War Damage and Destruction

Historical images of destruction from bombings and explosions, featuring wrecked buildings and rescue efforts during wartime.

Singapore residents assess the damage done by a Japanese air raid the previous night. Date: January 1942

Anefo photo collection. Grand Prix Zandvoort 1970. Grand Prix 1970 of the Netherlands for Formula I cars, Zandvoort; Ccrashed car from Piers Courage and flown on fire. A policeman helps extinguish. June 21, 1970. Noord-Holland, Zandvoort

Photographs depicting military activities in France, May - June 1940. Included photographs of Rommel, Guderian, Dreuz, Bottcher, Italian General Garaboldi, Lucie Rommel, shots of Rommel with Hitler. Photographs of equipment and troops arriving and in action, from the personal collection of Rommel.

Photograph taken after the bombing of the Palestine Post

The Last Time - Frau Goering, wife of the notorious Hermann, tries to leave Nuromburg Goal unseen after visiting her husband for the last time before the Judges' verdict was delivered.Watching her mother climb over R.A.F. bomb-damage rubbel is the Goerings' ten-year-old daughter Edda.Frau Goering was formerly the German stage star Emmy Connemann. October 10, 1946. (Photo by Mirror Features)

Anefo photo collection. Underground gas blast in Rotterdam. April 16, 1962. Rotterdam, South Holland

'After the siege'. The Sidney Street Siege (popularly known as the Battle of Stepney) in East London. The siege took place when it was discovered that a gang of Latvian anarchists responsible for the deaths of three policemen during an attempted robbery were living at 100 Sidney Street. The street was cordoned off and the two sides fired at each other for some time. The siege ended with a fire inside the house, and the deaths of two of the gang. The involvement of the Guards was authorised by th

A view of damage sustained at Fort George during Operation Urgent Fury. Subject Operation/Series: URGENT FURY Country: Grenada (GRD)

Bombed area near Imperial Palace after U.S. Air Force air raids, Tokyo, Japan, Stanley Troutman, ACME, New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection, 1945

Police dismantle a barricade set up by anti-fascist demonstrators in the East End of London, part of the protest against the proposed march by Sir Oswald Mosley and his British Union of Fascists. The protest was successful, the march was diverted away from the area. Date: 4 October 1936

Anefo photo collection. The wooden emergency school on the southern hiking trail in Amsterdam has burned down. The fire brigade is extinguishing. July 16, 1969. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

Anefo photo collection. Night club "Moulin Rouge" burned out at Thorbeckeplein in Amsterdam. Fire brigade during extinguishing. October 21, 1981. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

Photograph showing the scene of destruction at Rouen Docks, France, caused by Allied bombing raids on German positions, 1944. In the foreground of this image are a large number of German car and armoured vehicles wrecked and burnt in the bombing. Date: 1944

Vintage Photograph. Firemen fighting blaze in burning building.

Fire exercise on F 2, 1939 Fire exercise, fire extinguishing on F 2 Roslagens flying fleet. Burning outbuildings.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Salatiga. Salatiga. In the night of 18 September, despite monitoring, subversive elements in the center of Salatiga found fire. The burning houses. September 18, 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

Another B-29 Base Under Construction In The Marianas -- Mechanics work on A B-29 (background) even as a bulldozer (foreground) pushes jungle growth out of the way in the construction of another B-29 base in the Marianas from which to strike Japan. May 22, 1945. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

The front wall of the Wilfong Fireworks Co., after it exploded, injuring 13 people, Fort Worth, Texas. June 19, 1953.

Anefo photo collection. Wieringermeerpolder. December 8, 1945. Noord-Holland, Wieringermeer

'Little Africa on Fire' is the description given this photo of the Tulsa Race riot, June 1, 1917. The proper name of the African American section of town was 'Greenwood' (BSLOC_2017_20_78)

Historic photo, riots, streetfight, Spartacus League, March 1919, Berlin, Germany, Europe

Anefo photo collection. Preparation exercise for emergency guard Amsterdam, extinguishing work on the emplacement in Watergraafsmeer. April 7, 1964. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

Fire -- 6th Ave. & 18th, 1916

World war two nurse and air raid warden in London after a bombing raid during the blitz 1942

Anefo photo collection. Explosion of a bomb in the Russian building. Building after the explosion. April 15, 1971. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

' "La Guerre a L'Allemande"; La nef de l'eglise Saint-Gervais, atteinte par le canon a longue portee, le Vendredi-saint, 29 mars 1918, a l'heure de l'office des Tenebres', 1918. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume 2" L'Illustration, Paris, 1924.

