possibly do an episode covering these guns all by themselves! Jerry

I love the museum trips. They’re a great place to learn history in one spot and this one didn’t disappoint. Hope you’re feeling better. Keep taking it easy and thank you for putting out another great video.👍😊

Meaux is pronounced "Mo," as in what you do to your lawn. The letter combinations -eau and -eaux simply produce the sound "oh" like the letter o. Great work on this series. Very well done and appreciated!

Fun fact: most of the taxis used during the battle of the Marne were taxis owned by a company called G7. The G7 was founded and owned by the count André Walewski, great grandson of Napoléon... André fought during WWI, was wounded and received the Croix de Guerre medal.

That French light machine gun the might of had its faults but it was a huge step forward in mobile firepower. Check out Ian from Forgotten weapons shooting the thing. Love the series by the way!

Trench clubs were used in trench raids not official/traditional combat. A trench raid was undertaken in secret at night when a small group would slip into an opposing trench and silently kill and butcher the enemy. There was a large psychological element to the practise.

Pigeon wrangler was a term I didn't know that I needed in my life until now. Thanks for that! 😆 Thank you for this series. Its been amazing.

They really did a nice job showing the deeper history leading up to the war. The Franco-Prussian war was a whole other ballgame. The changes in the weaponry as the war progressed was also interesting. I would have liked to have seen more, but I understand the challenges of filming in a museum when everything is behind glass 😉

Hey JD, I'm a Canadian and been watching all videos from when you first started this channel. You going to be doing more WW1 videos outside of Verdun? Like the Somme, or Pachendale, or Vimy Ridge. You should do more on ww was just excellent to watch Verdun

Welcome back JD. Glad you came out of your recent illness for another great post. Sorry it ruined your Thanksgiving...

Love the museum visits JD, this series continues to be very good!

Wonderful video. Thanks for sharing your journey through France during WW1. I have learned and re-learned much about WW1 from your journeys. Keep up the good work.

I visited the ww1 museum in Meaux a few years back and was disappointed about the lack of British and British commonwealth displays on show (just a few uniforms) and not much mention of the British/ British empire of the time (India,Canada,Australia, New Zealand, Africa, only to mention a few) involvement, but they managed a whole display for the American army.

I visited this place with my aunt 11 years ago. Glad you got a chance to go in! Meaux has some significance in the 1918 fighting that involved the American Expeditionary force. I liked how they commemorated the war and its legacy. Definitely take the time to check out the Musee d'Armee in Paris if you ever get the chance! It's right up your alley and includes multiple eras of french history (as well as the tomb of Napoleon).

Hi JD just wanted to wish you and your family a very merry Christmas 🎅 when it comes round,and thank you for all that you do,I’ve watched you for a long time now and have learned so much,thanks again JD stay safe

I think those blue flowers we can see at the beginning, are cornflowers and this plant is symbolic for a number of reasons. It was adopted as the French symbol of war as was the poppy by the British Empire. It is known as the bleuet de France and represented the first conscripted soldiers who arrived on the front line and has been used in remembrance since the war.

so much incredible history in one place, awesome video JD

This video randomly came up in my auto-play, but man did I enjoy it. You're truly a gifted teacher/storyteller

Thanks J.D. for showing us this museum. I really appreciate this because I know that I will never make it to Europe. If I could, I would visit all these places.

That museum looks fantastic. Well thought out and put together. As a long-time sub to your channel, I can't tell you how many new entries you've been responsible for in populating my life's "bucket-list".

Nice video JD. I hope you are feeling better 👍🏼😎

What great displays this museum has. Of course, we have your excellent narration as well (really, really good), but, for example, displaying the uniforms in those narrow cases, at roughly your height, so that you are “marching” with them, tells you significantly more than just the uniforms identified in a case along a wall.

JD, I thoroughly enjoy your coverage of WW1. If you are ever in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, please visit the Museum of World War I (Bavarian Army Museum). So often we only look at one side of the conflict only, but this museum will show you the other side (without choosing sides). I can really recommend it.

What a treat to see this one , they have alot , the different uniforms were amazing , imagine what this collection is worth , as an only child , I grew up with a special friend who collected artifacts from all wars , he used to let me play with the different coats and caps , I have a special place in my heart for this kind of stuff

Really enjoyed the video mate can't wait for the next video

So pleased to find there is another WW1 museum besides the one in my neck of America. Maybe someday, should I ever go to Europe, I will visit it. Thank you for the video, man.

Ian McCollum is not gonna be happy with the Chauchat description I’m thinking.

