Historical Military Actions

A collection of dramatic black-and-white images from past military actions, including bombings and training exercises, illustrating the intensity of warfare.

'Victoire Italienne; dans le secteur du Montello: vagues italiennes s'elancant pour la contre-attaque', 1918. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume 2" L'Illustration, Paris, 1924.

American Fires, File 1, General 1969 & Prior - Fires, Overseas. April 28, 1947.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Re-training 41 R.V.A., the exercises, after an exercise, everything is discussed again; Some pictures at Art. lt. King. Djampang Koelon. Only arrived troops of a field artillery department get a four-week infantry training in Djampang Koelon. The storm track is one of the toughest tasks for the men. But they are not even "crates" even when heavy smoke hangs and rattles. November 12, 1948. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

Air raid on Natscha Operation Barbarossa - German Invasion of Russia, 1941 - 15th Infantary Division of the Thuringia-Kurhessen Division

At the Harbor of Rabayl, a bombing of a Japanese ship (in foreground). The white plulme in the center foreground is a waterspout from bomb burst outside the focus of the camera. Plane in left center is a U.S. Army Air Forces B-25, passing over spot on water where eight bomb or shell had just burst. Light spots along shoreline are fires caused by the U.S. bom

Photograph of the Capsized USS Oklahoma and the USS Maryland after the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor

The Dutch army is practicing in La Courtine. Pay attention! The above description is a generic series description based on the information stated by the army film and photo service. In the long term, this global description will be specified.

Charred Planes Line Deck -- The charred wreckage of these planes, which were awaiting take-off when the Aircraft Carrier USS Bunker Hill was hit twice with in thirty seconds by Jap suicide pilots, depicts the destruction wrought by the attack on the ship off the Coast of Okinawa, May 11. Crewmen conquered the fires and brought the USS Bunker Hill to a West Coast Yard for repairs. June 21, 1945. (Photo by Associated Press Photo)

American lined up on beach at Humboldt Bay. Burning Japanese stores threw a pall of smoke over beach as American troops capture Japanese held Hollandia in Dutch New Guinea. April 25, 1944.

Kuma class cruiser taking...

'Victoire Italienne; dans le secteur du Montello: vagues italiennes s'elancant pour la contre-attaque', 1918. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume 2" L'Illustration, Paris, 1924.

Soviet tanks and aircraft launching an attack, Russia, 1943. The photographer is unknown.

1940s DECEMBER 7 1944 DARK SMOKE RISING FROM SINKING NAVY SHIP USS WEST VIRGINIA PEARL HARBOR HAWAII

Plane Comes Through Smoke it Created -- An A-20 Havoc of the 5th Army Air Force Files away from the dense, billowing smoke it created by blowing up an oil storage tank at Boela on the island of Ceram, Netherlands East Indies. These tanks supplied a heavy percentage of fuel oil and gasoline requirement for the Japs. October 8, 1944. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

03/04/1919. A fire in Barcelona. Remains of the jute bale warehouse that has been destroyed by fire.

Pearl Harbor, T.H., December 7, 1941 - Taken by surprise at Pearl Harbor. Wreckage at Naval Air Station, Pearl Harbor. Photo by US Navy

Explosion on hill 2 men ...

The above photo just released by the U.S. Navy shows - The end of the American Aircraft Carrier Wasp. Turned into a blazing inferno by there enemy torpedoes which ripped into her vitals, the USS Wasp lists to starboard as smoke billows out onto the ocean Breeze. Several figures and a plane can be seen at the bow and other men at the *****. The 14,700-ton Aircraft carrier was attacked successfully by an enemy submarine September 15,1942, while escorting ships and supplies for Guadalcanal, Soloman Islands. The white streak in the foreground is the wake of the ship from which this picture was taken. October 28, 1942. (Photo by U.S. Navy Official Photo).

Blowing up a dug-out with a concentrated attack Probably between Zniatyn and Zalesczzy on the Dniester, Galicia, border to Bukovina; photographer: Fotostelle 3.

F4U-4 Corsair fighter of US 1st Marine Air Wing in flight over a contested battlefield, Korea1952

First American Marines to land on the beaches of the former Japanese stronghold of Peleliu in the Palau Islands are shown here on D-Day 14 September 1944 (WLT), creening forward in their "amtracks" while naval gunfire lays down a barrage. Just beyond the fringe of trees on the beach may be seen the Japanese airfield, primary objective on the island. At least two of the "amtracks" are ablaze from the Japanese mortar fire which met the Marines as they landed. September 20, 1944. (Photo by Official U.S. Navy Photograph).

