World War II

Amber Room

A Brief History of the Amber Room

Dubbed the "Eighth Wonder of the World," the room that once symbolized peace was stolen by Nazis then disappeared for good

The Institution's treasures were under 24-hour guard until World War II's end. The superintendent of the Shenandoah National Park selected five residents of Luray and the vicinity to serve as guards. "All fine men thoroughly conscientious in their duty," these guards were led by Lynn Black (far left, front row), and protected the collections against sabotage, theft and fire.

In the Event of War

How the Smithsonian protected its "strange animals, curious creatures" and more

Unveiled at a recent ceremony in Washington honoring Virginia Hall, this portrait will be added to the CIA's Fine Arts Collection. Painted by artist Jeff Bass, it shows her transmitting messages from occupied France using her suitcase radio. The painting was underwritten by a donation from attorney Robert Guggenhime.

WANTED: The Limping Lady

The intriguing and unexpected true story of America's most heroic—and most dangerous—female spy

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It's Over

We asked readers to tell us where they were and how they reacted to the news that World War II had ended. And what a response we got!

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War Stories

Remembering the sound and fury—and the joy—of the end of World War II

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Grand Reunion

For the dedication of a new World War II memorial on the Mall, the Smithsonian will stage a four-day festival of reminiscence

Japanese tank column advancing in Bataan

In Their Footsteps

Retracing the route of captured American and Filipino soldiers on the Bataan Peninsula in World War II, the author grapples with their sacrifice

Norman Rockwell's "Four Freedoms" theme was rejected at first, but the posters became classics.

Any Bonds Today?

When Uncle Sam passed the hat in World War II, Americans came up with $185 billion to buy U.S. bonds

Defendants in the dock at the Nuremberg trials

Fifty Years Ago, the Trial of Nazi War Criminals Ended: The World Had Witnessed the Rule of Law Invoked to Punish Unspeakable Atrocities

In the war-shattered city of Nuremberg, in November 1945, an Allied tribunal convened to seek justice in the face of the Third Reich's monstrous war crimes

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'America Beats By Far Anything,' Said the Ex-POW

In WWII, thousands of captive Germans found our prison camps so hospitable that they later became U.S. citizens

Private Roy W. Humphrey is being given blood plasma after he was wounded by shrapnel in Sicily in August 1943.

Again and Again in World War II, Blood Made The Difference

In 1940 the hard-driving Harvard biochemist Edwin Cohn broke plasma down into its different proteins and saved millions of soldiers' lives

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