World War II

Pearl Harbor, D-Day, the home front and the liberation of the Netherlands, in wartime photographs, posters and newsreel clips. Every work here is public domain, free to use in a documentary, video essay or book with no licence fee.

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Photograph of USS Arizona Exploding Fiercely at Pearl Harbor after Japanese Attack — U.S. Navy — 1941

Photograph of USS Arizona Exploding Fiercely at Pearl Harbor after Japanese AttackU.S. Navy · 1941

Photograph of Damage at NAS Pearl Harbor after Japanese Attack — U.S. Navy — 1941

Photograph of Damage at NAS Pearl Harbor after Japanese AttackU.S. Navy · 1941

Labor Day poster. Labor Day poster distributed to war plants and labor organizations. The original is twenty-eight and one-half inches by forty inches and is printed in full color. It was designed by the Office of War Information (OWI) from a photograph especially arranged by Anton Bruehl, well-know — United States. Office Of War Information — 1942-01-01

Labor Day poster. Labor Day poster distributed to war plants and labor organizations. The original is twenty-eight and one-half inches by forty inches and is printed in full color. It was designed by the Office of War Information (OWI) from a photograph especially arranged by Anton Bruehl, well-knowUnited States. Office Of War Information · 1942-01-01

People Joyfully Hugging and Laughing — 1945

Film People Joyfully Hugging and LaughingUnknown maker · 1945

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. A small boat rescues a seaman from the 31,800 ton USS West Virginia burning in the foreground. Smoke rolling out amidships shows where the most extensive damage occurred. Note the two men in the superstructure. The USS Tennessee is inboard — 1941-01-01

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. A small boat rescues a seaman from the 31,800 ton USS West Virginia burning in the foreground. Smoke rolling out amidships shows where the most extensive damage occurred. Note the two men in the superstructure. The USS Tennessee is inboardUnknown maker · 1941-01-01

Captured Japanese Photograph Taken during the Attack on Pearl Harbor — U.S. Navy — 1941

Captured Japanese Photograph Taken during the Attack on Pearl HarborU.S. Navy · 1941

De Land pool. Aircraft construction class. Women are being trained along with men in the Volusia County, Florida Vocational School to take their places on the war production front. Pearl Kinchen, who is leaning overhead welding under the watchful eye of instructor, is a housewife with a brother in t — United States. Office Of War Information, Hollem, Howard R. — 1942-01-01

De Land pool. Aircraft construction class. Women are being trained along with men in the Volusia County, Florida Vocational School to take their places on the war production front. Pearl Kinchen, who is leaning overhead welding under the watchful eye of instructor, is a housewife with a brother in tUnited States. Office Of War Information, Hollem, Howard R. · 1942-01-01

Photograph of American Troops Loading into LSIs in Britain for the Normandy Invasion — U.S. Army Signal Corps — 1944

Photograph of American Troops Loading into LSIs in Britain for the Normandy InvasionU.S. Army Signal Corps · 1944

"We Can Do It!" — Westinghouse Electric Corporation — ca 1942

"We Can Do It!"Westinghouse Electric Corporation · ca 1942

Tanks parade down flag-lined avenue — 1946

Film Tanks parade down flag-lined avenueUnknown maker · 1946

War Production Board poster. Poster produced by the WPB for distribution to war industry plants, especially factories producing tanks or parts of tanks. The original is 28 1/2 inches by 40 inches and is printed in full color. It was designed by the OWI from a painting by C.C. Beall. Copies may be ob — United States. Office Of War Information — 1940-01-01

War Production Board poster. Poster produced by the WPB for distribution to war industry plants, especially factories producing tanks or parts of tanks. The original is 28 1/2 inches by 40 inches and is printed in full color. It was designed by the OWI from a painting by C.C. Beall. Copies may be obUnited States. Office Of War Information · 1940-01-01

Liberation celebration in The Hague. Enthusiastic citizens fill Canadian vehicles in front of The Hague City Hall — Fotograaf Onbekend / Anefo — 1945-05

Liberation celebration in The Hague. Enthusiastic citizens fill Canadian vehicles in front of The Hague City HallFotograaf Onbekend / Anefo · 1945-05

Photograph of the USS Arizona, the USS Tennessee, and the USS West Virginia after the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor — U.S. Navy — 1941

Photograph of the USS Arizona, the USS Tennessee, and the USS West Virginia after the Japanese Attack on Pearl HarborU.S. Navy · 1941

Civilian defense poster. "Jerry", the American eagle, which posed for this striking poster, is a resident of the National Zoological Park, Washington, D.C. The poster, in four colors, was issued today to illustrate Civilian Defense Week, observance of which begins Armistice Day, November 11, by proc — United States. Office Of War Information — 1940-01-01

Civilian defense poster. "Jerry", the American eagle, which posed for this striking poster, is a resident of the National Zoological Park, Washington, D.C. The poster, in four colors, was issued today to illustrate Civilian Defense Week, observance of which begins Armistice Day, November 11, by procUnited States. Office Of War Information · 1940-01-01