A marine guards an entrance to a road near the US Embassy as special security measures are taken during a multinational peacekeeping operation. Base: Beirut Country: Lebanon (LBN)

Anefo photo collection. Bomb attack in the Jewish district of Antwerp. Clearance, by police, army and so on, started. October 20, 1981. Antwerp, Belgium

12/31/1930. Fire at the Toy Factory on Paseo de las Acacias.

Big street fights in Berlin during the general strike. Heavy mine launchers on Alexanderplatz. January 1919

Utter (depicted name).Utter (depicted name)

Anefo photo collection. Police have ended Krakaktie Nijmegen, M.B. Tankdoors and 2000 man staff, tanks at the barricades. February 23, 1981. Nijmegen

Anefo photo collection. Riots around the evacuation of the squat "Lucky Luijk" in Amsterdam. Burning cars as barricades. 11 October 1982. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

Alert U.S. Private First Class Armand Rindone, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, crouching with carbine at railroad station in newly captured town of Hamm, Germany, U.S. Army Signal Corps, April 6,1945

Army personnel from 1ST Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment, Vicenza, help local citizens set up a tent. The Army is helping after a major earthquake on November 23. Base: Auletta Country: Italy (ITA)

Anefo photo collection. Explosion in Italian wholesale of wines and foodstuffs in Amsterdam. 25 April 1978. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

Attempting to salvage burning planes after attack at Pearl Harbor, Dec 7, 1941

Lisbon (Portugal), 04/26/1974. Image obtained moments after the troops reduced four legionaries who were resisting at the Legion headquarters.

An overall view of the north side of the building that was severely bomb damaged in the Khobar Towers complex. The explosion of a fuel truck set off by terrorists at 2:55 p.m. EDT, Tuesday, June 25, 1996, outside the northern fence of the Khobar Towers complex near King Abdul Aziz Air Base, killed 19 and injured over 260. The facility housed U.S. service members and served as the headquarters for the 4404th Wing (Provisional), Southwest Asia. Subject Operation/Series: SOUTHERN WATCH Base: Dhahran Country: Saudi Arabia (SAU)

the burning 'West Virginia' Battle ship during the Japanese air raid on Pearl Harbour, World War Two 1941

1971 San Fernando Earthquake. Two boys look under a section of buckled concrete in downtown Sylmar, California. Feb. 9, 1971.

Anefo photo collection. Police and army with armored cars and tanks clear up barricades in Vondelbuurt, Amsterdam; Mobile unit and tanks in the ravage. March 3, 1980. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

Anefo photo collection. Greenhouses heavily damaged by storm in Pijnacker, soldiers clear glass shards in greenhouses. April 3, 1973. Pijnacker

12/31/1938. Barricade in the Streets of Barcelona during the Fight.

Anefo photo collection. Fire and explosions in building on Quellijnstraat in Amsterdam; Fire brigade during extinguishing. June 16, 1980. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

Anefo photo collection. Windhoos at Camping Duinoord on Ameland, three deaths and hundreds of injured, having ravage at the campsite. August 11, 1972. Ameland, Friesland

The Defence of the Polish Post Office in Danzig on September 1, 1939, Anonymous

General Bomb, Fires etc. March 9, 1950. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Anefo photo collection. Disaster with Sabenavlieg at Brussels, overview of the wrecks. February 15, 1961. Brussels

Berlin Takes Cover Real Gas In "Air Raid" -- The whole of Berlin yesterday joined in an mimic air ***** a sudden hooting at sirens caused the people to ***** and houses. Following deafening explosions, ***** from "bombs" on roof tops. A flaming gas main was ***** by bombs and fireman and men in asbestos suits worked ***** damaged roads. Real gas was used in one ***** the defence force were gas masks and used a special ***** clearing the air, following a mustard-gas attack.Crater in one of the roads supposedly made by a bomb and full of water ***** from bomb which quenched the fire. April 8, 1935. (Photo by Keystone).

V. Bogatkin. The Last Throw. Storming the Reichstag. At the end of World War II, 1945

Anefo photo collection. Fire on the new market 10, overview. March 1, 1965

Madrid, 12/20/1973.- attack on Carrero Blanco: the firefighters have just arrived and are working around the hole caused by the explosion. They were the first moments, when there was still talk of a gas leak.

Whaling in the Ross Sea, 1924, Southern Ocean, by Captain George Samuel Hooper.

Munich (Germany), 09/10/1972. Attack against the headquarters of the Israeli Olympic team during the 1972 Munich Olympics. In the image, the scene where the first two Israelis on this country's team in the Olympics died. You can see the traces of blood and the impact of the gunshots on the walls.

DN-SN-89-10449. Base: San Diego State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A fire in 1918 at the Happy valley race course Hong Kong. February 1918

09/30/1937. Republican bombing on Jovellanos Street, Oviedo. Photo: Adolfo L. Arman.

Anefo photo collection. Rat control in Amsterdam, the scouting of rat gif. July 21, 1965. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

"Air Raid" On London Barracks: A general view of a building set ablaze during the demonstration by incendiary bomb. A realistic test of air raid precautions was carried out at the Wellington barracks here today by the 1st battalion Grenadier guards and the 1st battalion coldstream guards. Officials of the home office saw squads of men drilling in the courtyard dash way when the alarm was sounded. They ran to gas proof rooms. Fire fighting rescue and gas dispersal squads also took part in the demonstration. March 28, 1938.(Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Anefo photo collection. Fire on the Kloveniersburgwal. March 5, 1966

Brooklyn crossing. August 21, 1944.

Los Angeles police drag Black youth from a looted store. Aug. 13, 1965.

Vintage Photograph. Fire two story house.

In December 1936 the B.B.C carried out its first transmission from outside at night. A mock air-raid was staged so that Londoners could see how the Territorial Army had prepared itself for the onset of war. The film showed a unit of the London's Land Defence Force against enemy aircraft under realistic conditions. Date: 1936

Mumbai Police, Bombay Mumbai, Maharashtra, India NO MR Copyright: xMukeshxParpiani/DinodiaxPhotox

Anefo photo collection. Firefighters look residues F15 fuel tank crashed Ingen; Mr. Walbeek (L) garden tank /. June 18, 1986

Anefo photo collection. Riots in Amsterdam in connection with the occupation by students from the Maagdenhuis police on engines. May 20, 1969. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

Stone barricade in Paris' Latin Quarter during the May 1968 general strike and demonstrations in Paris. May 26, 1968.

08/18/1917. The Disorders of Barcelona - Barricades that the Rioters Lifted and Had to Abandon at the intersection of San Jeronimo and San José Oriol Streets (1), and Cadenas Streets (2).

Salute To Dead Monarch - Gunners of the Honourable Artillery Company fire a 56-round salute - one round for each year of the life of King Gorge VI at the Tower of London today. Tower Bridge can be seen in the background. At noon, London time, British warships and Army posts throughout the world started firing the salute at one-minute intervals. February 7, 1952. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Exercise fire fighting at the school for NBCD (nuclear, organic, chemical, damage control) and operational safety in April 1990.

'La Nouvelle Europe; la guerre civile a Berlin; colonne du monument de Guillaume 1er, brisee par un obus. L'aspect de quelques batiments de la place du Chateau-Royal, a Berlin, apres le duel d'artillerie entre les troupes du gouvernement d'Ebert et les marins spartakistes, les 23 et 24 decembre 1918', 1918. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume 2" L'Illustration, Paris, 1924.

Anefo photo collection. Riots at evacuation of properties in Nieuwmarktbuurt in Amsterdam; Water cannon in action against demonstrators. March 24, 1975. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

Clean-up proceeds at the site where a warehouse was hit by an Iraqi Scud missile Feb. 25, 1991, killing 27 U.S. Army Reserve personnel and wounding 100 others during Operation Desert Storm. The building housed the 475th Quartermaster Group (Provisional).. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT STORM Base: Dhahran Country: Saudi Arabia(SAU)

Anefo photo collection. Order Elsevier. Middle Berma Security at Muiden. November 29, 1967. Muiden

DN-ST-84-01316. Base: Beirut Country: Lebanon (LBN)

Anefo photo collection. Mobile unit, tanks armored vehicles barricades squat Vondelbuurt Amsterdam; Centurian tank Aktie. February 1980. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

O.P.S troops using a tank as a battering ram to force entry into a barricaded building during the Easter Rising in Dublin of 1916. Date: 1916

DN-SN-88-09793. Base: USS Constellation (CV 64) Country: Pacific Ocean (POC)

Front Page of the French publication 'France-Soir' reporting the last days of the Gulf War and an IRA Terrorist explosion in central London, 8th February 1991. The Gulf War (2 August 1990 - 28 February 1991), codenamed Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, was a war waged by coalition forces from 35 nations led by the United States against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.

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