Worthless Money

Between WWI and WWII, Germany suffered from extreme hyperinflation because of the debts they had to pay due to the destruction in the previous war. Money became completely worthless.

Hermann Goering’s Collection

During the Nazis’ rampant campaign to dominate Europe, they allowed themselves to loot art galleries. Here, the Allies had just uncovered a large cache of stolen art pieces and artifacts that “belonged” to Nazi officer Hermann Goering.

Seeing The Truth

British and American soldiers made it their duty to reveal to German soldiers and civilians the atrocities that took place at Nazi concentration camps. German servicemen watched videos that their fellow soldiers had recorded. Many couldn’t control their emotions as they saw the disturbing images of the Holocaust.

The Dictator

When Hitler realized the city of Berlin was going to fall, he made a call-up of reserve soldiers. He didn’t take part in the fighting, instead, Hitler married his mistress and then they both committed suicide in his bunker. This young German boy has just been captured by the Allies and he suddenly bursts into tears.

Saving Civilians

The Japanese population had been brainwashed by mass propaganda campaigns. The propaganda told them that the Americans were cruel and violent. This rare image shows an American soldier helping a Japanese woman and her baby from their hiding place.

Reversing The Roles

When the Allies liberated the concentration camps, they couldn’t believe their eyes. This Jewish death camp survivor finally has the upper hand on his former captor. Even though the Allies managed to rescue camp inmates, many of them continued to die due to disease and malnutrition.

Hungarian Mini Tanks

During wartime, technology is always pushed to its limits since there’s always a need for new advanced weapons. Hungary put their effort into developing this “mini-tank”, but it would turn out to be ineffective.

Homeless Japanese Citizens

After America dropped two bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, life changed in Japan forever. WWII officially came to an end, but the suffering of a civilian population had only just begun. These homeless Japanese men attempt to rebuild their lives with whatever they can.

Hitler’s Retreat

Hitler was a lover of all things new and fancy. One of those things that he loved so much can be seen hereafter it had been attacked by American bomber planes. The famous estate in the Berchtesgaden hills doesn’t look anything like it did before the bombing.

Female Tank Commander

War hero Aleksandra Samusenko displayed incredible bravery. She was a Soviet tank commander and is best known for maneuvering her tank crew out of a deadly ambush while fighting in the Battle of Kursk. Sadly she was killed before she got to celebrate the end of WWII.

Close Kamikaze Call

Kamikaze attacks were a frightening reality for those fighting in the Pacific. However, Kamikaze pilots were not nearly as successful as they wanted to be. Most historians agree that about 19% of Kamikaze attacks were successful. This Japanese pilot attempted to pull off a deadly attack but he was shot out by naval forces.

Strange Tactics

This image immediately makes you wonder what these German soldiers are doing with a bear. But the truth is that it is a bear costume and the fascination with bears was quite common among German soldiers. It might also be that this is some sort of war tactic we’ve never heard of.

Can’t Destroy His Spirit

The man the Nazis are pointing their rifles at is Georges Blind. He was a member of the French Resistance and living up to his resistance ideology, he resisted until his final moment. His smile could not be erased even in a frightening moment like this.

Burning The Belsen Concentration Camp

The British and American armies couldn’t believe their eyes when they liberated the Nazi concentration camps. This specific camp of Bergen-Belsen was burned after a British general ordered his soldiers to do so. The camp was infested with disease due to poor sanitation.

A Moment’s Silence

With all but peace around them, two US Marine Corps soldiers take a moment to relax. Moments like these during WWII were rare as soldiers were constantly being moved from place to place.

Belgian Beer

On February 4th, 1945, the Allies successfully liberated Belgium from Axis occupation. This picture shows Canadian soldiers relishing in the afterglow of their success with local Belgian beer in hand.

Burying The Dead

American soldiers were quite taken aback when they discovered this anonymous American’s grave. What they came to realize was that he had been buried by the enemy. The Americans then lay a makeshift wreath over his burial site.

