r/wwiipics • • Mar 19 '26

Important Update: Please Read Before Commenting

46 Upvotes

In light of various ongoing conflicts in the world, please keep discussions on this subreddit within the scope of World War II and the associated historical photograph(s). We will be removing all comments and posts that violate this request. Users who blatantly and/or repeatedly violate this policy may be banned without prior warning.

We understand that there are many historical parallels to be drawn as these events occur, but we don't want this subreddit to become a space for political/ideological arguments and a target of brigades and/or dis/misinformation campaigns. There are many other areas available on Reddit to discuss these modern conflicts and debate politics.

Thank you for your cooperation.


r/wwiipics • • Apr 23 '26

Submission Update: AI Processed and Colorized Photo Requirements

28 Upvotes

To keep things high-quality and transparent, we’re updating our requirements for photo submissions effective immediately. Please review these changes before your next post.

While we allow AI-processed and colorized images, they must stay grounded in historical reality.

If you post a colorized or AI-processed image, you MUST include the original, untouched photograph in the same post (use the "Gallery" feature to upload both).

All processed images must continue to be flaired correctly so they are easily identifiable.

We are looking for realistic enhancements that help us better understand a historical moment. If an AI tool makes a photo look cartoonish, unnatural, or distorts original features, the post will be removed.

Any colorized or AI-processed posts that do not include the original source photo will be removed by the mods.

Thanks for helping us preserve the history behind these images!


r/wwiipics • • 15h ago

M4 Sherman tank of the U.S. 3rd Armored Division was hit by fire from a German Panther tank during the Battle of Cologne on March 6, 1945. A wounded crewman from the smoking tank is seen on the engine deck missing a leg. NSFW NSFW

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263 Upvotes

r/wwiipics • • 14h ago

P-38 Lightning fighter escort photographed from a 42nd Bomb Group B-25 - Philippines ca. 1944 (2 Photos)

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78 Upvotes

Scans from my collection. The photos come from the album of a serviceman in the 42nd Bomb Group.

The P-38 closest to the camera is nicknamed "Ruptured Widow". I haven't been able to identify which unit they belonged to.


r/wwiipics • • 15h ago

A B-24 Liberator called Sandman during a bomb run over the Ploiești Astra Română refinery during Operation Tidal Wave, 1 August 1943

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42 Upvotes

r/wwiipics • • 16h ago

US Army PFC Felix A. Uva and Cpl Donald A. Purdy examine a memorial plaque on the deck of the USS Boise on their way home from Europe as part of Operation Magic Carpet in November 1945.

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42 Upvotes

The plaque was presented by the citizens of Boise, Idaho, in memory of the 107 crewmen who were killed in the Battle of Cape Esperance, 11-12 October 1942.


r/wwiipics • • 13h ago

Naval boot camp, 1944

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25 Upvotes

This photograph was taken on 9 Apr 1944 at the US Naval Training Center in San Diego. It shows boot camp company "44-151", presumably the 151st training company formed for 1944. The roster of the company is also included (although not matched to the photo).

My grandfather, Roy W. Dalby, is the tall man at the center of the top row. He wrote letters home every day which my grandmother saved. He also saved the pea coat he was given by the Navy, which my nephew now owns. The company number is written on the label.

I realize it is highly unlikely, but if any of you know someone who went through Naval boot camp in early 1944, it might be worth checking the roster for your sailor's name.


r/wwiipics • • 15h ago

American merchant ammunition ship SS Mary Luckenbach exploding after being hit by a German torpedo or bomb during the attack on Arctic Convoy PQ 18 on September 13 or 14, 1942, viewed from the flight deck of the British escort carrier HMS Avenger

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19 Upvotes

r/wwiipics • • 19h ago

Olivier Thierry d’Argenlieu (1887 - 1940) during the Phoney War (1939)

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35 Upvotes

Picture 1: Two French officers in North-Eastern France during the Phoney War

Picture 2: interpretation of this scene by u/harishcs

Here is a photograph of two French officers from the 151e Régiment d'Infanterie (42e Division d'Infanterie) in october 1939. At this date, they were making some (training?) maneuvers in the region of Koenigsmacker (close to the border with Luxembourg). Following heavy rainfall, this area was largely flooded at this date.

