War has always been a major part of history, but it feels less personal when it’s viewed through the lens of old black-and-white photos. However, when color is added, the past becomes more relatable than ever before. These colorized images from the early 20th century take us to some of the most significant battles in history, from the brutal conditions of the First World War to World War 2.
Each image doesn’t just capture the events of the time, but it conveys the raw unfiltered emotion and human sacrifice these soldiers experienced. Through color, history becomes more than a distant memory, but something we can connect with today. Here are 23 colorized photos from the battles of the early 20th century.
1. The Battle to Liberate Marseille France, 1944
The Liberation of Marseille saw fierce fighting and a quick surrender by the Germans. The city was liberated on August 28, 1944, a month ahead of the planned date of liberation.
2. The Battle of Stalingrad, 1942
By the end of this battle, Stalingrad was just rubble. The city was obliterated, and this battle was considered the deadliest battle in history, with around 2 million people dying.
3. The Battle of the Bulge, 1944
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive campaign on the Western Front. It was launched through dense forests between Belgium and Luxembourg in mid-December, so you can bet troops were cold.
4. A soldier in a trench at the Battle of Somme, 1916
In the trenches, soldiers would use mirrors to check out the battlefield and see if there was any enemy fire.
5. Mexican Insurrectos before the Battle of Juarez, 1911
Juarez is directly across the Rio Grande from El Paso, Texas. American troops even stood by to make sure the fighting didn’t cross the border.
6. A patrol of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 lie in wait behind a house during a military maneuver in Germany, 1900
These horses have long stares.
7. A captured German soldier at the Battle of Passchendaele, 1917
Contrary to what most people believe, captured soldiers were generally treated fairly well.
8. A U.S. soldier during the Battle of the Bulge
This battle was fought mostly in the Ardennes Forest during the dead of winter, where soldiers faced subzero temperatures and many got frostbite.
9. British soldiers in the trenches during the Battle of Cambrai
During World War 2, soldiers worked in trenches at night so they were under the cover of darkness. Despite the darkness, countless lives were still lost in the dark of night.
10. The French Foreign Legion charging German lines, 1942
These brave soldiers are charging straight into the line of German automatic weapons during the Battle of Bir Hakeim. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t want to be the one behind that camera.
11. U.S. Marine shooting a flamethrower during the battle of Iwo Jima, 1945
Movies often depict flamethrowers as being able to shoot for minutes at a time, when in reality, a full tank of fuel lasted only about 10 seconds of flame time. In other words, flamethrowers had to make their shots count.
12. Commonwealth soldiers with a German P.O.W at the Battle of Passchendaele, 1917
The Battle of Passchendaele was a muddy failure for the Allies. The battle was basically fought in a swamp, and horses and tanks even drowned in the mud. It is estimated that around over 500,000 soldiers died during this 100-day battle.
13. French troops at the Battle of Verdun, 1916
The Battle of Verdun was one of the longest battles of WWII, lasting a whopping 303 days. That’s almost an entire year spent fighting one battle.
14. Capt. Byron E. Bradford during the Battle of Buna-Gona, 1942
Captain Bradford was awarded the Silver Star for his leadership during WWII.
15. An American soldier during The Battle of the Bulge, 1944
The Battle of the Bulge was the first battle where German soldiers dressed in American uniforms to confuse the Allies. It worked so well that Germans were able to get behind Allied lines and steal cars and other equipment. It got so bad that American troops started quizzing each other on baseball trivia.
16. English soldiers leaving their trench during the Battle of Somme, 1916
Imagine artillery flying all around you and having to wait in line to exit to a safe area.
17. Wartime Christmas. London, 1939
It was a tough time.
18. A young girl outside her home after the Battle of Britain, 1940
The Battle of Britain was the first major military campaign fought entirely by air forces with RAF and Luftwaffe clashing in the skies above Britain.
19. U.S. Marine at the Battle of Eniwetok, 1944
This is U.S. Marine Theodore James Miller, and this is what he looked like after two days of battle. He, unfortunately, would be killed one month later in the Invasion of Ebon Atoll. He was 19 years old.
20. After the Battle of Polygon Wood, 1917
This photo was taken after the battle of German POWs. They would spend the rest of the war in a POW camp at Langemarck.
21. A Mark IV tank ditched in a German trench, 1917
This photo was taken during the Battle of Cambrai, the first battle to feature the large-scale use of tanks. The British rolled out more than 400 of them during this battle.
22. Marines pausing during the Battle of Okinawa, 1945
These Marines are pausing for some much-needed rest at the base of a Japanese monument.
23. Three U.S. soldiers hiding in the snow, 1945
This photo was taken during the bitterly cold Battle of the Bulge. Imagine having to sit motionless for hours in freezing temperatures, just to hold your position. For many soldiers, the cold was as brutal as the enemy.
