Vintage Photos

20 Colorized Photos of 1945

Published July 2, 2025•Updated July 16, 2025

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A group of thirteen men in olive military uniforms relax and pose outdoors with mountains in the background. Some are seated around a table with bottles and glasses, while others stand, all appearing to be in good spirits.
Via Anonymous199129

1945 stands as a defining year in history where the end of World War II brought upon both celebration as well as devastation. Nations up and began to rebuild from numerous years of conflict. This overall collection of colorized photos brings new life to the people, the places, and the moments that ultimately shaped the year. From the wartime scenes to the hopeful glimpses of peace, these images will shine a powerful light on a world on the cusp of wild transformation.

1. American and Soviet soldiers meeting in Torgau, April 1945

A group of World War II soldiers from different armies stand arm-in-arm, smiling and walking together down a cobblestone street between old buildings, showing camaraderie and unity.
tepenny/via reddit.com

2. 1945 Miss America contestants

Eight women in vintage swimsuits and sashes with city names stand arm-in-arm on a wooden boardwalk, smiling, with an arched colonnade and the ocean in the background.
ljm22/via reddit.com

3. US SPG M40/M12 firing Rhine front 1945

Several U.S. military self-propelled artillery vehicles fire large shells in a rural, hilly landscape, with smoke trails rising from the guns and soldiers operating the vehicles. Leafless branches frame the foreground.
slyhoogus/via reddit.com

4. A U.S. soldier during the Battle of the Bulge, January 1945

A soldier in a yellow winter uniform and white helmet sits in the snow against a stone wall, with a rifle propped up nearby. Snow covers his boots and gloves, and his expression appears tired and cold.
anakin_the_chosen_1/via reddit.com

5. A Soviet armored division receiving operational orders prior to the final battle in Berlin, Germany

Soviet soldiers in uniform stand in formation on a city street beside three T-34 tanks, while an officer reads from a paper in front of them. The street is lined with damaged buildings and debris.
klimbim/via reddit.com

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6. Jimmy Stewart, 1945

A man in a U.S. military officer's uniform and cap stands outdoors, facing the camera and smiling slightly, with a blue sky in the background.
givingcolour2history/via reddit.com

7. U.S. Marines pause for a moment of rest, 1945

Six soldiers in uniform relax and rest on the steps of a stone monument with an obelisk, surrounded by trees and sparse vegetation on a windy day.
rwwwhite20/via reddit.com

8. A day back in 1945, London

A massive crowd gathers in a city square beneath a monument with a sign reading "Victory Over Germany 1945," celebrating the end of World War II; buildings and trees surround the square.
emilllwalnder/via reddit.com

9. Norwich, Connecticut, 1945

A busy small-town street in the 1930s or 1940s, lined with brick buildings, vintage cars, power lines overhead, and people walking on the sidewalk under a clear blue sky.
formerherosander/via reddit.com

10. A Dutch child with an American soldier in 1945

A smiling soldier in uniform and helmet holds a young girl in a blue checkered coat. They are sitting outdoors near a damaged brick wall, suggesting a wartime setting.
rwwhite20/via reddit.com

11. The Kyūsyū Maru beached, 1945

A rusted shipwreck leans onto its side near the shore of a tropical beach, surrounded by clear blue water and palm trees under a partly cloudy sky.
vorst17735/via reddit.com

12. The 30th of April in 1945

A war-torn city street is filled with rubble and debris, damaged buildings line both sides, smoke and fire rise in the distance, and a military vehicle is visible in the foreground.
klimbim/via reddit.com

13. Vivien Leigh back in the day, circa 1945

A split image of a woman in an elegant gown and headdress, with the left side in black and white and the right side in color, standing in front of large columns.
ljm22/via reddit.com

14. Another shot of Vivien Leigh in 1945

A woman in a pink robe reclines on a blue sofa, holding an open book. She gazes toward the camera, with decorative pillows behind her and white lilies in a vase by the window in a softly lit room.
everythingisokaynow/via reddit.com

15. A U.S. Marine flamethrower, 1945

A World War II-era soldier in uniform and helmet runs with a flamethrower strapped to his back, holding the nozzle in one hand against a plain, light sky background.
bigpapa7/via reddit.com

16. Soviet forces in Berlin in 1945

Soviet soldiers stand in front of a damaged Brandenburg Gate in Berlin after World War II, with a tank nearby. One soldier smiles holding a camera, while another takes a photo. Rubble and destruction are visible.
burritoburken/via reddit.com

17. Valentine’s Day during the second World War, 1945

A soldier sits on a step, smiling as a young girl hugs and kisses his cheek; a dog and other soldiers are nearby. The left side is black-and-white, the right is colorized.
purplelighting358/via reddit.com

18. An older Italian woman expressing her immense gratitude

An elderly woman embraces and kisses a smiling soldier in uniform while a group of people, including children, look on and smile in the background. The scene suggests warmth and gratitude.
deegoroth/via reddit.com

19. Richard Winters and Easy Company, 1945

A group of men in green military uniforms relax outdoors on chairs and benches, with drinks on a table, against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains under a clear sky.
sefouarac/via reddit.com

20. Boy holding a stuffed toy in London, 1945

A young boy in a tattered coat sits amid rubble, holding a large stuffed toy. His face is dirty and he looks somber. Blurred figures and broken buildings appear in the background.
lucy2000802/via reddit.com

Explore more vintage colorized content:

Appreciate you, ultra homie! The year 1945 marked both the devastation and hope that reshaped the modern world, and these colorized photos help bring that history vividly to life. If you enjoyed this look back, be sure to check out our collection of 20 Colorized Vintage Photos From The Late 1940s for more powerful moments from the decade. You can also dive into 20 Colorized Photos From The Early 1940s to see how the world transformed as the war unfolded.

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Meet the Writer


Matt Staff

Matt has spent over the last 8 years as both a writer and editor, working in Seattle and Brooklyn, where he is now based. He loves escaping the tirelessly fast pace of the “Mad Apple” that is NYC by taking walks and runs through parks where he’s able to catch up on the latest tea about society from the city’s ever chatty, always hungry, occasionally maniacal, pigeons. They always have a lot to say. When he’s not taking his urban nature strolls, or dutifully combing the deepest rabbit holes of the internet to find the content that’s worth sinking your mind’s teeth into, he’s likely holed up at a dark-lit dive bar with a new book and/or some friends, or just as easily he could be on the hunt for the next addition to his steadily growing plant family.

These days Matt’s caught up in trying to provide folks as many vivid glimpses into the days long since passed as he can, through fun and engaging collections of hand-picked vintage photos.



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