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Fire; Brigade equipment park 2nd inf. Brig. Poerwakarta. Poerwakarta. In the night of 2 on 3 July, terrorist gangs fired a storage location of the brigade equipment park, whereby O.M. a batch of rejected clothing, a number of car tires and five vessels were lost. Soldiers engaged in extinguishing and storage work .. July 3, 1948. Indonesia, Java, Dutch East Indies, Purwakarta

Photograph showing British stretcher-bearers collecting their wounded in no man's land whilst coming under fire from German artillery. One of the teams (on right) is composed of German prisoners of war. The Illustrated London News reported that the prisoners were used for such work during emergencies and were usually content to do so. Date: 1916

Hit by three bombs which exploded her forward magazine, the 1,500-ton destroyer Shaw lies a twisted mass of wreckage in the heavily bombed floating Drydock Yed-2. Note the Shaw's bow lying on its side at left, while remainder of vessel remains upright after the sneak Jap on Pearl Harbor, December 7th, 1941. Both destroyer and Drydock are back in use. February 4, 1943. (Photo by U.S. Navy Photo).

Eruption. This graphic picture of Mt. Lamington in violent eruption was taken last Thursday. It is feared that many Europeans and natives have perished. January 22, 1951.

Red Army soldiers on a battlefield near Kharkov, 1942, Anonymous

British Landings on Walcheren - British assault troops landed on Walcheren at dawn on 1 November 1944 and most of Flushing was included in the first bridgehead. The landings were supported by fire from British warships. The object of the assault is to silence the enemy guns menacing the Scheldt passage to the port of Antwerp. This image shows troops advancing along the waterfront near Flushing with shells bursting ahead.

Fire exercise on F 2, 1939 Fire exercise, fire extinguishing on F 2 Roslagens flying fleet. Covered outbuilding.

Aachen, Germany October 20, 1944As the city becomes darkened by a pall of smoke from exploding shell bursts, Yank artillerymen move their gun into position on the corner of Bismarck St. in Aachen, as street-to-street fighting continues in the besieged German city. It was announced today that the American first army had completed the mop-up of Aachen, leaving Gen. Hodge's army free to continue its drive eastward over the Cologne plain.

Aerial Picture Of Cassino After Bombing -- An Aerial view of Cassino, Italy showing the ***** caused by Allied bombs during the battle for the town. Not a single building remains whole. March 29, 1944. (Photo by U.S. Official Photo).

Photograph of a Bunker, Fire, and Smoke (Believed to be an Exercise at Exhibit).

'Les hasards du service d'etat-major; Un projectile ennemi mal dirige ecorne une construction voisine ; la voiture que l'on distingue derriere le tas de broussailles, a droite, n'a pas souffert de ce coup', 1917. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume 1" L'Illustration, Paris, 1924.

Anefo photo collection. Airplane of American Air Force crashed in Maurik at Tiel. Extinguishing work at the wreckage of the crossed Phantom jet jet. June 21, 1971. Gelderland, Maurik

Anefo photo collection. Marinierskamp Doorn Mobilization exercise. August 23, 1951. Doorn

USS 'Shaw' exploding during the attack on Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, World War II, 7 December 1941. Artist: Unknown

Photograph of the USS Arizona, the USS Tennessee, and the USS West Virginia after the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor

Heligoland Blown ***** -- An aerial view as the great explosion goes up. Huge clouds of smoke completely cover the island.6,000 tons of explosives were used to destroy Heligoland the former German island fortress in the North Sea, in the greatest explosion since the Bikini atom. It is hoped that the submarine pens, galleries constructed by the Nazis have been destroyed used as a war base. April 30, 1947. (Photo by Sport & General Press Agency, Limited)

First photograph showing the British use of gas in battle on October 14th, 1915. After the Germans used poison gas at Ypres in April 1915, it became a common feature of World War I battles. Date: October 23rd 1915

Ammunition Ship Explodes In Harbor Of Bari, Italy - Amidsts The Billowing Clouds Of Smoke, Firemen Pour Water On The Wreckage Caused By Exploding Ammunition Ship. At The Right, Can Be Seen Part Of The Ship And One Gun Position.

