The World at War

When soldiers of the US 16th Armoured Div arrived at the Pilsen air base in western Czechoslovakia on 6th May 1945, they found a perfectly intact Ju 87 G-2. This version of the Stuka was equipped with a flame suppressor for night operations and was specially developed for anti-tank operations, having a pair of Flak 1837mm cannons under its wings.

Canadian soldiers ofThe Queens Own Cameron Highlanders supported by a Sherman tank advance south of Hatten - Germany, April 1945

Women munitions workers guide shells moving along an overhead gantry at a factory in Chilwell, near Nottingham - England, July 1917. Over 500,000 a day were used at the Third Battle of Ypres.

A British Churchill AVRE fitted with a small Box girder (SBG) bridge designed to span gaps up to 30 feet wide - France 1944

German troops on the move - Eastern Front, July 1941

A German StuG III Ausf. F tries to cross an old railway bridge - Voronezh 1942

Royal Navy aircraft scramble as a German convoy is spotted in the Mediterranean - 1943

US soldiers keep watch for any signs of movement - Ardennes, Belgium, Dec 1944

Following on from Pearl Harbor on 7th Dec 1941, Japan swiftly moved to expand its territory across the Pacific. The Philippines, then a U.S. Commonwealth, was a strategic target due to its location and resources. The city fell on 2nd Jan 1942.

Assigned to the 307th Infantry Reg, 77th Infantry Div, he participated in the Pacific campaigns of Guam and Leyte before his defining actions at the Battle of Okinawa from April 29 to May 21, 1945. For this heroism saving 75 wounded soldiers at Hacksaw Ridge, Desmond Doss became the first conscientious objector awarded the Medal of Honour. He also earned the Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Purple Heart, and other commendations for valour and service. The film Hacksaw Ridge (2016) starring Andrew Garfield told of his heroism

Men of No4 Commando on the dock in Newhaven after returning from the raid on Dieppe - East Sussex, England 19th Aug 1942

German Me 262 A-1a/U3 (W.Nr. 170111) had a disastrous landing at Schwäbisch-Hall, Baden-Wurttenberg after its port engine failed on 1st Jan 1945. The unit commander, Oblt Herward Braunegg was at the controls.

British workers in a Ministry of Supply factory making a turret for a "Matilda" tank - England 1941

A British Matilda tank is pulled by a train from a Midlands factory bound for the Eastern Front as part of the Lend Lease agreement - 1941

British Churchill AVREs from the 79th Armoured Division with fascines and a Churchill bridgelayer are loaded onto a landing craft - Saxmundham, England, 28th Jan 1944. Credit : IWM H 35489

The US flag is raised on Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima on 23rd Feb 1945. This was actually the second flag raised after Marines realised that the first one was too small.