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Discover the heroes of World War II and how their
service shaped their families and communities.
Discover the heroes of World War II and how their
service shaped their families and communities.
Article
Read the WWII
Stories of
Those Who Were There
In partnership with the WWII Veterans History Project
Ancestry and WWII VHP have curated 80 veteran stories to ensure their experiences and legacies are preserved for generations to come.
Video
Ancestry Helps Find
a
Priceless WWII Heirloom
From KCTV5 News
Watch as Ancestry genealogist Lisa Elzey connects a history-loving fire chief with the medal his grandfather earned for serving in World War II.
Article
Ancestry Surprises Descendants of Heroic
WWII B-17 Crew
By Ancestry in partnership with the TODAY Show
To commemorate the anniversary of the end of WWII, we brought the descendants of this heroic B-17 crew together for the first time.
Records
Quickly Search for Your Ancestors Who Served
By Ancestry
Search our military records and see who you find. You can search every era at once, or pair your query down to specific wars and conflicts.
Article
War Brides and the
War Brides Act of 1945
By Ancestry
At the end of World War II, thousands of soldiers left behind someone precious—the foreign-born spouses they married during their time overseas.
Article
WWII Impacted All Levels of U.S. Society, Even Baseball
By Ancestry
Many baseball players around the country enlisted or were drafted into service. Yet, regular season play continued throughout the war.
Video
5 Tips for World War II Research
By Ancestry
Learn helpful tips and tricks on how to uncover unique details about your ancestors’ lives during the Second World War.
Video
Finding Heroes
Episode 1:
The Lost Paratrooper
By Ancestry
A pair of hosts travel to Holland to find a set of lost WWII artifacts connected to a young paratrooper. They later present their discoveries to his modern-day descendant, a paratrooper himself.
Video
Meet the woman who photographed the untold stories of WWII
Toni Frissell’s work made visible those who were often overlooked. Today, her granddaughter honors her legacy by sharing her story.
Article
The 100th Infantry Battalion:
A Proud Fighting Force
By Ancestry
The US was at war with Japan—but this distinguished Japanese American battalion was determined to defend its country.
Article
The World War II Draft Card Collection
By Ancestry
This set of over 50 million draft cards reveals personal details like height, eye color, and the signatures of the men who were called to serve.
Gallery
The Fold3 Honor Wall
Are the veterans in your family receiving the recognition they deserve? Search for your World War II ancestors’ names and faces on the Fold3 Honor Wall.
Article
The Tuskegee Airmen:
A Fighting Chance
The Tuskegee Airmen:
A Fighting Chance
By Henry Louis Gates, Jr
This inspiring group of African American fighter pilots achieved tremendous success from high above the battlefields.
Article
Women in the War:
Rising to the Occasion
By Henry Louis Gates, Jr
Women from every corner of America answered the call in myriad ways—serving as chefs, nurses, mechanics, even pilots.
Facts
Did You Know?
More than 650,000 Jeeps were built during WWII. American factories also produced 300,000 military aircraft, 89,000 tanks, 3 million machine guns, and 7 million rifles.
Source: Fact Retriever
Video
The Holocaust:
Records of Remembrance
By Great Big Story
Arolsen Archives and Ancestry have digitized millions of records of those persecuted during the Holocaust, ensuring their stories can never be forgotten.
Article
World War II Records:
A Guide to Our Collections
By Ancestry
Learn how to find the untold stories in your family’s past with this brief introduction to the wide variety of World War II resources available on Ancestry.
Article
War of the Worlds:
How It All Began
By Ancestry
In a global conflict fueled by Adolf Hitler’s unrelenting aggression, millions of brave souls rose up to face the challenge of their lives.
Video
Memorial Day:
Parade of Heroes
Memorial Day: Parade of Heroes
Hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford
To honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice, watch our virtual parade of inspiring veteran interviews and stories of strength and hope.