Hunting Russian Guerrillas -- Caption on this picture, received today from Lisbon, says it shows the burning of a Russian village as German shock troops sought to drive Russian Guerrillas from their hiding places. September 8, 1943. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Caroline Islands - Pacific War File. May 22, 1944.

Santander devastated by the fire of 1941.

Shells Hit Pootung -- -Fires started by shells from Communist guns rage in Pootung across the Whangpoo river from Shanghai on May 22 when Nationalists repelled a Communist attack. Since then Pootung and Shanghai as well have been captured by the Communists. May 27, 1949. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942USS Lexington (CV-2) under air attack on 8 May 1942, as photographed from a Japanese plane. Heavy black smoke from her stack and white smoke from her bow indicate that the view was taken just after those areas were hit by bombs. Destroyer in the lower left appears to be USS Phelps (DD-360)

Escort Vessel Hit By R.A.F. Rockets - Off French Biscay Coast -- Six rockets, three each side of the picture, hurting towards the ship with deadly accuracy.Rocket-firing Beaufighters, of R.A.F.Coastal Command, led by Wing Commander A. Gadd, D.F.C., of Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex, carried out devastating dusk attack on a Sans Souci escort vessel in the harbor of Les Sables D'Olonne on the French Biscay coast.While the Allied Armies are closing in one Brest Peninsula Coastal Command aircraft are harassing the enemy ships trying to carry badly-needed supplies. August 11, 1944. (Photo by British Official Photograph).

Stack of Gelignite goes up at green hills during army training for ***** Demolition work. February 02, 1954.

Combined Operation - British Army. June 29, 1943. (Photo by British Official Photograph).

HMS Canopus bombarding Turkish forts March 1915

German aircraft taking aerial pictures of the recently destroyed ally trench. Dated 1940

A spectacular and drastic series of tests of a new shelter designed to provide security for A.R.P. Personnel, staged in Birmingham for the benefit of home office and war office representatives and M.P.'S etc. The shelter, made from heavy bullet-proof steel plate, provides, it is claimed, protection from splinters, shrapnel, falling masonry, glass, blast, bullets and incendiary bombs. A will falling on some of the new shelters. February 09, 1939. (Photo by Sport & General Press Agency, Limited).

Smoke & flames from Western Plateau. October 8, 1939.

Aerial photograph showing the destruction of the former naval base on Heligoland, Germany, on 18th April 1947. Heligoland had been a stronghold for German military forces during both World Wars and was destroyed by the British Armed forces, using 6700 tons of high explosive, as part of the post-war reconstruction of Germany. The great cloud of smoke shown in this picture was red with disintegrated sandstone and rose to an estimated height of 10,000 feet. Date: 1947

Anefo photo collection. Fire brigade gave demonstration according to the Purple K Light system in Rotterdam Pernis. September 16, 1965. Pernis, Rotterdam

R.A.A.F ambulance shot down by the ***** in the middle East. December 29, 1941.

Flame Throwers Blasts Jap Pill-Box a flame thrower operated by an American soldier spurts a blast of fire against Jap Pill-Box on a beach on New Georgia in the Pacific. Two riflemen cover the soldier manning the flame thrower. This is a Signal Corps photo from Owl. March 15, 1944. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

This aerial view shows the burning city of Chauny in France after a field type.Original text: "The German conquered French town of Chauny, which the Refransmen's Returns were stuck on fire. Photograph taken by Entysk Scout Flyer of 200 m. Height."This aircraft image shows the burning city of Chauny in France after a field type. Original text: "The French city conquered Chauny, which the Returns of the Vidrvarfriend were stuck on fire. Photograph taken by EntySk surgery flights of 200 m. Height.

The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Wasp (CV-7) burning after receiving three torpedo hits from the Japanese submarine I-19 east of the Solomons, 15 September 1942.

King Abdullad Watches Army Demonstration -- An attack by tanks using Flame Throwers is watched by Officers during the demonstration.King Abdullah of Jordan, now on a visit to Great Britain, with Major General Glubb Pasha, Commander of the Arab Legion, and other Military given by the School of Infantry at Warminster Wilts. August 24, 1949. (Photo by Sport & General Press Agency, Limited).