I visited this museum a couple of times whilst living in France, I am so happy to see it again here. I highly recommend going to all those who can

This museum is amazing- I've been to the French Army museum and the Tomb of Napoleon, which is fantastic but It has nowhere near as much WW I artifacts. Thanks very much for that- I'll be seeing this museum on my return to France.

Thank you for you visit and your vidéo ! See you soon

Addendum at 7.16 minutes in the video. Although the Triple Alliance was a defensive military alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy, when the war started Italy declared neutrality; in 1915 it switched and joined the Triple Entente (Allies).

One thing we found out reenacting the First World War about the French "sky blue" uniforms the trousers and overcoats was that they at night especially moonlit nights it was very difficult "to see" the French soldiers/reenactors during any night time raid or attack so it was like a night time camouflage for the French side

Howdy JD hope you are well sir

Nice job, very well presented. Left me wanting more, much more. You really do present history such a way that it is relatable, not at all dry and makes the life of an ordinary soldier come to life. Thank you so much. I always await your next video with lots of anticipation.

Just discovered you, instant subscriber. Thanks

Excellent summation of the WWI museum. Can never get enough of WWI!

You called the Mauser a k98, that rifle is called a Gewer 98, the longer version of of the Gewer 98 AZ, which was predecessor to the K98K. Great video though!

This should be a Netflix series. Quality content.

What a fascinating museum seems to have a little of everything, and very well put together

No doubt someone else mentioned this, but your camera's "anti- flicker" will be set for North America's 60Hz electricity frequency. In much of the rest of the world, you need to select 50Hz in the menus...

Where, as humans, would we be if that truly was the War to END ALL WARS? Thank you Teach! Great video as always!

Thank you so much, JD! What an awesome museum. Appreciate everything on WWI videos. I had two great uncles who fought in France in WWI.

Wonder if the enemy had "pigeon snipers" to mess with communications! Thanks for putting this out while being sick! Very much appreciated! Feel better soon!

thanks you for the cool tour. i would love to visit it myself!

Your museum narration is really enjoyable, it almost like I'm standing there with you....

Thank you for bringing back memories of my visit to the museum in 2018.

I've been to this museum so many times, if anyone has a doubt about it being worth visiting: JUST DO IT

Always a pleasure to watch. Thank you for all you do

looks like a great museum to visit...learning stuff about WWI that i never knew in school except for the basis of why the war happened..thanks for filling in some gaps

So glad you're well again!

a little correction on the rifles you pointed out at 19:51 it is not the K98 as that would come later in 1933 but this one is the G98 which entered service in 1898

This is a great video! As a civil war lover I’m starting to really enjoy a lot of WW1 content now too… also I had to chuckle when you said “pigeon wrangler” lol!

The infantrymans shovel or spade with a serrated edge was usually carried by combat engineers od Sappers. Serrated edges were useless in trench combat, infantrymen on both sides would sharpen all ends so they can slash and cut their opponents in close quarters. Serrated spades were used as saws to make cuts into beams to make joints, during an assault in breaching operations this would have been used to saw down poles that supported barbed wire. Both sides knew this and started using metal stakes to hold barbed wire obstacles in place. Saw tooth bayonets and spades became obsolete for combat engineers but made it general issue for infantry since it was a useful tool constructing in trenches in newly acquired enemy trench positions.

I’m so dumb, started watching without really looking at the title and thought it was WW2 and was confused when yo talked about the assassination of the Archduke. Love the content as always man, stay safe!

You should visit Overloon (Holland) sometime. You also have Milletracks for German vehicles in Mai and one for allied vehicles in June around the museum.

Great video, your camera frame rate may need to be changed to either 25 frames or 50 frames per second to compensate for the flickering in Europe. Shutter speed could also be adjusted.

Another interesting video JD! I'm glad that I found this video, for whatever reason it was not on my feed...

Thanks JD for this visit. Those shells are pretty nasty looking. Worse are the trench clubs…can you imagine the thing of actually man to man combat where you either kill or are killed…speechless

Hope you’re feeling better! Great video! The museums are always interesting!

Yet ANOTHER Top Quality Video JD! You know, your getting pretty good at these things!

Hello, i'm french and live near Paris. i went to this museum a few weeks ago, ignoring it was purposely the biggest of its kind in Europe. Very nice collection of uniforms and diverse artifacts, some nicely rehabilitated vehicles. The little problem is that's its mainly focused on german / french front with only a few mentions or exemples from other fronts (turquey / Dardanelles, Eastfront, or arabian front). Anyway it's a nice spot if you're going to Paris for a few moment and if you've got time... and are found of WWI history of course. Good alternative to a visit of the landbattles, much farther. Notice that the museum is almost at the maximum point of advance of the german army in 1914. Thanks for this very good video (and yes, you pronounce just "MO" but with an "O" in the french style !).

