Research Guides: HIST 491C: International Politics of the Second World War (Spring 2023): Open Digital Archives

Introduction

Some archives and special collections have digitized documents in their collections making them accessible to researchers around the world. Below are a few open digital archives with collections focused on the World War II era.

HathiTrust Digital Library This link opens in a new window
HathiTrust Digital Library is a digital preservation repository and highly functional access platform. HathiTrust provides long-term preservation and access services to digitized content from a variety of sources, including Google, the Internet Archive, Microsoft, and in-house member institution initiatives. Items in the public domain are in full-view for everyone and items held in copyright are searchable.

Books & Media: W&M Libraries Catalog
Find books owned by W&M Libraries.

Documents, Reports and Transcriptions

Reports of the US Naval Technical Mission to Japan (1946-1946)
Established in 1945, the US Naval Technical Mission to Japan surveyed Japanese scientific and technological developments of interest to the Navy and Marines. (Note: some reports are missing)
The Cabinet Papers from the British National Archives
The British National Archives have made available digital copies of the Cabinet Papers. Organized into themes to help with searching topic coverage includes diplomacy and foreign affairs, economy and infrastructure, and society and welfare of the state. Second World War documents cover Britain, Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and Far East.
EuroDocs: Online Sources for European History
A selection of documents, facsimiles, and transcriptions of materials covering history in Europe. Arranged by nation and then organized by period of time (where possible). Includes resources from Germany, the United Kingdom, and Russia during the World War II period.
A Guide to World War II Materials
Created by the Library of Congress, this guide gathers in one place links to World War II related resources throughout the Library of Congress website. It also includes links to external sites and a selected bibliography.
League of Nations Archive & Research Guide
The League of Nations research guide helps you navigate the collections of the LON Archive and links to digitized materials from the collection.
George S. Messersmith Papers
Diplomatic and professional papers of George S. Messersmith (1883-1960). The papers include extensive discussions of political and economic matters regarding Europe during the 1930s and Latin America in the 1940s and 1950s.

Maps, Propaganda, and Images

Bomb Sight: Mapping World War II Bomb Census
Uses web-mapping software to create an interactive geo-referenced map of the London World War II bomb census between July 10, 1940 and June 6, 1941. Provides descriptions about type of bomb and associated images and memories relating to it.
German Poster and Broadside Collection
Primarily consists of Nazi propaganda materials, circa 1930-1945. Includes handbills, broadsides, and posters. Many anti-British and anti-American.
German History in Documents and Images
Collection of images, documents and maps documenting German history addressing government, social, cultural and economic topics.
Russian World War II Propaganda Posters
A collection of images of Soviet World War II propaganda posters. Translations provided for most.