Special Collections
World War 2
Description: books and accessible images to support themed learning about World War 2.
- Table View
- List View
Kindertransport
by A.J. StonesCan you imagine leaving your home and your family, and moving hundreds of miles away, to a different country, because it was too dangerous to stay in your own country? During World War II, this was the situation millions of people, many of them children, faced. Stories of World War II: Kindertransport tells the story of the Jewish children who left Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland without their parents in 1939, before the outbreak of World War II, and came to Britain on the Kindertransport. The book explains what happened, why they had to leave their homes, how they came to Britain and what happened to them when they arrived. Much of the material on which the book is based comes from The National Archives, and so is made up of government documents and reports from during World War II. This gives the book a real grounding in fact and in history - it is a true account of what life was like for the children of the Kindertransport during World War II.The other book in the series, Stories of World War II: Evacuation, tells the story of children evacuated from British towns and cities to the countryside during World War II.
Evacuation
by A.J. StonesCan you imagine leaving your home and your family, and moving hundreds of miles away to live with strangers, because it was too dangerous to stay in your hometown? During World War II, this was situation millions of people, the majority of them children, faced. Stories of World War II: Evacuation tells the stories of these children: where they came from, where they went, who looked after them, what they ate, and how they went to school, along with many other details about their lives as evacuees.Much of the material on which the book is based comes from The National Archives, and so is made up of government documents and reports from during World War II. This gives the book a real grounding in fact and in history - it is a true account of what life was like for evacuees during World War II.The other book in the series, Stories of World War II: Kindertransport, tells the story of Jewish children evacuated to Britain from Germany, Holland and Austria before the outbreak of World War II.
Run, Spy, Run!
by Craig SimpsonA British secret agent is photographing top secret German files when he is unexpectedly interrupted, and the alarm is raised. What follows is a desperate battle for survival as Jaques is pursued, hiding where he can and not able to trust anyone. He must find a path out of Occupied France to get the camera and film into British hands, nothing else - not even his own life - matters.This title is published by Franklin Watts EDGE, which produces a range of books to get children reading with confidence. EDGE - for books kids can't put down.
Run, Spy, Run!
by Craig SimpsonA British secret agent is photographing top secret German files when he is unexpectedly interrupted, and the alarm is raised. What follows is a desperate battle for survival as Jaques is pursued, hiding where he can and not able to trust anyone. He must find a path out of Occupied France to get the camera and film into British hands, nothing else - not even his own life - matters.This title is published by Franklin Watts EDGE, which produces a range of books to get children reading with confidence. EDGE - for books kids can't put down.
World War II
by Sir Tony RobinsonWinner of Best Books with Facts in the 2013 Blue Peter awards, voted for by children.In Sir Tony Robinson's Weird World of Wonders World War II, Sir Tony Robinson takes you on a headlong gallop through time, pointing out all the most important, funny, strange, amazing, entertaining, smelly and disgusting bits about World War II! It's history, but not as we know it!Find out everything you need to know in this brilliant, action-packed, fact-filled book, including:- Just how useful mashed potato is- How the Battle of Britain was won- What it takes to be a spy- How D-Day was kept a surpriseFor more World War history facts in this fun series, discover World War I.
World War II Japanese 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, from the front but with the head turned to the left so both arms and legs but only one eye and ear can be found. He wears a sand coloured uniform. He has a peaked cloth cap with a leather headband to the front. At the back there is a cloth flap to protect his neck from the sun. His jacket has the flaps with buttons to two breast pockets showing. There is a leather strap going from the shoulder on the left to the waist on the right and another going from the shoulder on the right to the waist on the left. He has a leather belt with a sword and sheath attached. Only the handle and top part of the sheath is shown. His arms are straight and held out to the left and right. He wears baggy breeches to just below the knee. The lower legs are wrapped with cloth which is held in place with straps. He has lightweight boots on his feet.
World War II Japanese foot soldier (UEB contracted)
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, from the front but with the head turned to the left so both arms and legs but only one eye and ear can be found. He wears a sand coloured uniform. He has a peaked cloth cap with a leather headband to the front. At the back there is a cloth flap to protect his neck from the sun. His jacket has the flaps with buttons to two breast pockets showing. There is a leather strap going from the shoulder on the left to the waist on the right and another going from the shoulder on the right to the waist on the left. He has a leather belt with a sword and sheath attached. Only the handle and top part of the sheath is shown. His arms are straight and held out to the left and right. He wears baggy breeches to just below the knee. The lower legs are wrapped with cloth which is held in place with straps. He has lightweight boots on his feet.
World War II Japanese 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, from the front but with the head turned to the left so both arms and legs but only one eye and ear can be found. He wears a sand coloured uniform. He has a peaked cloth cap with a leather headband to the front. At the back there is a cloth flap to protect his neck from the sun. His jacket has the flaps with buttons to two breast pockets showing. There is a leather strap going from the shoulder on the left to the waist on the right and another going from the shoulder on the right to the waist on the left. He has a leather belt with a sword and sheath attached. Only the handle and top part of the sheath is shown. His arms are straight and held out to the left and right. He wears baggy breeches to just below the knee. The lower legs are wrapped with cloth which is held in place with straps. He has lightweight boots on his feet.
World War II German 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, from the front but with the head turned to the left so both arms and legs but only one eye and ear can be found. He wears a grey coloured uniform. He has a metal helmet on his head. His jacket has the flaps with buttons to two breast and two waist pockets showing. There is a decorative motive on each collar flap. Up from the breast pocket on the left there is the German military badge which is made from a bird and a swastika. There is a leather strap going from the shoulder on the left to the waist on the right. He has a leather belt with four leather pouches on it. His arms are straight and held out to the left and right. He wears trousers to just below the knee. He has long black leather boots on his feet.
World War II German 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, from the front but with the head turned to the left so both arms and legs but only one eye and ear can be found. He wears a grey coloured uniform. He has a metal helmet on his head. His jacket has the flaps with buttons to two breast and two waist pockets showing. There is a decorative motive on each collar flap. Up from the breast pocket on the left there is the German military badge which is made from a bird and a swastika. There is a leather strap going from the shoulder on the left to the waist on the right. He has a leather belt with four leather pouches on it. His arms are straight and held out to the left and right. He wears trousers to just below the knee. He has long black leather boots on his feet.
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.
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 (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 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 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 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 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 (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 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 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 (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 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 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 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.