D-Day Scenes

One of the most challenging days for the Allied armies was D-Day. It took 156,000 Allied soldiers to storm the beaches of France and liberate the country. This photo was taken after the Allies successfully captured the surrendered German soldiers.

Feeding Polar Bears

Freezing cold weather was no barrier for the Soviets during World War II. In fact, it was the Germans who suffered in the cold while they battled to take over Russia. Here you can see Soviet tank soldiers feeding polar bears from their tank.

Flight Photographers

Many photographs of World War II were snapped in black-and-white, but there were those that were shot in color. Years after the war had ended, many pictures were colorized. These photographers pose before climbing aboard different aircraft to capture some of the most epic moments of the Second World War.

German POWs

The Japanese and the Germans were known to be severely harsh with their prisoners. This picture, which was taken on August 21st, 1944, shows hundreds of German POWs in Nonant-le-Pin, France.

Germany’s Railway Gun

The enormous Schwerer Gustav railway artillery gun was intended to destroy France’s strongest and most important forts on the French Maginot Line. It weighed 1,350 tons, traveled on railway tracks, and was capable of firing at targets as far as 29 miles away. There was a downside though – it could only fire one shell every 30 to 45 minutes.

The Railway Gun Captured

Proud American soldiers climb on top of and pose with the Schwerer Gustav artillery gun. This was definitely Nazi Germany’s largest gun, but it wasn’t the maximum extent of their drive to find new, innovative, and bizarre weaponry.

Getting Fit

Over a year before the tragedy of Pearl Harbor occurred, the United States initiated the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940. This act required all men from ages 18 to 45 to register for the military draft. This act marked America’s first draft during peacetime.

Having Fun

The United States didn’t join the fight in World War II until 1941. The Americans brought a fresh fighting spirit to the war, and they also brought high spirits. These seamen enjoy some light time while aboard a Navy vessel.

Hitler In Paris

When the Nazis marched into France, it gave them an opportunity to use major French monuments for their propaganda campaign. Hitler is seen here accompanied by other high-ranking officials as they walk together in Paris. Ironically, Hitler only spent about three hours in Paris, even though he claimed it was one of the most beautiful cities he had ever seen.

Napping Kitten

Whoever said you can’t have a pet while you’re in the middle of a war? These sailors certainly proved that wrong when they cared for this young kitten. They even created a bed of sorts for their new pet.

Overcome With Anguish

When the French population realized that the Nazis had overrun their army, they were in shock. This Parisian man weeps with despair as he understands that his beloved hometown of Paris will be under Nazi control.

Pearl Harbor

In order to secure a stronghold in the Pacific Ocean, Japanese bombers attacked Pearl Harbor, an American naval base in Hawaiian Territory. The December 7th attack claimed the lives of 2,335 Americans and brought the United States into the war in 1941.

Remote Controlled Tanks

As German weapon manufacture and technology advanced, some projects were successful whereas others were not. These miniature tanks are an example of a failed German weapons test. The tanks were supposed to drive via remote control into enemy territory and then explode. The tanks were slow, expensive, and ultimately ineffective.

Rescued

The Nazi extermination machine was active up until the very last moments of World War II. Allied soldiers rescued hundreds of people who were on their way to their deaths. Here you can see Jewish women and children coming out of a train that was taking them to their execution.

Safe Children

During 1940 and 1941, the German Air Force, the Luftwaffe conducted bombing raids on Great Britain called “The Blitz”. British concerns were that the Germans would start bombing with poisonous gas and gas masks were then distributed to everyone – children included.

The Australians

Since Australia was part of the British Empire during World War II, approximately 1 million men and women joined the fight against Nazi Germany. They fought in Africa, Europe, and the Mediterranean, and in this photo, you can see the Australians using their sense of humor with this sign at the El Alamein road.

The Colonel

Col. Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle was a hand-to-hand combat expert and he trained soldiers during the First and Second World Wars. A story goes that the colonel instructed a group of Marines to kill him with their bayonets just so he could disarm them all. He did.

