Updated March 10, 2021 247.3k votes 33.8k voters 2.1m views
List Rules
Vote for your favorite photos.
Even decades after its end, WWII still strikes a chord in the hearts of people from all corners of the globe. For some, it was a time of epic heroism and a fight for morality and freedom. For others, it was a time when the darkest imaginations of the human soul came to life. Here, we’ve gathered a collection of rare World War 2 pictures that show both the depths of human evil and the fierce goodness we can aspire to. More than anything, these pictures from the Second World War prove that greatness can be achieved when good men and women vow to fight against monstrosities.
In a world that sometimes seems overrun by chaos, here you’ll find evidence that there is always hope, as long as those who stand for good continue to fight against the forces of evil. Though many are still stunned by the darkness that was revealed during the conflict, these WWII pictures will show you why it’s so important to remember history: It’s the only way to guarantee that some aspects of it are never repeated again.
An abandoned boy sits clutching a stuffed animal amid the ruins that used to be his London home. This image was captured by Toni Frissell after a German air raid in 1945.
10,094 votes
3
8,309 VOTES
The Architect Of Auschwitz Right Before He Met His End
Aleksandra Samusenko was one of the only female tank officers of the Soviet Armed Forces and served as a tank commander from 1943-1944.
Samusenko rose to fame both for her heroic performance during the Battle of Kursk and for leading her forces out of an ambush when her commander fell during a later battle.