Rare Photos From WWII That Weren't In The Textbooks
World War II was the deadliest conflict in human history, so, naturally, death and destruction are typically the first things that this period call to mind. Yet what about the lives of those that weren't fighting, or the few milliseconds of peace where things seemed almost normal? While the quieter moments of the war are often forgotten, these rare photos from World War II are shedding new light on the other side of this bloody conflict that most people never get to see.
Miss Salute
We often think of women as playing more of a role in the domestic war effort of WWII as opposed to the one overseas, yet these brave volunteers were still heavily present on the battlefield. Pictured are members of the US Army Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) modelling uniforms in 1942.
Close Call
These residents of Leningrad probably feel pretty lucky, as for whatever reason this German SC-1000 bomb didn't explode when it landed in the Russian city. They're probably tempting fate a bit by standing so close, but we can't blame them for feeling bold.
Tip Top Shape
The end of WWII wasn't just celebrated in America — the entire world couldn't help but join in on the festivities. Britain, which was ravaged by the conflict in the European theater, was especially glad to be done fighting, and they held a massive victory parade in 1946 to prove it.
Crybaby
This Frenchman is crying because German soldiers had just marched into the French capital of Paris. The invasion occurred on June 14, 1940, just after the Allied armies had been driven back across France.
