22 Powerful Photos That Show the Courage and Cost of World War II

Written by Alina Wang on
A group of World War II soldiers in helmets and gear sit inside a military landing craft on water, with one looking over the side; an American flag is visible at the back under a cloudy sky.

World War II was a time of unimaginable hardship, courage, and transformation. Seemingly overnight, ordinary folks were thrust into extraordinary roles on both the front lines and the home front as life was reshaped by the demands of war. From the battle-scarred beaches of Normandy to the quieter moments shared by soldiers longing for home, these impactful World War II photos offer a glimpse into the humanity and sacrifice behind the headlines of war and destruction.

1. Soviet Soldiers Lay Down Their Arms and Surrender to the German 97th Jäger Division During the Battle of Uman in Ukraine, August 1941

A group of soldiers with helmets raise their hands in surrender while walking through a field. The image is in black and white and appears to be from a historical wartime setting.
rokossovsky41/Reddit.com

2. Colorized Image of the Attacks on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941

A battleship engulfed in thick black smoke and flames, with several sailors fleeing in a small boat on the water in the foreground. The scene is chaotic, suggesting a naval attack or disaster.
Freefight/Reddit.com

4. German Soldiers Ride Inside a Transport Plane During the Battle of Crete in Greece, May 1941

A group of soldiers wearing helmets and uniforms sit closely together inside a dimly lit military transport vehicle, holding rifles and gear, appearing to wait or rest during wartime.
jacksmachiningreveng/Reddit.com

5. American Soldiers Prepare a Special Present for Hitler, April 1945

Two African American WWII soldiers smile; one kneels by a sign reading "Easter Eggs For Hitler," while the other holds an artillery shell labeled "Happy Easter Adolph." More decorated shells are on the ground.
RebelPoetically/Reddit.com

6. USS Oklahoma Raised After the Pearl Harbor Attacks, in Which 429 Lives Were Lost

A large, partially sunken warship tilts in the water, with heavy artillery guns visible and twisted metal structures protruding above the surface. The scene appears chaotic and somber.
DiosMioMan2/Reddit.com

7. Colorized Image of London in the Aftermath of the Blitz, May 1941

A large bomb crater in a city street engulfs a tram and nearby buildings, with debris scattered and several people observing the destruction. The scene shows extensive war damage to structures and infrastructure.
Electrical-Aspect-13/Reddit.com

8. D-Day: American Troops Prepare to Land on the Beaches of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944

Soldiers wearing helmets and gear prepare to disembark from a military landing craft into the sea, likely during a World War II operation. The ocean and cloudy sky are visible in the background.
Fila1921/Reddit.com

9. American Women Working To Support the War Effort Back Home

Four women in work overalls and headscarves operate machinery in a factory, smiling at the camera. A man stands in the background among pipes and industrial equipment. The photo appears to be from the mid-20th century.
Electrical-Aspect-13/Reddit.com

10. A Tuskegee Airman Stands Next to His Fighter Plane

A Black pilot in a flight jacket and headgear stands beside the cockpit of a military aircraft, one hand resting on the plane, looking at the camera. The background is clear sky.
TheAfternoonStandard/Reddit.com

11. More Allied Troops Descending Onto Normandy, 1944

Soldiers in helmets wade ashore from landing craft onto a beach, with military vehicles and equipment in the background. More troops and vehicles are visible further inland. The scene is chaotic and intense.
UserDeleted/Reddit.com

12. African American Soldiers Stand Guard During a Military Funeral

A line of uniformed soldiers stands with rifles at attention beside graves marked with crosses and American flags in a military cemetery under a partly cloudy sky.
TheAfternoonStandard/Reddit.com

13. 101st Airborne Paratroopers Assess the Wreckage of a Fallen Plane During ‘Operation Market Garden’ on September 17, 1944

A group of World War II soldiers in full gear gather around the wreckage of a downed aircraft, tending to wounded comrades amid debris. The scene is tense and chaotic.
BigBearSD/Reddit.com

14. American Troops Board a Douglas C-47 Plane Ahead of ‘Operation Chicago’ on June 5, 1944

Four World War II paratroopers with camouflaged faces sit inside a military aircraft, holding parachutes and wearing helmets and gear, ready for a jump. The mood is tense and focused.
marinamaral/Reddit.com

15. German Soldiers Advance Through Rubble-Strewn Trenches of the Volga River During the Battle of Stalingrad, August 1942

A group of German soldiers in World War II uniforms, armed and advancing through a muddy, barren battlefield with debris and tools, under an overcast sky. A watermark reads "MEDIA DRUM WORLD" in the corner.
ww2historia/Reddit.com

16. US Marines Raise an American Flag After One of the Bloodiest Battles in the Pacific, Securing Iwo Jima From Japanese Forces, February 1945

Six soldiers raise an American flag atop a rocky hill during World War II, with a cloudy sky in the background, symbolizing victory and teamwork.
Joe Rosenthal/Public Domain/Wikipedia Commons

17. British Soldiers Ambush German Troops During the Second Battle of El Alamein in Egypt, August 1942

Two soldiers with rifles approach a tank in a dusty, chaotic battlefield, while a person inside the tank raises an arm, possibly surrendering, under dramatic cloudy skies.
go_get_the_guitar/Reddit.com

18. Tuskegee Airmen Gather for a Pre-Mission Briefing, 1945

A group of Black WWII pilots in uniform gather around a table covered with papers, attentively listening to instructions from fellow officers in a room with maps on the walls.
TheAfternoonStandard/Reddit.com

19. German and Italian POWs in Pontescodogna, Italy, After 15,000 Troops Surrendered on April 29, 1945

A large group of soldiers in uniform sit and crouch closely together outdoors on grass, with some dogs in the foreground and trees and buildings in the background. The scene appears historical and somber.
the_giank/Reddit.com

20. Brazilian Soldiers of the FEB Entering Milan, Italy, Through the Giuseppe Garibaldi Tunnel, April 1945

A military truck carrying soldiers emerges from the Galleria Giuseppe Garibaldi tunnel as a crowd of civilians stands nearby, watching and gathering in front of the stone archway entrance.
TheAfternoonStandard/Reddit.com

21. ‘Soviet Soldiers of the 3rd Ukrainian Front Hug Each Other Following the End of the War, 1945’

Two soldiers in uniform embrace and kiss outdoors, each carrying weapons and wearing equipment belts. The image is black and white, with a clear sky and grassy background.
sasha_man123/Reddit.com

22. ‘Audie Murphy, the Most Decorated US Soldier of WWII, at Boot Camp in Camp Wolters, Texas, 1942’

Black and white photo of a young soldier in uniform and helmet standing on grass, holding a rifle vertically in front of him, with houses and a tree in the background.
HGpennypacker/Reddit.com

Interested in more war content?

We think you’ll love 10 Valuable World War II Collectibles, along with The End of WWII and Beyond: 31 Vintage Photos That Show What Life Was Really Like in 1945. And don’t forget to check out A Glimpse Into 1941: 34 Vintage Photos From a World on the Brink.