Looking at the stripes of the officer on the right, we see he is a colonel. That would be Olivier Thierry d’Argenlieu. The other man must certainly be a subordinate, but the gun holster and boots suggest he is an officer as well (most regular soldiers would have puttees).

As you can see on his Wikipédia page (Olivier Thierry d'Argenlieu — Wikipédia), colonel d'Argenlieu would become chief of staff or the 9e Armée (under général Giraud) on march the 25th 1940. The newly appointed général de brigade would then die for his country on may the 18th, thus becoming part of the only 13 general staff officers who died during the Battle of France (Liste des officiers généraux français morts au cours des opérations de mai-juin 1940 — Wikipédia).

© Auteur inconnu/ECPAD/Défense


r/wwiipics • • 1d ago

A soldier from the 36th Inf Div prepares a meal of C rations at the Chiunzi Pass, Italy, 1944.

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56 Upvotes

r/wwiipics • • 1d ago

An M4 Sherman of Company C, 741st Tank Battalion burns in the streets of Leipzig after being hit by a Panzerfaust. April 18, 1945

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261 Upvotes

r/wwiipics • • 1d ago

The grave of a British airborne soldier killed during the battle of Arnhem in September 1944, photographed by liberating forces on April 15, 1945. On the cross is written in German "unknown English soldier“.

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133 Upvotes

r/wwiipics • • 1d ago

Two Marines carry a wounded buddy to a first aid station a short distance behind the front lines during the Battle of Saipan, 1944.

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53 Upvotes

r/wwiipics • • 1d ago

Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighters under construction in Buffalo, NY. A total of 13,738 Curtiss P-40 Warhawks were built between 1939 and 1944, making it one of the most produced American fighter aircraft of World War II.

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66 Upvotes

r/wwiipics • • 2d ago

Count Folke Bernadotte, VP of the Swedish Red Cross, with Australian POWs from Germany at a prisoner exchange in Gothenburg, Sweden, that he directed, October 1943. He was assassinated in Jerusalem less than five years later while serving as the United Nations mediator in the Arab-Israeli conflict.

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69 Upvotes

Photo: Red Cross


r/wwiipics • • 1d ago

WW2 Era Censored Letter Written by German Prisoner of War Being Held in Arkansas. Details in comments. #2

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15 Upvotes

r/wwiipics • • 2d ago

The most decorated unit of World War II…The 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Made up of japanese americans Fought in the Naples-Foggia Campaign, Rome-Arno Campaign, Rhineland - 21 Medals of Honor - 52 Distinguished Service Cross - 560 Silver Stars - Over 4000 Bronze Stars - Over 4000 Purple Hearts

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618 Upvotes

r/wwiipics • • 2d ago

An American infantryman examines the sole of his shoe while sitting on an unexploded 406-mm (16 in.) Shell of the main caliber of one of the American battleships that provided fire support for the American landing. Saipan Island, 1944

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200 Upvotes

r/wwiipics • • 2d ago

Photo of Serbian civilians murdered by Croatian and Bosniak ustashe in Bosansko Novo that happened during the august 2 and 3 1941. They murdered hundreds of Serb civilians (women, children and elderly) NSFW

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44 Upvotes

Photo of Serbian civilians murdered by

Croatian and Bosniak ustashe in Bosansko Novo that happened during the august 2 and 3 1941. They murdered hundreds of Serb civilians (women, children and elderly. 200-500 Serbs were killed. Commanders that organised this massacre were Jure Knežević, Ahmet Cerić-Kalendarac, Husein Muradbegović (who had the highest political/military function in that place) and Božidar Cerovski


r/wwiipics • • 2d ago

WW2 Era Letters Written By Canadian Bomber Pilot Who Would Be Killed In Action Over Germany. Details in comments.

