Second World War

Battle of Normandy

D-Day enabled the Allies to establish a foothold on the beaches of Normandy. But they still faced the task of breaking out, pushing the Germans back and liberating France.

D-Day

D-Day, 6 June 1944, marked the start of the Allied invasion of Normandy and was the greatest amphibious operation in history.

Second World War

The Second World War (1939-45) was the bloodiest conflict in human history. It split the world's nations into two opposing military alliances - the Allies and the Axis Powers.

Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery, 1942

Bernard Law Montgomery: Unbeatable and unbearable

Arrogant, unlikeable, but ultimately successful, Field Marshal Montgomery was one of the most prominent British commanders of the Second World War.

Talk

20 Sep 2025 £10.00

Churchill’s Forgotten Generals: Victors in Burma

Dr Alan Jeffreys discusses the pivotal role played by Britain’s generals in the eventual defeat of the Imperial Japanese Army in Burma. Part of our Burma Day.

Brigadier Mike Calvert giving orders during the Chindits’ capture of Mogaung, Burma, June 1944

Talk

20 Sep 2025 FREE

The History of the Chindits

Join Paul Corden as he explores who the Chindits were and explains their important role during the Burma campaign. Part of our Burma Day.

Talk

20 Sep 2025 FREE

West African Soldiers in Burma

Dr Oliver Owen explores the fascinating story of the soldiers from West Africa who served in the Burma campaign. Part of our Burma Day.

Soldiers of 2nd Battalion, The Royal Welch Fusiliers at the capture of Pintha, 18 October 1944

Talk

20 Sep 2025 FREE

Veterans' Stories from the Burma Campaign

Jeremy Archer shares first-hand accounts from veterans who served in one of the Second World War's most arduous campaigns. Part of our Burma Day.

British troops advancing during the fighting at Meiktila, Burma, February 1945

Talk

20 Sep 2025 £10.00

Longest, Harshest, Largest: Superlatives of the Burma Campaign

Join military historian and author Rob Lyman as he discusses the superlative characteristics of the Burma campaign. Part of our Burma Day.

People feeling the textures of items in the handling collection

Tour

12 Oct 2025 FREE

Beyond Burma: Sensory Tour

Explore our forthcoming exhibition ‘Beyond Burma: Forgotten Armies’ through a sensory tour guided by our Community Engagement Team.

Tour

17 Oct 2025 FREE

Beyond Burma: Sensory Tour

Explore our forthcoming exhibition ‘Beyond Burma: Forgotten Armies’ through a sensory tour guided by our Community Engagement Team.

Troops of the Royal West African Frontier Force in the Arakan, Burma, 1944

Tour

29 Nov 2025 £2.00

Beyond Burma: BSL Tour

Follow expert guide Edward Richards on a British Sign Language (BSL) tour of our forthcoming exhibition ‘Beyond Burma: Forgotten Armies’.

People dressed in 1940s style dancing at the National Army Museum

Dance

7 Dec 2025 £25.00

Jingle Bell Jive

Put on your dancing shoes for an evening of seasonal swing at our Christmas-themed 1940s dance night.

Soldiers of the 81st West African Division with a canoe, Burma, c1944

Discussion

22 Jan 2026 £10.00

The Burma Boy: 15 Years On

Join a panel of experts as they discuss public understanding of African service in the Burma campaign and how it has evolved over the past decade.

Explore Second World War learning resources

A live interpreter dressed as a British Indian Army soldier in Burma during the Second World War

Video

Jungle Fighter: Meet Shaam Lal

Discover the role of the British Indian Army in Burma during the Second World War, exploring soldiers’ motivations, experiences and hopes.

Indian Army troops travelling upstream on a barge, Mesopotamia, c1916

Timeline

India, Empire and the Army: Interactive Timeline

Explore the history of the British Army in India and the British Empire's Indian armies through this interactive timeline packed with over 200 sources.

'The Divided Dominion', poster, published 21 June 1947

Video

The Partition of India: A Poetic Retelling

Discover more about the Partition of India and the events leading up to it through this poetry film, featuring archival images and original epic poetry.

Trail

Second World War: Gallery Trail

Follow this gallery trail to find out more about the role of the British Army during the Second World War.

Trail

The Blitz: Gallery Trail

Follow this gallery trail, accompanied by ATS servicewoman Shirley Hamilton, to find out more about the Blitz.

Video

Shirley Hamilton: ATS Servicewoman

Explore the contribution of Caribbean women who joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) during the Second World War.

Video

Let’s Talk Tanks

Set off on a mission to find out more about the everyday lives of tank crews during the Second World War in this family friendly video.

Auxiliary Territorial Service personnel operating anti-aircraft defences, c1940

Quiz

Britain and the Blitz in the Second World War: Quiz

Put your knowledge of the Blitz to the test in this interactive quiz.

Home Activity

How to Draw: Second World War edition

Use our step-by-step instructions to have a go at drawing items from the Second World War.

Soldiers of the British West Indies Regiment, France, 1916

Timeline

West Indian Soldier: Interactive Timeline

Explore the history of Caribbean people in the British Army, and of the British Army in the Caribbean, through an interactive timeline.

Women of the West Indies Auxiliary Territorial Service, c1944

Video

Virtual Exhibition: West Indian Soldier

Explore the history of Caribbean people in the British Army, and of the British Army in the Caribbean, through this virtual tour of the West Indian Soldier exhibition.

Video

BlackPoppyRose at the National Army Museum

Explore the theme of remembrance and the service of African and Caribbean men and women in the British Army with BlackPoppyRose.