THE WAR YEARS

bringing Second World War history vividly to life, one story at a time.

Discover the GUARDS’ Armoured Legacy

Discover the fascinating history of the Guards Armoured Division and the 6th Guards (Tank) Brigade in Charles Richard Trumpess's new book, "A History of the Guards Armoured Formations 1941-1945." Learn about their challenges, successes, and key events during the campaign for Northwest Europe.

Don't miss out on this important story—visit Pen & Sword to get your copy today.

'A History of the Guards Armoured Formations 1941-1945’ by Charles Trumpess, published by Pen & Sword Military

Welcome to The War Years

Bringing Second World War History to Life, One Story at a Time.

Step into The War Years, where we strive to make Second World War history engaging and easy to understand. Our mission is simple: we're here to share the exceptional stories of ordinary people during the defining conflict of the 20th century, one story at a time.

Discover fascinating stories on our blog and explore our Media Hub to see history through pictures, videos, and recordings from the war. Curious about your family's role in the Second World War? We can help you connect with the past through family research. Stay informed about the latest books, exhibitions, and events related to the war through our reviews and updates.

Join us on this exciting journey through history. Thank you for choosing The War Years as your way to learn and connect with the stories and lessons of the Second World War. Let's explore history together, one story at a time.

Blog

In the War Years Blog, we review military history books, events, and museums. We also look at the history of unique World War Two artefacts, militaria, medals, and anything else of general interest.

Featured
FROM HILDE, WITH LOVE: The Quiet Heroism of Nazi Resistance
FROM HILDE, WITH LOVE: The Quiet Heroism of Nazi Resistance

Discover the true story behind "From Hilde, With Love" - how Hilde Coppi and the Red Orchestra resistance group fought against Nazi tyranny in 1940s Berlin. In UK cinemas 27 June 2025.

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Diplomats & Admirals: The Origins of the Pacific War
Diplomats & Admirals: The Origins of the Pacific War

In this military history book review, I examine 'Diplomats & Admirals' by Dale A. Jenkins - a fascinating look at how diplomatic failures led to Pearl Harbour and the Pacific War. Jenkins, a former US Navy officer, reveals how close Japan and America came to avoiding conflict in 1941. His analysis shows how personal ambition, institutional rigidity and communication failures among key figures on both sides derailed opportunities for peace. Despite having the world’s most powerful navy in 1941, Japan's leadership understood that a war with America would likely result in defeat.

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Learning Through Laughter: The Ingenious WWII German Tank Training Manuals
Learning Through Laughter: The Ingenious WWII German Tank Training Manuals

Have you ever wondered how young German panzer crews learned to handle their formidable machines during the Second World War? Here’s a surprise - the German Army created comic book-style manuals filled with cartoons, jokes, and even a board game. From these humorous wartime guides to today’s virtual reality training, discover how making learning fun revolutionised military education. In this article, we tell the fascinating story of the Panther-Fibel and Tiger-Fibel. We explore how making learning fun and memorable is an approach that works just as well today as it did back then.

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Logo of the Royal Historical Society with a white laurel wreath on a dark blue background.
Membership badge for The Society of Authors, featuring a stylized 'S' and 'A' with a pen integrated into the design, and a blue and white color scheme.
Logo of the Historical Writers' Association featuring a red feather quill and red text.
Logo of the 229th Division of The Taoist Association, featuring a yin-yang symbol in blue and white. The text encircling reads '229th Division Taoist Association'.

Curious about your family's role in the Second World War?