C'est JF Coppé qui est à l'origine de ce musée, car une énorme collection privé menaçais d'être dispersé et donc la ville de Meaux à solutionné ce soucis en créant ce superbe musée que je recommande à tous.

As for the chauchat, the modified American version of if was garbage. THe french version worked as it was designed. It was a cheap, easily manufactured, automatic gun for rapide mass production. The soldier were trained to be careful with the magazine.

Great music soundtrack.

Sorgum bread. Used by several countries that suffered lack of food.

Now ihave seen this video i have to vistit this museum! A few years ago i was at Ypres (Belgium) and saw the endless rows of headstones of the fallen. seeing al those young lives lost is like being kicked by a mule in te guts. A good friend of me who has British ancentry broke down and cried when he found a missing family member named at the Menengate. We must never forget

Have a good week

JD. The Meaux is pronounced "MOW" you never cease to amaze me at the content of what you bring us, I could spend days in a museum not to mention meandering around all those battle fields. While you are over there I hope you get the chance to brings the battle of Belleau Wood.

Nice tour.... thanks.

Welcome back my bearded brutha.

Thanks so much, I reenact French WW1 with a twist. Being of Polish heritage I portray the small contingent of Polish troops who were foreign legion in 1914 15 and fought well but the the battle of Artois almost wiped them out. So they were disbanded. But when Joseoh Haller and any Poles in the KUK defected to the French, France decided to crown the eagle of their battle standard and equiped and uniformed them in 1917/18 typical late war issue gear. The 1st Polish army independent under the Polish crown and the original troops who survived the western front, plus US Canadian Polish x pats signed up and joined the French Polish army. Typically all French issue equipment uniform etc. I believe 10 Divisions were created and made a small contribution to France late war. After hostilities ceased this army were transported to Poland to defend the newly reinstated country to fight off the Soviet forces. It is Polands1st state army since Partition. Thanks Verdun what a horror. Thank you for filming the forts and fields today of Verdun. The French know how to hold on and fight!

Apparently museums do that with lighting on purpose to reduce quality of video photography. I could be wrong but I feel like I've heard it mentioned by others. Thanks again for the great content. Hope to run into you again at the Gettysburg museum.

Great video JD thanks for showing the museum very cool

Have you been to the Pacific War Museum in Fredericksburg, TX. It's amazing. Also the birth place of Chester Nimitz.

You have done an excellent job explaining things.

You pronounced Meaux the right way ;)

I was never notified about this latest video from JD. I found it by scrolling. I've been a subscriber for some time, this is poor service from KZfaq. Thankfully I'm here now, but no thanks to KZfaq! Great stuff as ever from JD.

A brilliant museum! More unusual than most but definitely worth a visit!

Hey JD... just pronounce it as Moe, just like Moe from Th Simpsons

Thanks for sharing your video

Great video 👏 I need to get to that museum at some point in the future!

Wow! Thank you for sharing this.

I gotta check this one out.

Excellent and most interesting video. Thanks for posting.

That was very interesting thank you.

Très intéressant merci pour la belle visite.

Very good. Thank you.

Always a Great vlog. Nice work, Thanks for your wonderful effort. 😮😮

Thank you very much for the tour sir !!!

19:06 Frent introduced Gas as a weapon in WW1 in 1914. They used teargas against the Germans. Germans introduced Poisongas in 1915. Not an excuse, more a fact. 19:47 This is not a Mauser Kar98 but a Gewehr 98.

Visited this museum in 2014 - great place.

Hope you get better soon.

I see a few others have mentioned Vimy Ridge - the museum there is very well done, worth the trip to see. As I understand it Hitler appreciated the monument at Vimy and ordered that it not be damaged....I don't know if that is true or not, but it is amazing to see in person.

Totally fascinating

It's a superb museum, been visiting since it first opened. Another great video!

Although the Chauchat wasn’t perfect it was far from being junk. The US version really didn’t help with the reputation of the gun. The .30 US just was too powerful a round for a gun that was designed for a round that was initially a black powder round. The French built these guns pretty much hand fitting each part, so you just couldn’t replace worn or broken parts in the field. The odd semi-circular magazine is a product of the odd shaped 8mm Lebel round. If you get a chance, read “Honor Bound” . It is the history of the Chauchat. There were many awards given to the French Chauchat MG teams that cleared many a German trench. After WWI the Chauchat was adopted by quite a few European countries all the way to WWII.