Color guard marching with American flag — 1946

Film Color guard marching with American flagUnknown maker · 1946

Normandy Invasion on Utah Beach — U.S. Army Signal Corps — 1944

Normandy Invasion on Utah BeachU.S. Army Signal Corps · 1944

Normandy Invasion on Omaha Beach — U.S. Army Signal Corps — 1944

Normandy Invasion on Omaha BeachU.S. Army Signal Corps · 1944

USS Minneapolis (CA-36) Leaving Pearl Harbor After Repair — U.S. Navy — 1943

USS Minneapolis (CA-36) Leaving Pearl Harbor After RepairU.S. Navy · 1943

Soldiers Prepare their Long Tom Ahead of D-Day in Keise Shima, Okinawa — U.S. Army Signal Corps — 1945

Soldiers Prepare their Long Tom Ahead of D-Day in Keise Shima, OkinawaU.S. Army Signal Corps · 1945

Black American Soldiers Crowded on Landing Craft — Department of Defense — 1945

Film Black American Soldiers Crowded on Landing CraftDepartment of Defense · 1945

Photograph of the USS Nevada after the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor — U.S. Navy — 1941

Photograph of the USS Nevada after the Japanese Attack on Pearl HarborU.S. Navy · 1941

United Nations Fight for Freedom : colored, white and Chinese Boy Scouts in front of Capitol, They help out by delivering poster to help the war effort — Rous, John — 1939

United Nations Fight for Freedom : colored, white and Chinese Boy Scouts in front of Capitol, They help out by delivering poster to help the war effortRous, John · 1939

Chinese dragon dance, performed on the occasion of the liberation of the Netherlands — Fotograaf Onbekend / Anefo — 1945

Chinese dragon dance, performed on the occasion of the liberation of the NetherlandsFotograaf Onbekend / Anefo · 1945

New York, New York. Times Square and vicinity on D-Day — Hollem, Howard R., Meyer, Edward, Maclaugharie — 1944-01-01

New York, New York. Times Square and vicinity on D-DayHollem, Howard R., Meyer, Edward, Maclaugharie · 1944-01-01

Escambia Farms, Florida. Elena, Kitty, John and George McLelland look over their Victory garden on a Sunday — Collier, John, Jr., Collier, John — 1942-01-01

Escambia Farms, Florida. Elena, Kitty, John and George McLelland look over their Victory garden on a SundayCollier, John, Jr., Collier, John · 1942-01-01

B-17 bombers flying in formation dissolves to ground crew — Department of Defense — 1953

Film B-17 bombers flying in formation dissolves to ground crewDepartment of Defense · 1953

Group of U.S. Marines on Guadalcanal — 1942-01-01

Group of U.S. Marines on GuadalcanalUnknown maker · 1942-01-01

Gasoline rationing. It can't happen here in the gas-rationed East, but in the Midwest states you're still apt to see such a sign as this displayed outside a service station. Coupons for gasoline purchase are unknown in this part of the country — Rosener, Ann, United States. Office Of War Information — 1942-01-01

Gasoline rationing. It can't happen here in the gas-rationed East, but in the Midwest states you're still apt to see such a sign as this displayed outside a service station. Coupons for gasoline purchase are unknown in this part of the countryRosener, Ann, United States. Office Of War Information · 1942-01-01

Production. B-17 heavy bomber. Another mighty B-17F (Flying Fortress) bomber sets out on a test flight from the airfield of Boeing's Seattle plant. The Flying Fortress has performed with great credit in the South Pacific, over Germany and elsewhere. It is a four-engine heavy bomber capable of flying — United States. Office Of War Information, Feininger, Andreas — 1942-01-01

Production. B-17 heavy bomber. Another mighty B-17F (Flying Fortress) bomber sets out on a test flight from the airfield of Boeing's Seattle plant. The Flying Fortress has performed with great credit in the South Pacific, over Germany and elsewhere. It is a four-engine heavy bomber capable of flyingUnited States. Office Of War Information, Feininger, Andreas · 1942-01-01

American Paratroopers Resting in a Village in Northern France — U.S. Army Signal Corps — 1944

American Paratroopers Resting in a Village in Northern FranceU.S. Army Signal Corps · 1944

Testing M-4 tanks. A battleship of the land, one of America's mighty M-4 tanks tops the ridge of a test hill as trial runs are made at an Eastern manufacturing plant — United States. Office Of War Information, Rittase, William M. — 1942-01-01

Testing M-4 tanks. A battleship of the land, one of America's mighty M-4 tanks tops the ridge of a test hill as trial runs are made at an Eastern manufacturing plantUnited States. Office Of War Information, Rittase, William M. · 1942-01-01

Liberation of Deventer by the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division — Willem van de Poll / Anefo — 1945-04-11

Liberation of Deventer by the 3rd Canadian Infantry DivisionWillem van de Poll / Anefo · 1945-04-11

Winston Churchill at Airplane Controls — 1942

Film Winston Churchill at Airplane ControlsUnknown maker · 1942