/r/ww2
For discussion of all things World War II. If you're a Nazi though, fuck off.
Rules and Guidelines
The Golden Rule: This subreddit is intended for civil and informed discussion about the Second World War and related issues. Engaging in bigotry or racism, and resorting to insults or hostility will result in a ban. Holocaust Denial, defending Nazis, Nazi and war crime glorification will all lead to instantaneous bans.
Self-promotion (posting your own YouTube channels, etc.) needs to be authorized by the moderators before posting.
While anyone is welcome to comment in /r/WW2, comments about the history of the war should be offered in good faith and only when you, the commenter, are sure that what you say is true. That being said, opinion is also welcome -- just make sure you present it as such. If you are asked to provide a source then you will have to present one. Failure to do so will result in a removal of the post in question.
The war and its historiography are contentious issues which are still debated to this day. The possibility of someone disagreeing with your take on things certainly exists, but both parties are required to engage the matter in a polite and charitable fashion.
No political soap-boxing. Such posts will be removed, and repeat violations will result in a ban.
This is a subreddit dedicated to the historical Second World War. Submissions related to film, novels, video games, and tv-shows, are better suited for a different subreddit.
Memes, jokes, pun threads, reaction .gifs, MFWs and anything of the sort are strictly forbidden. /r/WW2 is a venue for serious discussion of serious matters.
Basically, if you wouldn't do it in /r/AskHistorians, don't do it here.
If submitting a historical photo, the title requires a detailed caption together with an approximate date. For example, British paratroopers gather their parachutes outside of Arnhem, The Netherlands, during Operation Market Garden, 1944 is an acceptable title. Titles such as A German Soldier or American paratroopers and tank will not suffice. Photos should not be edited or altered, including colorization, watermarks, or unnecessary cropping.
Personal photographs of collections, individual items, etc. should be equally as elaborate as in the previous point. Photographs of collections should include a description of all the items on display as a separate comment.
Video links are limited to primary sources, such as combat footage, and secondary sources of explicitly academic quality, including, but not limited to, academic lectures, interviews with historians, and oral histories. "Music videos" or "edits" are not welcome here. All videos has to include original or no sound.
Questions about the identification of items should be redirected to subreddits that are dedicated specifically for that task, such as /r/MilitariaCollecting.
No submissions related to the looting of Second World War archaeological finds from battlefields, etc. Ethical and responsible archaeology is always welcome, however.
No ’what if’, ’who would win’, or ’would you rather’ questions.
If you have any questions, concerns or comments about the subreddit, please message the moderators directly.
Credit for the header goes to /u/KilledFox. Thank you!
/r/ww2
155,352 Subscribers
Which well-known brands that still exist today manufactured equipment for the belligerents of ww2?
It is known that in WW2 a lot of brands that exist today and are extremely famous made cars, tanks and planes for the fighting armies. Some that i can name off the top of my head are Porsche, Isuzu, Mitsubishi, Fiat, Renault, BMW, Volkswagen and Ford but i would like to know if im missing some
22:06 UTC
A Brazilian air force kubelwagen captured in Italy nicknamed "lump"
20:38 UTC
Video that shows the salvaging of an wrecked German stuka plane in 2006 near Rhodes island , Greece.
07:43 UTC
Interesting realization I had
I've in the last while become a WWII enthusiast. Tonight a realization dawned on me that I never really put together...the Stalingrad campaign in Eastern Europe/USSR essentially coincides with the American/Japanese, Marine/Army/Navy campaign in Guadalcanal in the Pacific.
05:31 UTC
Apparently the 531st Shore Engineers landed at 0500 on Utah Beach - True?
03:27 UTC
How common, if happening at all, was it for banzai charges to be successful?
As in ending with any surviving Japanese or even causing American retreats
22:12 UTC
Is this tattoo an actual unit designation or just made up?
This is an image from Call of Duty: Finest Hour. The soldier is apart of the British Army and Popski’s Private Army. Can anyone tell what this tattoo is or similar images/tattoos that British soldiers had?
17:54 UTC
The Eastern Front on the eve of Operation Fall Blau. From: David M. Glanz with Jonathan M. House, TO THE GATES OF STALINGRAD: SOVIET-GERMAN COMBAT OPERATIONS, APRIL-AUGUST, 1942. p. 6.