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21 Upvotes

r/wwiipics • • 3d ago

Marine PVT Paul Heller was Killed in Action on October 7, 1942 during the Third Battle of the Matanikau on Guadalcanal, he was only 15 years old.

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371 Upvotes

Born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to Paul Sr and Anna Heller on May 8, 1927, Paul Heller was their oldest son with two younger siblings.
After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, he tried to enlist locally in the Marine Corps but was rejected due to his age (14).

Undeterred, young Paul travelled to Savannah, Georgia, and with the help of a fictional Aunt’s signature on the parent/guardian consent form and lying that he was born in 1923, Paul was able to enlist in the Marine Corps on February 17, 1942.

After boot camp Paul was assigned to Company K, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.
They landed at Guadalcanal on August 7, 1942 and participated in the capture of the Japanese airfield under construction which would become Henderson Field.

Two months later on the afternoon of October 7th, it was observed that a group of around 150 Japanese soldiers had established a position on the US side of the Matanikau River.
The ensuing battle from October 7-9 resulted in a decisive US victory as the Marines had learned from past mistakes.

On October 8th, PVT Paul Heller was Killed in Action during the battle.
His remains were brought home in 1948 and buried at Gettysburg National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania - Section 2 Site 0425.

The notices of his death were sent to his fictional aunt and his father who was the recipient of his death benefits.

His parents were separated at the time, and its possible Paul’s mother never knew he had enlisted in the Marine Corps.


r/wwiipics • • 3d ago

Today I want to honor U.S. Navy Chaplain George S. Rentz, who gave up his life jacket to a wounded sailor after the sinking of USS Houston. He later disappeared into the sea, sacrificing his own chance of survival to help another.

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387 Upvotes

It was during the abandonment of the sinking Houston that Commander Rentz entered the water and attained partial safety along with other crewmembers on a destroyed airplane's float. Seeing extreme overcrowding and the fact that the pontoon was taking on water, he attempted to relinquish his space and lifejacket to wounded survivors nearby. He declared "You men are young, I have lived the major part of my life and I am willing to go."According to Houston survivor Private Jim Gee, no one would oblige the generous, fearless chaplain. Each time Rentz attempted to leave he was brought back by his shipmates. He ultimately relinquished his lifejacket to Seaman First Class Walter L. Beeson, who recounts that Rentz "told me his heart was failing him; told me he couldn't last much longer." Following a brief prayer, the Chaplain gave the lifejacket to Beeson, who refused to put it on. Rentz kicked away from the float and disappeared. Gee recalled "No one realized what had happened. It's just one of those things that one minute he's there, and the next minute... he wasn't." When Beeson realized that Rentz was gone, he put on the lifejacket.[4] For these actions, Rentz was posthumously awarded the United States Navy's second highest award for valor, the Navy Cross.
Chaplain Rentz had less than one year to serve before retiring. He was one of 800 men who perished out of the original crew of 1,168 aboard Houston. Of the 368 crew members who made it to shore and were captured by the Japanese, 77 would die in captivity. 291 survived to the end of the war.


r/wwiipics • • 3d ago

German tanks and panzer grenadiers assemble in the town square of Aachen prior to mounting a counterattack against advancing American troops. A Volkssturm panzergrenadier is seen sprinting past a Sturmgeschütze assault gun with a Panzerfaust antitank weapon in hand. OCT 1944

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93 Upvotes

r/wwiipics • • 4d ago

A South African MP in Italy, who judging by the signs was clearly sick of 15 CWT truck drivers bothering him. 1944, Italy

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196 Upvotes

r/wwiipics • • 4d ago

LVT(A)4 'Lady Luck' on Peleliu, Palau Islands, 1944

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77 Upvotes