Time To Nap

Heavy bombings of German and English cities were common in the Second World War. An example of the joint effort between America and Britain was the bombing of the city of Dresden which claimed the lives of more than 20,000 people. This RAF pilot rests between flying missions.

Unlikely Allies

At the start of the war, Russia and Nazi Germany had a pact that would prevent them from going to war with each other. That pact was broken when Germany broke their treaty and attacked Germany. That attack would eventually lead Russia to side with the Allies. Here we see a Russian soldier and an American soldier together.

War Umbrellas

This is a quirky picture of tank soldiers using umbrellas to protect themselves from the rain. They’re in the middle of a war and their need to keep themselves dry from the rain just seems so ironic.

Airborne

The 295th Squadron of the Royal Air Force was created on August 3rd, 1942. Originally this unit was tasked with dropping leaflets into France during the war. This photo was taken in October 1942.

After Effects

This very disturbing photo was taken in 1948. This young girl survived the atrocities of the Holocaust and lived in a concentration. Here she draws her own depiction of “home” in a home for disturbed youths.

Approaching Omaha Beach

We can only imagine what these soldiers are feeling as they wait to exit onto the shores of Omaha Beach. The attacks of D-Day were one of the deadliest and more than 10,000 Allied soldiers died there, some before they had even disembarked from their boats.

Arming The Planes

Originally the Women’s Royal Navy Service (WRNS) was created in 1917 and then disbanded in 1919. In 1939 the unit came back to life when Britain was in dire need. You can see these women rearming a plane before it heads out to perform attack missions.

Avid Readers

With the nightly bombing of British cities, English locals quickly became accustomed to the “Blitz”. These book enthusiasts don’t seem fazed by the fact that this library has just been destroyed.

Battle Of Iwo Jima

This photograph would soon become a symbol of the American victory in the Pacific. American soldiers joined together to raise the American flag atop Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima island. The Japanese troops had dug themselves into deep forts in the mountain, making it almost impossible to penetrate them.

Celebrating In Moscow

Celebrations run wild in the Soviet capital, Moscow. Here Red Square is lit up by fireworks and lively celebrations, marking the end of a costly war. Russia lost the most civilians and soldiers out of all the countries involved in World War II.

Dodging The Sniper

German snipers were known for their masterful skills. Here you can see a U.S. Sherman tank providing cover for soldiers as they run for cover under the fire of a German sniper.

Exhausted

After more than two days of intensive fighting, these American soldiers finally catch a moment to drink a cup of coffee. The soldiers were exhausted from not having slept or eaten during the fighting.

Flying Over Egypt

North Africa played an important role in World War II. This campaign was largely led by the Germans, Italians, and Libyans who faced a large Commonwealth coalition force that fought them for almost three years. This breathtaking image shows an Allied plane taking flight above the Pyramids in Egypt.

Hitler’s Death

On April 30th, Adolf Hitler committed suicide by shooting himself. Not long before he married his mistress, Eva Braun, and she too killed herself but by drinking cyanide. His death was actually mourned by the German embassy in Sweden, lowering their flag to half-mast.

Haircuts In The Desert

As part of the Commonwealth coalition force that fought for Great Britain, Canadian soldiers were sent to fight in North Africa. A Canadian pilot gets quite an unconventional barber experience in the middle of the Tunisian desert.

Iconic Leader

The Russians were the only ones to be able to fight off the Nazi invasion tactic of “Blitzkrieg”. While all other armies failed to fight the Nazis, the Russians managed to hold them back from entering Moscow, but not for a cheap cost. This Russian lieutenant leads his men into battle with courage and encouragement.

Inflatable Tanks

World War II was the drawing board for some outrageous war tactics – some worked, and some didn’t. This one did. The American Army created a phony unit that was tasked with creating inflatable tanks, fake uniforms with fake insignia, and even trucks with massive speakers that played the sound of tanks traveling in order to fool the Germans while an actual unit attacked from another place.

