World War II involved almost every part of the planet and lasted from 1939-1945. The main participants were the Allies: France, Great Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union and to a lesser extent, China. The Axis powers were Germany, Italy and Japan. This war saw unspeakable horrors and events unfold as well as touching acts of humanity. In here, you’ll see examples of both. Be warned, some of the images might be disturbing or offensive.
1. Target Practice
Target practice. . .on prisoners of war.
2. Enough!
The toll a battle can take can be too much for one human to bear.
3. Deafening
4. Saving The Innocent
U.S. marines help an infant after the Battle of Saipan.
5. Running Into Hell
Leaving the landing craft to trudge through the surf under constant Nazi fire. Two-thirds of the men did not survive the invasion of Normandy Beach.
6. Bombing Run
Carnage looks artistic from up high.
7. Suicide By Cyanide
The Deputy Mayor of the German town, Leipzig, Ernst Lisso, his wife and their daughter all opted for cyanide over capture by the approaching American soldiers.
8. Charging Guadalcanal
9. The Battle Of Britain
As German bombs land during The Battle of Britain, school children cower.
10. A Night In The Tube
Adults seek shelter on the tracks in London’s tube during the German bombing attacks.
11. One Bomb
The aftermath of an overnight German air raid on London.
12. The Battle Of Midway
The Battle of Midway from high above the North Pacific.
13. Blown Apart
Horrifying final moments.
14. Bombs Away
The Royal Air Force bombs German occupied Abbeville Aerodrome in France.
15. The Battle Of Kursk
During the Battle of Kursk, Red Army soldiers lie entrenched as one of their T-34 tanks pass overhead.
16. Improvising
With no anti-aircraft equipment available, these soldiers take aim themselves
17. Kindness
Humanity in hell. A German soldier shares his food with a starving Russian mother and her child.
18. Tough Stand
During Operation Bagration, this injured Russian stands at his post as soldiers fire howitzers to clear German forces from eastern Poland.
19. Laughing Down A Firing Squad
Georges Blind survived the German firing squad, meant to scare information out of him, and was sent to a concentration camp where he did not survive a day.
20. Long Night
Anti-aircraft fire over Algiers during a Nazi air raid.
21. Impressive Gaze
Staring down dreaded Heinrich Himmler, the architect of evil.
22. Helping Hands
U.S. Marines help an elderly citizen away from the Battle of Okinawa.
23. Over Hiroshima
Taken one hour after “Little Boy” blew up, devastating Hiroshima.
24. Hiroshima, Afterwards
Utter devastation.
25. Nagasaki
The atomic cloud from “Fat Man,” the bomb that destroyed Nagasaki and essentially took Japan out of the war.
26. Nagasaki, Afterwards
Pictured here is the area that was the industrial heart of Nagasaki before the bomb.