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A multimedia resource on WW2 history brought to you by the award winning historian and filmmaker Laurence Rees. More about us

  • WW2 PODCAST LAUNCHED

    WW2 - THE KEY QUESTIONS
    WW2 - The Key Questions, answered by Laurence Rees, is now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

  • Laurence Rees' Blog

    Hitler and Stalin
    A selection of the previews of Laurence Rees' new book on Hitler and Stalin.

  • Expert interviews

    World class historians
    Many of the greatest WW2 experts in the world are interviewed at length, exclusively for WW2History.com.

  • Video

    PLAY
    5:57

    Pacific

    1942

    Japanese 1942 defeat of the Allies
    Starting with their attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 the Japanese embarked on a massive offensive against the Allies in the Pacific and across South East Asia. Why were they so successful so quickly?

  • Testimony

    LISTEN
    5:36

    Pacific

    1942

    Australian soldier
    He arrived in New Guinea as part of an Australian division, tasked with pushing back the Japanese in some of the most arduous and dangerous fighting conditions of the whole war.

  • Key Moment

    READ
     

    Pacific

    1944

    Imphal and Kohima
    The Japanese launched one of their last big offensives of the war, an attack on British and Empire forces on the eastern border of India. Their plan was to defeat the Allies at Kohima and Imphal and then move on to capture the supplies held at Dimapur.

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More information on Laurence Rees

  • Laurence Rees

    Laurence Rees is an acclaimed historian and filmmaker who has specialised in writing books and making TV documentary series about the Second World War for thirty years. In 2006 he won the British Book Award for history book of the year for 'Auschwitz: the Nazis and the 'Final Solution''. His many television awards include a BAFTA, a Grierson Award, a Broadcasting Press Guild Award, a BANFF festival award, an International Documentary Award, a Broadcast Award and a George Foster Peabody Award.
    Read Laurence Rees’ full biography

  • "Rees knows a vast amount about the Second World War and his judgments can seldom be faulted."
    Sir Max Hastings, Sunday Times.

    "Scholars across the world owe a considerable debt of gratitude to Laurence Rees for his immense and unique contribution to historical understanding."
    From the citation awarding Laurence Rees an Honorary Doctorate, University of Sheffield

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