World War II: Unforgettable stories

Powerful, visceral, and essential to preserving and understanding our past, the work of Associated Press photographers and journalists lives on through the pages of World War II.

---

U.S. Marines of the 28th Regiment, 5th Division, raise the American flag atop Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima, on Feb. 23, 1945. Strategically located only 660 miles from Tokyo, the Pacific island became the site of one of the bloodiest, most famous battles of World War II against Japan. (AP Photo/Joe Rosenthal)

---

Never before in history had the day-to-day struggles and victories of war—from the homefront to the front lines—been chronicled in such graphic and unflagging detail as during the Second World War. Nearly 200 photographers and reporters of The Associated Press volunteered to cover the war across the globe from 1939 through 1945. Now, on the 70th anniversary of V-E Day, the heroic achievements of these reporters and photographers—some of whom gave their lives—are remembered through the stunning photographs and moving firsthand reports of World War II: Unforgettable Stories and Photographs by Correspondents of The Associated Press.

This anniversary edition commemorates the experiences of the individuals who brought the war into the homes of millions of Americans. Included is an interview with former AP World War II correspondent George Bria who reported on the surrender of Italy, as well as a new Foreword by John Daniszewski, current AP Vice President for International News.

To find more information visit AP Books.

---

In this image provided by the U.S. Army Signal Corps, U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur observes a military operation from a B-17 Flying Fortress gun port on Sept. 5, 1943 during World War II. In the exercise, 1,500 paratroopers landed in Markham Valley near Nadzab to entrap Japanese forces at Lae and Salamaua section in New Guinea. (AP Photo/U.S. Army Signal Corps)

An unidentified American infantryman lies dead in the field of battle, killed by enemy mortar fire during the assault on Santa Maria Infante, Italy, in May 1944 during World War II. (AP Photo/William C. Allen)

U.S. soldiers of Pennsylvania's 28th Infantry Division march along the Champs Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe in the background, on Aug. 29, 1944, four days after the liberation of Paris, France. World War II began in September 1939 with Adolf Hitler's invasion of Poland. He launched the Holocaust and history's most destructive war, leaving 17,000,000 soldiers and 60,000,000 civilians dead. Germany surrendered on May 7, 1945. (AP Photo/Peter J. Carroll)

In the Pacific theater of World War II, U.S. Marines hit the beach and charge over a dune on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands Feb. 19, 1945, the start of one of the deadliest battles of the war against Japan. (AP Photo/Joe Rosenthal)

This aerial view shows the destruction of the German city of Cologne caused by Allied air warfare against Nazi Germany during World War II. The Cologne Cathedral, which suffered blast and shell damage, stands erect on the west bank of the Rhine river on March 12, 1945. At right, half submerged in the waters of the Rhine is the Hohenzollern Bridge. (AP Photo/William C. Allen)

Allied bombing and shelling left this Berlin subway filled with rubble from blasted pavement and buildings on July 19, 1945. (AP Photo/Henry L. Griffin)

An unidentified Japanese is pictured making Gen. Hideki Tojo comfortable on a bed in his home as the former Premier of Japan grimaces from pain caused by a self-inflicted bullet wound September 11, 1945. In the background, without a hat, is Russell Brines, AP correspondent. The other man is unidentified. (AP Photo/Charles Gorry)

The USS Saratoga aircraft carrier with the US Pacific Fleet, sails through San Francisco's Golden Gate as part of the 3,800 crew crowds her flight deck on Sept. 13, 1945. (AP Photo/Ernest K. Bennett)

Surrounded by congressional leaders president Roosevelt signed the declaration of war against Japan at his white house desk in Washington on Dec. 8, 1941 plunging the U.S. into its second war in 24 years soberly watching are (Left to right) : Rep. Luther Martin (D-tex), Rep. Harles A. Eaton (R-N.J.) Rep. Joseph E. Martin (R-Mass) : Vice- President Henry A. Wallace, speaker Sam Rayburn Rep. John McCormack Sen. Charles L. McNary (R-ORE) Sen. Alben W. Barkley (D-KY). (AP Photo)

An Indian sailor pleads for water from a lifeboat adrift on the Indian Ocean in January 1942. AP photographer Frank "Pappy" Noel shot this photo from his own lifeboat after a Japanese torpedo sank a ship carrying Noel, the sailors and others from Singapore. Noel and his fellow survivors eventually reached Sumatra. (AP Photo/Frank Noel)

American soldiers lie on stretchers and sit propped against a sea wall awaiting transportation back to England for treatment after being wounded in the Normandy invasion, northern France, June 1944 during World War II. (AP Photo/Peter J. Carroll)

A French girl places flowers over the freshly-dug grave of an American Airborne trooper as a token of appreciation of arrival of Allied liberators on the northern coast of France, June 12, 1944. The trooper was killed when his glider landed in the Normandy area of France in World War II. (AP Photo/Peter J. Carroll)

Shrouded in Old Glory, the body of an officer identified only as “Major Aowie” rests amid the ruins of St. Croix Church in St. Lo where he was killed in action leading his battalion into the German strong point in Normandy on July 23, 1944. Some of his men with a machine gun in a bomb crater in foreground. (AP Photo/Harry Harris)

American General Dwight Eisenhower, right, relating an amusing incident to Britain's King George VI, on the steps of the U.S. headquarters during his visit to the American front in France on Oct. 16, 1944. On left back is General Omar Bradley, and right General Courtney Hodges. (AP Photo)

U.S. Marines kneel in prayer before they receive communion during a pause in the fighting for Motoyam Airstrip No. 1 on Iwo Jima, Volcano Island of Japan, March 1, 1945 in World War II. The soldiers, from left are , Pfc. Edmond L. Fadel, Niagara Falls, N.Y.; Pvt. Walter M. Sokowski, Syracuse, N.Y.; and Pvt. Nicholas A. Zingaro, Syracuse, N.Y. (AP Photo/Joe Rosenthal)

U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur signs the Japanese surrender documents, Sept. 2, 1945, aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, formally ending World War II. Standing behind him are Lt. Gen. Jonathan Wainwright, left foreground, who surrendered Bataan to the Japanese, and British Lt. Gen. A. E. Percival, next to Wainwright, who surrendered Singapore, as they witness the ceremony with other American and British officers. (AP Photo/Frank Filan)

A group of American assault troops who stormed Normandy, France take time out for food on June 8, 1944. (AP Photo)

---

See these images on APImages.com

Follow AP photographers and photo editors on Twitter: http://apne.ws/15Oo6jo

 

Spotlight is the blog of AP Images, the world’s largest collection of historical and contemporary photos. AP Images provides instant access to AP’s iconic photos and adds new content every minute of every day from every corner of the world, making it an essential source of photos and graphics for professional image buyers and commercial customers.  Whether your needs are for editorial, commercial, or personal use, AP Images has the content and the expert sales team to fulfill your image requirements. Visit apimages.com to learn more.

Written content on this site is not created by the editorial department of AP, unless otherwise noted. 

AP Images on Twitter | AP Images on Facebook | AP Images on Instagram