13:02 UTC
r/ww2 Film Club 03: A Bridge Too Far
A Bridge Too Far (1977)
Late in 1944, the Allies seem to have the upper hand in the European land war. A combined British and American paratrooper force, led by American general Gavin and British general Urquhart, plans to take a highway leading from the Netherlands into Germany, so that British ground troops led by Lieutenant General Horrocks and Lieutenant Colonel Vandeleur can enter enemy territory. But the Allies soon learn that they may be overconfident.
Directed by Richard Attenborough
Starring
- James Caan
- Michael Caine
- Sean Connery
- Elliott Gould
- Anthony Hopkins
- Gene Hackman
- Laurence Olivier
- Ryan O'Neal
- Robert Redford
- Maximilian Schell
Watch
Streaming on Prime and Freevee. Digital rentals on several services.
Next Month: Letters from Iwo Jima
13:02 UTC
World War 2 Lithuania frontline/defensive maps
Dear community, I’m in search of a website with detailed frontline/defensive maps of Russians or German fightings. Maybe anyone has information regarding it?
12:13 UTC
Book recommendations about US destroyers at Pearl Harbour?
Does anybody have good recommendations? I find destroyers interesting because of their versatility and how diverse their roles were during the war. I've read excellent accounts of British destroyers in the Channel during the Battle of Britain and at Crete, but I feel like destroyers at Pearl Harbour are often overlooked because of the perceived importance of the battleships and the damage done to them.
Any suggestions?
10:34 UTC
Understanding grave ref at El-Alamein
I am travelling to El-Alamein and want to find the grave of a relative. It has a reference of “I.A.9”. Does that simply mean plot 9, row A, spot I? I was expecting the plot number to be first for some reason so thought I’d better check! Thanking you all in advance!
00:50 UTC
The soul never forgets. My grandmother in-law is a Holocaust survivor and was recently interviewed by Anderson Cooper about her experience. It’s a chilling reminder that complacency is all it takes.
21:53 UTC
USS Arizona ships seal
My mom just found this in a box. I’ve been searching for a while and and cant find anything. It’s addressed to my grandmother. Anyone know anything about it or why it was awarded? There is a vacuum sealed American flag with it
16:30 UTC
Question about Dunkirk
I recently watched Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk and followed it up with a documentary on the same subject. I still have some questions that I haven’t been able to find clear answers to, even after searching around.
At Dunkirk, why were so many soldiers positioned on the beach waiting for evacuation rather than attempting a breakout or organizing a stronger defensive line? Given the dire situation and the risks involved with waiting for ships under air attacks, wouldn’t it have been more strategic to use these troops to push back the enemy or create a defensive perimeter around the evacuation site? I’m curious about the reasoning or limitations behind the decision to keep such a large force in a vulnerable position on the beach.
16:00 UTC
Soldiers going AWOL
What were the most common and unique ways soldiers went AWOL? What was the most severe punishment for doing so? How often did AWOL soldiers get into violent confrontations while AWOL?
12:18 UTC
Does "The World At War" still hold up as a documentary? Is there another more definitive documentary series on the war?
03:57 UTC
Video of Japanese Army Parade from April 1944
00:27 UTC
My grandfather research
Greetings just wanted to start off saying this is a really thread. I love that we share these stories for our future generations.
My grandfather who passed away when I was young served. I was wondering if anyone had a book or good information.
His regiment 926 Signal Battalion
Company C
Camp Mcpearson? (That’s how spelled it on his picture)
Date of actual service 12/23/1942
Thank in advance for any help.
00:14 UTC
"the Frenchman speaks, the spy listens, the German acts" written on a letterbox, the Vosges campaign, 1944
22:05 UTC
Can anyone decipher this location name? Thanks in advance!
21:16 UTC
Crazy foreshadowing
19:37 UTC
WW2 Era Letter Written by U.S. Soldier After Being Captured By the Germans in North Africa. Recipient would never receive the letter. Details in comments.
16:43 UTC
Italian Memoir Recommendations
Does anyone have any book recommendations for Italian Soldier memoirs? I’ve read Until the Eyes Shut, Blood Red Snow, and Tigers in the Mud but would love to read something similar from an Italian soldiers perspective.
15:29 UTC