We have detected that you are using an older version of Internet Explorer and to have access to all the features on this site, you will need to update your browser to Internet Explorer 8. Alternatively, download Mozilla Firefox or Chrome.

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

  • THE FASCINATION OF WW2

    WHY IS WW2 IMPORTANT?
    Read an interview with Laurence Rees about why it is so necessary we know this history.

  • Laurence's new book

    The Nazi Mind
    Buy 'The Nazi Mind: Twelve Warnings from History' - a Sunday Times bestseller,

  • Expert interviews

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

  • Video

    PLAY
    3:52

    Western

    1939

    Hitler’s War
    Hitler, according to Professor Richard Evans, wanted to ‘create in eastern Europe what he thought of as the equivalent of the American West.’ This film examines the barbarity of Hitler’s ‘vision’ and why it meant war.

  • Testimony

    LISTEN
    8:53

    Holocaust

    1940

    Prisoner in Auschwitz
    As one of the first prisoners to be sent to Auschwitz, Jerzy Bielecki suffered many of the initial horrors of the place – including the infamous 'hanging' torture.

  • Key Moment

    READ
     

    Eastern

    1945

    Stalin and the West
    Stalin's dealings with the West were often tense and fractured. And his problematic relationship with the British and the Americans would cast a long shadow.

Like a large number of websites, this one uses cookies. Read more about our cookies and how to disable them if you wish

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

BOOKS BY LAURENCE REES

TV DOCUMENTARY SERIES BY LAURENCE REES

Also on this site

AWARDS

WW2History.com