Left Behind

The lengths that the Nazis went to are sometimes incomprehensible. Aside from killing millions of Jews and others, they also stole their possessions. Thousands of wedding rings stolen from Jewish victims can be seen piled up here.

NYC Celebrations

From the start of World War II, Americans wanted to remain isolated and not get involved in the war across the Atlantic. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, many changed their minds. This is New York City after the city erupted in celebrations after the war ended.

Queen Elizabeth

The mindset in Britain was that it was every citizen’s duty to get involved in the war effort. Young Queen Elizabeth II was no exception and she took it upon herself to become a mechanic and a driver during the war.

“Rip” The Rescue Dog

When we say that every citizen was responsible for aiding Britain, perhaps it’s important to mention that some of those citizens might not have been people. This rescue dog, “Rip”, was an important helper in locating bombing raid victims.

Star Struck

This is what the aftermath of a German artillery shelling looks like. American soldiers recover after the attack in their tent which has been littered with burned holes.

Sweethearts

These Dutch children accompany Allied soldiers to a traditional dance ceremony. Even though Holland declared its neutrality at the beginning of World War II, the Germans still invaded and occupied the land on May 10th, 1940.

Taking Cover

The Germans weren’t peaceful in their occupation of The Netherlands, as we can see in this photograph. Citizens of Amsterdam try in vain to take cover from the fire of German soldiers.

The Eagle’s Nest

Hitler’s most prized estate was his “Eagle’s Nest” in southern Germany. It was here where he hosted top Nazi generals and his mistress. American soldiers lounge on the balcony of the estate, happy to have ousted the dictator.

The Protector

This very powerful image shows a Muslim woman protecting a Jewish woman by covering her Star of David. Jews were forced to wear the Star of David in public, allowing all to see that they were Jewish.

Young Scout

World War II caused the conscription of many soldiers, even if they were very young or very old. Serving as a scout for the Red Army, this 15-year-old boy has more responsibility than he would have ever imagined.

Post-D-Day

Even though the breaching of the five beaches on D-Day was an eventual success for the Allies, it would also become a day that lived in infamy in the minds and memories of the soldiers who fought there.

Disbelief

In the beginning, America was only involved in World War II by sending arms and ammunition to Britain. But after the attack on Pearl Harbor caught them off-guard, the deal was made. U.S. sailors can’t believe what they’re seeing, looking out on the USS Shaw in flames.

Hell On Earth

The Allied breach of Omaha Beach on June 6th, 1944, was actually delayed by one day due to bad weather. This image shows a hardly-improved weather scenario for the day of the massive attack. If hell looked like anything on Earth, perhaps it would be like this.

Fighting The Flames

Firefighters battle the blaze after a Luftwaffe air raid on London. The way both sides bombed each other’s cities was extensive and completely destructive. Some cities were bombed out of recognition.

Messages To The Enemies

Sending “gifts” to Hitler and the Nazis was a common occurrence. All at once the Soviets and the Americans had a common enemy, making them allies that would only last until the end of World War II.

Crash Landing

Landing aircraft on an aircraft carrier in the middle of the ocean isn’t an easy task. Ensign Byron M. Johnson incredibly manage to escape safely from his plane while crash landing on the USS Enterprise on November 2nd, 1943.

Getting The Talk

Some of the tensest and most stressful days of World War II were those coming up to the Normandy invasion. American General Dwight D. Eisenhower briefs paratroopers before the mission, making sure that they feel confident and encouraged.

Doing The Haka

Soldiers from all the British colonies were called up to fight against the Axis Powers. Some of those soldiers were from the Māori Tribe in New Zealand. These soldiers can be seen performing the traditional war dance, the “haka”.

Realizing Defeat

The Battle of Kursk between Russia and Germany was the turning point of the war in the east. This German artillery soldier is coming to terms with the fact that his army had been defeated and that he would become a prisoner of war.