Second World War

German soldiers raise the swastika at the Acropolis, Athens, April 1941

War in the Balkans

In 1941, the Axis powers invaded Yugoslavia and Greece. British and Commonwealth intervention and evacuation followed, before a vicious partisan conflict broke out.

Home Front

Following the fall of France in the summer of 1940, Britain was faced with the threat of invasion. Soldiers played a vital role in defending the shores and skies.

Defeat in the West

In the summer of 1940, the Germans defeated France and drove the British out of Western Europe. Following their evacuation from Dunkirk, the British found themselves facing the threat of invasion.

The infantry advance at El Alamein, 1942

The struggle for North Africa

The grim struggle that rolled back and forth across the North African desert from 1940 to 1943 resulted in the first major Allied victory of the Second World War.

Army fashion statements

The Army's influence on fashion is not new. Military dress has made its way from conflict to catwalk over and over again.

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.

British soldiers in a trench, Macedonia, 1917

Talk

19 Dec 2025 FREE

Coalition Warfare: British Soldiers in Salonika, 1915-18

Join Dr Jake Gasson as he explores the unique challenges faced by British soldiers serving on the Salonika front during the First World War.

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

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.

Video

Shirley Hamilton: ATS Servicewoman

Explore the contribution of Caribbean women who joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

'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.