History

History of the Ministry of Defence

• The Ministry of Defence is a relatively young organisation - it has only existed in its present form since 1971 - but its predecessors go back to the times of Henry VII in the 16th century. Find out more about the history of the Ministry of Defence »

History of The Old War Office

• One of the most distinctive landmarks on Whitehall, the Old War Office is an elaborate Edwardian Baroque structure that is normally closed to the public.  See inside the Old War Office and learn about its history »

We Were There: Ethnic Minorities in The British Armed Forces

• Ethnic minorities have served with distinction with the British armed forces for hundreds of years. Find out more about their contributions and read their stories »

Second World War 60th Anniversary

• Commemorating the D-Day Invasion of June 1944
  A short history of D-Day and coverage of the 60th Anniversary events in Northern France 
• WW2 60th Anniversary Commemorations
  60th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War

A series of booklets remembering the bravery of our Armed Forces during the Second World War, 1939-1945.

• The Battle of Kohima, North East India (4 April - 22 June 1944)
  ‘The turning point in the war with Japan’
  Brwydr Kohima, Gogledd Ddwyrain India (4 Ebrill – 22 Mehefin 1944) - (PDF 610 Kb)
  ‘Y trobwynt yn y rhyfel gyda Siapan’
  
• The Battles For Monte Cassino, Central Italy (12 January - 5 June 1944)
  ‘Securing the Allies route to Rome’
• The D-Day Landings, Northern France (6 June 1944)
  ‘The amphibious invasion that established the Second Front’
• The Drive on Caen, Northern France (7 June - 9 July 1944)
  'Overcoming Hitler’s attempt to throw the Allies back into the sea'
• Operation Market Garden, Netherlands (17 - 25 September 1944)
  'The Allies' attempt to establish a bridgehead into Germany'
• The Liberation of the Death and Concentration Camps, Europe (June 1944 - May 1945)
  'Allied troops witness the horror of genocide'
• The Advance from the Seine to Antwerp (25 August - 30 September 1944)
  'The days of rapid advance across North West Europe'
• The Final Battle for Normandy, Northern France (9 July – 30 August 1944)
  'The decisive defeat of the German forces in Normandy'
• The Clearing of the Scheldt Estuary and the Liberation of Walcheren (2 October – 7 November 1944)
  'The days of rapid advance across North West Europe'

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Last Updated: 30 Jun 05