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
3:56

Holocaust
1941

Development of Auschwitz 2
The Nazi war of 'annihilation' fought on the Eastern Front was to make its mark on Auschwitz, as the SS started killing Soviet prisoners at the camp - eventually with Zyklon B.
Testimony

LISTEN
4:28

Holocaust
1941

Member of Einsatzgruppe
In the Baltic states around 80% of the killing squads were eventually made up of locals – men like Petras Zelionka. In this devastating testimony he describes how he personally took part in the murder of Jews in the autumn of 1941.
Key Moment

READ

Holocaust
1941

Hitler talks of Jewish 'annihilation'
In an important speech to the Nazi leadership – both Gauleiter and Reichleiter – Hitler linked the outbreak of this new ‘world war’ with a ‘prophecy’ he had given in January 1939 about the fate of the Jews.

More information on 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

Lesson Plans for Teachers
- Specialist educators have devised Lesson Plans and accompanying resources for teachers to make the most of WW2History.com.
  
  Lesson Plans cover topics on the Eastern Front, Western Front, Pacific Front and Holocaust
  
  View all lesson plans
Links
- Holocaust Educational Trust
  Committed to ensuring that the memory of the greatest crime in history never dies.
  
  Browse WW2 links
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