The Search for Heinrich Himmler's Death Mask

London. A place I have visited countless times. Although I have a keen interest in History, I have successfully managed to evade visiting any of the museums there properly. Four of us decided to make a point out of visiting them over the period of a couple of months.

My Girlfriend was keen to visit the Science Museum first but the rest of us soon put an end to that silly idea as we had found out that the Imperial War Museum (IWM) had Heinrich Himler's  death mask on display. She eventually gave in and the words "Heinrich Himmler's death mask" were thrown around in conversation an awful lot in the weeks leading up to this trip.

We arrived and it was pissing down as always. We had our bags checked at the door for bombs, guns and sharp objects so we could safely enter the museum to see their collection of bombs, guns and sharp objects.

Tube selfie.

The atrium of the building is pretty impressive. The ceiling has airplanes hanging from it with wires. It's like some rich kid wasn't satisfied with Airfix models and wanted the real things instead. I don't think I have ever seen a Spitfire that close before.

Something else that I was keen to see is one of the two original Eagle's that sat atop the Reich Chancellery in Berlin. Taken by the Russians after the Battle of Berlin and ended up in the London museum. There are a couple of chunks missing out of it from when it got caught up in the battle also. Very impressive thing.

If I could have gotten this back on the MegaBus, I would have taken it. 

A used Zyclone B canister sat unassumingly in a display case, the contents of which was probably responsible for the death of a room full of people in Auschwitz's gas chambers.

Used Zyclone B canister.

After seeing all these things, with one eye on them and the other scanning the room for the death mask. Everywhere we thought it may be, we were wrong. I did something I hate doing in any situation. I asked for help.

The enthusiastic museum employee told me that the mask was removed some time ago and they hadn't updated the website yet.

Brilliant.

By no means a wasted trip. The museum is very impressive and always worth a visit.
We have since also been to the Science Museum. I know what you're thinking, we went all the way there and there was no 'Science' as advertised on the website. Well, you thought wrong. There was plenty.

Battle damaged Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero.