Special Collections
World War 2
Description: books and accessible images to support themed learning about World War 2.
- Table View
- List View
JU 87 Stuka Dive Bomber (UEB uncontracted)
by RnibThis page shows two images of an aircraft. At the top of the page seen from the side and in the bottom and middle of the page a plan view seen from above. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. Both views have the front on the left and the tail on the right of the page. The aircraft is shown in a flying position. The aircraft in the top of the page has the propeller on the left with one blade pointing up and one pointing down. The tip of the nose cone is yellow on the large print image. Up and right there is a notch in the fuselage, this is the air intake for the engine. Down from this is a rectangle which comprises six exhaust outlets. The bottom left of the front of the aircraft nose has a notch. This is the air intake for the radiator. To the right, down from the exhaust, are outlets for hot air to escape. In the top centre of the image is the cockpit cover. It has an aerial sticking up. Poking up and right is a gun the rear gunner would use if the aircraft was attacked. Down from the cockpit is the wingtip and mainly underside of the wing. The wings on this aircraft are angled down a short way as they leave the fuselage. They then kink upwards towards the tip of the wing, allowing the underside to be found. One of the two front wheels is shown down from the wing. The wheel is largely hidden by the streamlined wheel cover. A single large bomb is attached under the cockpit between the wheels. The leg of the wheel hides the central part of the bomb. Right of the wing the fuselage continues to the vertical tail fin on the right. In the centre of this section is a cross identifying the plane as German. In the centre of the fin is the end of one of the tail wings. Right of this is a vertical flap. This is one of the ailerons used to manoeuvre the aircraft when it is flying. Down from the fin is the single small tail wheel. In the plan view image in the bottom and middle of the page the fuselage goes from left to right in the centre of the image. The main wings go up and down the page from the fuselage. In the left of the page the propeller has one blade pointing up and one pointing down. The tip of the nose cone is yellow on the large print image. To the right of the propeller six exhaust outlets can be found on the top and bottom edge of the fuselage. Right of this are the wings. On the wings near the fuselage there is a horizontal line which is where the wing kinks. Towards the tips of each wing there is a cross identifying the plane as German. The trailing edge of the wings on the right has flaps which are the automatic airbrakes used to take the aircraft out of a dive so it does not crash. In the centre of the fuselage between the wings is the cockpit. The fuselage continues to the right ending in the tailplane. On the right of each tail wing is a flap. These are two of the ailerons used to manoeuvre the aircraft when it is flying.
Second World War Recruitment Poster - "Together" (tactile)
by RnibThis poster was used throughout the Empire and Commonwealth to recruit people to fight with Britain in the Second World War. Men and women came to the UK to work in industry, nursing and the armed forces as volunteers. Over 3 million people supported the UK in the armed forces of the Commonwealth. Almost 2.5 million Indians volunteered to help Britain fight. This is the largest volunteer army in history. Just under half of today's black and Asian population in the UK originate from cultural and ethnic groups that served and worked here during the Second World War. Description of the poster This coloured recruitment poster looks like a painting and shows seven fully uniformed members from the Commonwealth marching together under a flying Union Jack flag. The head-to-waist images of the men are shown in three diagonal rows - three at the front, two in the middle and two at the back. All are facing towards the right of the poster and are carrying rifles over their left shoulders with the rifle butt supported by their left hands. The front row, from left to right, has a Canadian airman (blue uniform), an Australian soldier (khaki uniform), and a British Navy sailor (navy uniform). The middle row, from left to right, has a South African soldier (cream uniform) and a New Zealand soldier (khaki uniform). The back row, from left to right, has a West African soldier (cream uniform) and an Indian soldier (khaki uniform). All men are white and clean-shaven, except the West African soldier, who is black, and the Indian soldier, who dark skinned with a beard. It is each man's uniform hat that distinguishes him and his country. Colour is used in the poster to represent the red, white and blue of the Union Jack and the colours on the men's uniforms. The poster has a white border with a large black band across the bottom that contains the word "together" in yellow capitals. The only other readable words on the poster are "Canada" on the sleeve badge of the Canadian airman and "H.M.S. Victory" on the headband of the British Navy sailor.
Vulcan - Long-range Medium Bomber (large print)
by RnibThis is an image of a jet bomber seen from above. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. The image is in the centre and a scale in metres on the left of the page. The aircraft nose is in the top centre and the tail in the bottom centre of the page. The fuselage goes up and down the middle of the page. The cockpit is shown as a tiny window near the nose. The wings sweep down to the left and right and are widest at the tail end. Sticking out from the end of the aircraft there are two jet engine nozzles to the left and right of the tail. The bottom edge of the wing has four flaps on each side, these are the ailerons used to manoeuvre the aircraft when it is flying.
Vulcan - Long-range Medium Bomber (UEB contracted)
by RnibThis is an image of a jet bomber seen from above. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. The image is in the centre and a scale in metres on the left of the page. The aircraft nose is in the top centre and the tail in the bottom centre of the page. The fuselage goes up and down the middle of the page. The cockpit is shown as a tiny window near the nose. The wings sweep down to the left and right and are widest at the tail end. Sticking out from the end of the aircraft there are two jet engine nozzles to the left and right of the tail. The bottom edge of the wing has four flaps on each side, these are the ailerons used to manoeuvre the aircraft when it is flying.
Vulcan - Long-range Medium Bomber (UEB uncontracted)
by RnibThis is an image of a jet bomber seen from above. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. The image is in the centre and a scale in metres on the left of the page. The aircraft nose is in the top centre and the tail in the bottom centre of the page. The fuselage goes up and down the middle of the page. The cockpit is shown as a tiny window near the nose. The wings sweep down to the left and right and are widest at the tail end. Sticking out from the end of the aircraft there are two jet engine nozzles to the left and right of the tail. The bottom edge of the wing has four flaps on each side, these are the ailerons used to manoeuvre the aircraft when it is flying.
World War II bombed street (large print)
by RnibThis page shows an image of bomb damaged houses surrounded by an image border. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There are three terraced houses and an old fashioned lamp post. The house in the middle is nearly completely destroyed. Only part of a window with broken glass remains to the left of the open doorway. The lamp post is in front of this house and leans precariously to the left. The house on the left is only damaged upstairs. Some of the roof slates have been blown off exposing some of the roof timber. Some of the wall to the room above the front door is missing. The house on the right is damaged upstairs and downstairs. Lots of the roof slates have been blown off also exposing some of the roof timber. The left upstairs window is half missing with broken glass. Most of this room is missing. The downstairs room is half missing. Its window is intact although the glass is cracked. To the right the front door and the window above are not damaged.
World War II bombed street (UEB contracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of bomb damaged houses surrounded by an image border. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There are three terraced houses and an old fashioned lamp post. The house in the middle is nearly completely destroyed. Only part of a window with broken glass remains to the left of the open doorway. The lamp post is in front of this house and leans precariously to the left. The house on the left is only damaged upstairs. Some of the roof slates have been blown off exposing some of the roof timber. Some of the wall to the room above the front door is missing. The house on the right is damaged upstairs and downstairs. Lots of the roof slates have been blown off also exposing some of the roof timber. The left upstairs window is half missing with broken glass. Most of this room is missing. The downstairs room is half missing. Its window is intact although the glass is cracked. To the right the front door and the window above are not damaged.
World War II bombed street (UEB uncontracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of bomb damaged houses surrounded by an image border. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. There are three terraced houses and an old fashioned lamp post. The house in the middle is nearly completely destroyed. Only part of a window with broken glass remains to the left of the open doorway. The lamp post is in front of this house and leans precariously to the left. The house on the left is only damaged upstairs. Some of the roof slates have been blown off exposing some of the roof timber. Some of the wall to the room above the front door is missing. The house on the right is damaged upstairs and downstairs. Lots of the roof slates have been blown off also exposing some of the roof timber. The left upstairs window is half missing with broken glass. Most of this room is missing. The downstairs room is half missing. Its window is intact although the glass is cracked. To the right the front door and the window above are not damaged.
World War II bren gun (large print)
by RnibThis is an image of a side view of a machine gun facing to the left. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. The muzzle is in the left of the page with the foresight sticking up from the barrel. The gun barrel goes right to the centre of the page. Just left of centre is a handle, it sticks up and right, the actual handle is nearly horizontal. To the right of this is a wide curved shape, also sticking up. This is the magazine full of bullets. The last thing sticking up on the right before the wooden butt is the back sight. Down and left from the butt on the right of the page is another wooden handle. To the left of it is an oval trigger guard and the trigger. On the left is a rod which goes down to the bottom left of the page. This is a rest stand to stabilise the gun when it is being fired. It can fold up to the right when the gun is being carried.
World War II bren gun (UEB contracted)
by RnibThis is an image of a side view of a machine gun facing to the left. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. The muzzle is in the left of the page with the foresight sticking up from the barrel. The gun barrel goes right to the centre of the page. Just left of centre is a handle, it sticks up and right, the actual handle is nearly horizontal. To the right of this is a wide curved shape, also sticking up. This is the magazine full of bullets. The last thing sticking up on the right before the wooden butt is the back sight. Down and left from the butt on the right of the page is another wooden handle. To the left of it is an oval trigger guard and the trigger. On the left is a rod which goes down to the bottom left of the page. This is a rest stand to stabilise the gun when it is being fired. It can fold up to the right when the gun is being carried.
World War II bren gun (UEB uncontracted)
by RnibThis is an image of a side view of a machine gun facing to the left. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. The muzzle is in the left of the page with the foresight sticking up from the barrel. The gun barrel goes right to the centre of the page. Just left of centre is a handle, it sticks up and right, the actual handle is nearly horizontal. To the right of this is a wide curved shape, also sticking up. This is the magazine full of bullets. The last thing sticking up on the right before the wooden butt is the back sight. Down and left from the butt on the right of the page is another wooden handle. To the left of it is an oval trigger guard and the trigger. On the left is a rod which goes down to the bottom left of the page. This is a rest stand to stabilise the gun when it is being fired. It can fold up to the right when the gun is being carried.
World War II British foot soldier (large print)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a soldier. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. The man is shown standing facing forwards so both arms, legs, eyes and ears can be found. He wears a brown uniform. He has a metal dish-shaped helmet on his head. His tunic jacket has two breast pockets with the flaps and buttons showing. To the left and right of his neck is the top of his haversack showing, which is on his back. There is a canvas strap going from each shoulder to his waist and canvas belt. There are two large canvas pouches attached to the belt. His arm is straight and held down on the right. The arm on the left it is slightly bent and holds a rifle which is also resting on the ground. He wears trousers to just above the ankle. There is a large pocket on his hip to the left and a large pocket on his thigh to the right which also has a flap and button. His ankles are covered by cuffs. He has heavy black leather boots on his feet.
World War II British foot soldier (UEB uncontracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a soldier. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. The man is shown standing facing forwards so both arms, legs, eyes and ears can be found. He wears a brown uniform. He has a metal dish-shaped helmet on his head. His tunic jacket has two breast pockets with the flaps and buttons showing. To the left and right of his neck is the top of his haversack showing, which is on his back. There is a canvas strap going from each shoulder to his waist and canvas belt. There are two large canvas pouches attached to the belt. His arm is straight and held down on the right. The arm on the left it is slightly bent and holds a rifle which is also resting on the ground. He wears trousers to just above the ankle. There is a large pocket on his hip to the left and a large pocket on his thigh to the right which also has a flap and button. His ankles are covered by cuffs. He has heavy black leather boots on his feet.
World War II evacuee children (large print)
by RnibThis page shows an image of three small children. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. The children are shown standing facing forwards so both their arms, legs, eyes and ears can be found. There is a girl on the left, a boy in the middle and a smaller girl on the right. They each wear a luggage label which says their name and where they are being evacuated to. The girl on the left wears a short orange coat and a pink bonnet. She has a white box containing her gas mask hanging on a string around her neck. She has short pale grey socks and red sandals. The boy in the middle wears a brown cap and a very short grey coat. He has long grey socks which are wrinkled as they are falling down. He wears brown shoes and his gas mask box is on the ground to the left of them and rhere is a suitcase ti the right of them. The girl on the right wears a light purple coat to below her knees. On her head she has a small brown hat. She also has a white box containing her gas mask hanging on a string around her neck. She wears short pale grey socks and brown shoes.
World War II evacuee children (UEB contracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of three small children. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. The children are shown standing facing forwards so both their arms, legs, eyes and ears can be found. There is a girl on the left, a boy in the middle and a smaller girl on the right. They each wear a luggage label which says their name and where they are being evacuated to. The girl on the left wears a short orange coat and a pink bonnet. She has a white box containing her gas mask hanging on a string around her neck. She has short pale grey socks and red sandals. The boy in the middle wears a brown cap and a very short grey coat. He has long grey socks which are wrinkled as they are falling down. He wears brown shoes and his gas mask box is on the ground to the left of them and rhere is a suitcase ti the right of them. The girl on the right wears a light purple coat to below her knees. On her head she has a small brown hat. She also has a white box containing her gas mask hanging on a string around her neck. She wears short pale grey socks and brown shoes.
World War II evacuee children (UEB uncontracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of three small children. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. The children are shown standing facing forwards so both their arms, legs, eyes and ears can be found. There is a girl on the left, a boy in the middle and a smaller girl on the right. They each wear a luggage label which says their name and where they are being evacuated to. The girl on the left wears a short orange coat and a pink bonnet. She has a white box containing her gas mask hanging on a string around her neck. She has short pale grey socks and red sandals. The boy in the middle wears a brown cap and a very short grey coat. He has long grey socks which are wrinkled as they are falling down. He wears brown shoes and his gas mask box is on the ground to the left of them and rhere is a suitcase ti the right of them. The girl on the right wears a light purple coat to below her knees. On her head she has a small brown hat. She also has a white box containing her gas mask hanging on a string around her neck. She wears short pale grey socks and brown shoes.
World War II field gun (large print)
by RnibThis is an image of a side view of a large gun facing to the left and some of the shells it could fire. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. The muzzle is in the top left of the page and the gun barrel slopes down to the right. Halfway down it goes through a protective shield shown edge on. The breech is shown as a rectangle at the end of the barrel, where a shell would be loaded. Down from the breech is a circular handle which is used to change the angle of the barrel so the correct range is found. Down and to the left of the handle is one of the large wheels needed to move the gun from one battle to another. It has very knobbly tyres. It is attached to the gun carriage which is up and right from the wheel. The end of the carriage on the right is where the gun is hooked onto the vehicle to tow it. There are five shells standing vertically to the left of the gun and one, lying on its side, pointing to the right under the carriage to the right.
World War II field gun (UEB contracted)
by RnibThis is an image of a side view of a large gun facing to the left and some of the shells it could fire. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. The muzzle is in the top left of the page and the gun barrel slopes down to the right. Halfway down it goes through a protective shield shown edge on. The breech is shown as a rectangle at the end of the barrel, where a shell would be loaded. Down from the breech is a circular handle which is used to change the angle of the barrel so the correct range is found. Down and to the left of the handle is one of the large wheels needed to move the gun from one battle to another. It has very knobbly tyres. It is attached to the gun carriage which is up and right from the wheel. The end of the carriage on the right is where the gun is hooked onto the vehicle to tow it. There are five shells standing vertically to the left of the gun and one, lying on its side, pointing to the right under the carriage to the right.
World War II field gun (UEB uncontracted)
by RnibThis is an image of a side view of a large gun facing to the left and some of the shells it could fire. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. The muzzle is in the top left of the page and the gun barrel slopes down to the right. Halfway down it goes through a protective shield shown edge on. The breech is shown as a rectangle at the end of the barrel, where a shell would be loaded. Down from the breech is a circular handle which is used to change the angle of the barrel so the correct range is found. Down and to the left of the handle is one of the large wheels needed to move the gun from one battle to another. It has very knobbly tyres. It is attached to the gun carriage which is up and right from the wheel. The end of the carriage on the right is where the gun is hooked onto the vehicle to tow it. There are five shells standing vertically to the left of the gun and one, lying on its side, pointing to the right under the carriage to the right.
World War II gas mask (large print)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a man wearing a gas mask. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. Only his head and shoulders are shown facing forwards, surrounded by an image border. Some of his brown hair is shown at the top of the image. There are two gas mask straps going over the top of his head. His face is hidden by the body of the mask. His eyes can be found staring out through the eyepieces. An ear pokes out to the left and right. The gas mask filter hangs down from where his nose and mouth would be. The round end with small holes in and the some of the side is shown. It is like a wide round can. He wears a brown open necked shirt with one button showing.
World War II gas mask (UEB uncontracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a man wearing a gas mask. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. Only his head and shoulders are shown facing forwards, surrounded by an image border. Some of his brown hair is shown at the top of the image. There are two gas mask straps going over the top of his head. His face is hidden by the body of the mask. His eyes can be found staring out through the eyepieces. An ear pokes out to the left and right. The gas mask filter hangs down from where his nose and mouth would be. The round end with small holes in and the some of the side is shown. It is like a wide round can. He wears a brown open necked shirt with one button showing.
World War II gas mask (UEB uncontracted)
by RnibThis page shows an image of a man wearing a gas mask. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. Only his head and shoulders are shown facing forwards, surrounded by an image border. Some of his brown hair is shown at the top of the image. There are two gas mask straps going over the top of his head. His face is hidden by the body of the mask. His eyes can be found staring out through the eyepieces. An ear pokes out to the left and right. The gas mask filter hangs down from where his nose and mouth would be. The round end with small holes in and the some of the side is shown. It is like a wide round can. He wears a brown open necked shirt with one button showing.
World War II German doodlebug (large print)
by RnibThis page shows two images of the flying bomb, the V1 nicknamed doodlebug. At the top of the page seen from the side and in the bottom and middle of the page a plan view seen from above. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. Both views have the front on the left and the tail on the right of the page. In the top side view the body of the flying bomb is fatter on the left than the right. It is very streamlined. Halfway along the body the end of the wing can be found. It is angled up slightly to give the bomb lift when it flies. The pulse jet engine on the right is mounted onto the top of the bomb by two brackets. The end of the engine on the left is for air intake and the end on the right is the exhaust thrust. In the plan view image in the bottom and middle of the page the body of the bomb goes from left to right in the centre of the image. The wings go up and down the page from the body. On each wing there is a German cross indicating the bomb belongs to the Luftwaffe. The upper surface is green although sometimes camouflage colours were used so it was difficult to spot from the air. The underneath colour is a pale sky colour so it would be difficult to spot from the ground when flying.
World War II German doodlebug (UEB contracted)
by RnibThis page shows two images of the flying bomb, the V1 nicknamed doodlebug. At the top of the page seen from the side and in the bottom and middle of the page a plan view seen from above. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. Both views have the front on the left and the tail on the right of the page. In the top side view the body of the flying bomb is fatter on the left than the right. It is very streamlined. Halfway along the body the end of the wing can be found. It is angled up slightly to give the bomb lift when it flies. The pulse jet engine on the right is mounted onto the top of the bomb by two brackets. The end of the engine on the left is for air intake and the end on the right is the exhaust thrust. In the plan view image in the bottom and middle of the page the body of the bomb goes from left to right in the centre of the image. The wings go up and down the page from the body. On each wing there is a German cross indicating the bomb belongs to the Luftwaffe. The upper surface is green although sometimes camouflage colours were used so it was difficult to spot from the air. The underneath colour is a pale sky colour so it would be difficult to spot from the ground when flying.
World War II German doodlebug (UEB uncontracted)
by RnibThis page shows two images of the flying bomb, the V1 nicknamed doodlebug. At the top of the page seen from the side and in the bottom and middle of the page a plan view seen from above. There is a locator dot shown, which will be at the top left of the page when the image is the correct way up. Both views have the front on the left and the tail on the right of the page. In the top side view the body of the flying bomb is fatter on the left than the right. It is very streamlined. Halfway along the body the end of the wing can be found. It is angled up slightly to give the bomb lift when it flies. The pulse jet engine on the right is mounted onto the top of the bomb by two brackets. The end of the engine on the left is for air intake and the end on the right is the exhaust thrust. In the plan view image in the bottom and middle of the page the body of the bomb goes from left to right in the centre of the image. The wings go up and down the page from the body. On each wing there is a German cross indicating the bomb belongs to the Luftwaffe. The upper surface is green although sometimes camouflage colours were used so it was difficult to spot from the air. The underneath colour is a pale sky colour so it would be difficult to spot from the ground when flying.