First World War Panoramas Collection

Panzerkorvette Lutfi Dschelil, explosion and downfall of the Turkish monitor, a small and slow, but with very heavy guns in one or more towers, warship, historically, digitally restored reproduction of a template from the 190, around 1890, Record Date Not Stated

Korean War. An American B-29, piloted by Sam Lodgin, shot down by anti-aircraft gunners of the North Korean Army on September 9, 1950.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. Exercise Amphibious landing operations troops come to country with Vickers machine gun are shot on landing troops. 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

The Battle of the Somme, July-november 1916

Bombing of airdrome at Hollandia, New Guinea, April 3, 1944. 345th Bomb Group, 501st Bomb Squadron.

Germany invades USSR 1941

Dunkirk and the Retreat From France 1940 Ships off the beaches at Dunkirk, c.3 June 1940. Smoke billows from burning oil storage tanks.

Combat training corps CommandTokken, Stormschool Bloemendaal, 26-28 August 1947

The German cruiser 'Emden' cruises the Indian Ocean doing what damage she can : she shells the Anglo-Persian oil installation near Madras - seen burning here. Date: 22nd September 1914

Three Battleships After Pearl Harbor Bombing

The Battle of Britain Soldiers guard the smouldering remains of Junkers Ju 88 (W.Nr. 4136: 3Z+BB) of I/KG 77 which crashed at Hertingfordbury, Hertfordshire on 3 October 1940.

Balkan Air Force Strikes in Yugoslavia. Here a South African Air Force Squadron serving with the Balkan Air Force attacks with rocket-firing Beaufighters targets in the German-occupied town of Zuzemberk, Yugoslavia, early in 1945.

German forces are shown crossing a bridge in Holland. The armed troops are ordered to destory key parts of the Dutch city, while advancing towards Amsterdam. Taken during the invasion of Holland 1940.

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Heligoland Goes With A BangThe end of Heligoland Resembling the Bikini atomic-mushroom. the great pall of smoke rises into the air following the terrific explosion on the island. At precisely one o'clock today, Friday, Lieut-Commander Francis Mildred, R.N., pressed a button on the small cable ship Lasso and nine miles away Heligoland went up amidst 7,00 tons of high explosive. This was the end of Germany's North Sea island fortress. With the staccato explosion and of Germany's North Sea island fortress. With the staccato explosion and the rumble which followed, there appeared two enormous mushroom-like clouds which within six minutes had risen to 8,000 ft. The surrounding sea was covered in splashes from the falling debris. April 18, 1947. (Photo by Reuterphoto).

08/31/1909. The bombing of the Gurugú. Fifteen Centimeter Cannon Battery commanded by Captain Aspe Cannoning the enemy's positions from the Camellos fort.

09/02/1911. Punishment of the Rebellious Moors. Moorish aduar burned and blown up by our Troops in Insmanufen. Photo: Grices.

World War II, charred bodies laying amongst the destruction from the Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, 09/06/45

The Second Battalion, Twenty-Seventh Marines on top of Hill during Battle, Iwo Jima, photograph by Bob Campbell, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Marine Corps, February 1945

Chincha Islands War 1864-1866 between Spain and her former South American colonies. Bombardment of Callao, 2 May 1866, Spanish warships firing on Peruvian coastal defences. Print 1868.

Japanese planes in action over Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. The USS Narwhal in foreground was not hit.

The U.S. Marines And The Navy Bombers At Work Against In Solomons Islands -- Black smoke plumes skyward from Tanambogo Island, after U.S. carrier-based planes had blasted Jap installations on the isle. November 30, 1942.

Service eruption of Vesuvius in April 4. 1906.

Ruins of Kojdruwo Operation Barbarossa - German Invasion of Russia, 1941 - 15th Infantary Division of the Thuringia-Kurhessen Division

08/06/1945. The nuclear "mushroom" after the bomb explosion over Hiroshima.

Nazi tank crew surrenders at Bayonet Point.German tank crew surrenders at Bayonet point. November 08, 1942.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. Burn along the road along the Sungai Bathangari. December 30, 1948. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

Anefo photo collection. Forest fire at Arnhem, bulldozers driving forest flat. July 7, 1976. Arnhem

Pearl Harbor. 12/07/1941. The Japanese surprise attack on the American base at Pearl Harbor, which marked the entry of the United States into the war.

Crewmen from the ammunition ship USS MOUNT HOOD (AE-29), not visible, and an SH-3A Sea King helicopter from Fleet Composite Squadron 5 (VC-5) participate in search and rescue (SAR) operations near the beached and overturned Filipino frigate RPS DATU KALANTIAW (PS-76). The ship was overtaken by Typhoon Clara. Base: Calayan Island Country: Philippines

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