Most of the the official History of the Second World War, Military Series, Medical Series and Foreign Policy are now available online, together with a few of the Civil Series. Some of the Military series have been mentioned previously on WW2Talk but additional volumes are now available online including the Grand Strategy series They have been added to the FIBIS Fibiwiki page Second World War in the section Historical Books online, subsection Despatches, Official histories (UK) Second World War - FIBIwiki Following on is a section Indian Army which includes all online volumes except one Official History of the Indian Armed Forces In the Second World War. Maureen
Maureene you are a wonder. I have been looking for Volume I of Grand Strategy for ages. Thank you for posting. Mark
The Wellcome Collection has recently digitised a volume in the Medical Series The Emergency Medical Services Volume II Scotland, Northern Ireland and the principal air raids on industrial centres in Great Britain edited by Lieut. Colonel C L Dunn HMSO 1953. Wellcome Collection. The catalogue description is for both volumes. There is one volume available online, which is Volume II, direct link. (Volume I is available on Archive.org The Emergency Medical Services Volume I England and Wales by Lieut. Colonel C L Dunn 1952 HMSO. Archive.org) The links have been added to the FIBIS Fibiwiki page Second World War - FIBIwiki Also added to this page The six volume series The Second World War 1939-1945. A Popular Military History published by His/Her Majesty’s Office 1950-1954 Archive.org. The series comprises : Ian Hay: Arms and the Men (1950); Eric Linklater: The Campaign in Italy (1951); Christopher Buckley: Norway. The Commandos. Dieppe (1951); Christopher Buckley: Greece and Crete 1941 (1952); John North: North-West Europe 1944-45. The Achievement of 21st Army Group (1953); Christopher Buckley: Five Ventures. Iraq. Syria. Persia. Madagascar. Dodecanese (1954). Most, if not all, of the official History of the Second World War are now available online, including the Civil Series. Maureen
More official histories: The Emergency Medical Services Volume II Scotland, Northern Ireland and the principal air raids on industrial centres in Great Britain mentioned at the Wellcome collection has been uploaded to the Internet Archive The Emergency Medical Services Volume 2 Scotland, Northern Ireland and the principal air raids on industrial centres in Great Britain (History of the Second World War United Kingdom Medical Series) : Lieut. Colonel C L Dunn : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive Official histories published by the War Office, as mentioned in History of the Second World War Wikipedia, where they are classified as Supplementary official histories. Available to download from nzsappers.org.nz/Heritage Material/World War Two Discipline [McPherson, A. B.] (1950) Maps and Survey (The Second World War 1939-1945 Army) [Clough, A. B.] (1952) Volumes from this series may be available at The National Archives Kew, or at least 2 titles including a title with 3 volumes, have been reprinted by Naval & Military Press. It appears this series was generally published in quite limited numbers Multiple publications prepared by the Air Historical Branch, Air Ministry, from the website raf.mod.uk The Second World War: Campaign Narratives The Second World War: Thematic Studies The links have been added to the FIBIS Fibiwiki page Second World War - FIBIwiki Maureen
Ike Skelton Combined Arms Research Library Digital Library The collections contained within the Ike Skelton Combined Arms Research Library Digital Library are largely composed of digital versions of paper documents from the Ike Skelton CARL collections and student papers produced at the US Army Command and General Staff College. We have recently partnered with several Army educational and historical organizations whose collections appear here also. The collections of digitized materials are uploaded in the CONTENTdm® Digital Collection Management System which allows for greater search and retrieval of the individual documents. If you would like to save items for later use, please create a Worldcat account.
An Indian Government Publication The Royal Indian Air Force at War : an account of Air Operations against the Japanese in South East Asia by Director of Public Relations, General Headquarters, New Delhi catalogued 1945. Digital Collection University of Calgary Canada. Download may be possible, see under Actions "Permissions and access" (registration required, fee seems to/perhaps may apply for digital copies- see FAQ). I have not requested any downloads from the site myself, I would be interested to know the outcome if anyone tries. From the same website (although not connected to India) Handbook for Spies by Alexander Foote 1949. Digital Collection University of Calgary Canada. British citizen Alexander Foote was recruited into a Soviet network of spies against Nazi Germany. Some editions may have been published under the title Story of a Russian Spy The Factual Autobiography of a Former Soviet Agent. Alexander Foote Wikipedia. Maureen
For New Zealand Forces in WW2 go to The Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–1945 | NZETC
A volume in History of the Second World War: United Kingdom Civil Series, War Production Series Design and Development of Weapons. Studies in Government and Industrial Organisation by M M Postan (Michael Moïssey); D Hay (Denys); J D Scott (John Dick) 1964 HMSO. Archive.org. Maureen
An official British Government publication, although NOT part of the History of the Second World War series. The Abyssinian Campaigns. The Official Story of the Conquest of Italian East Africa 1942 The Abyssinian Campaigns. The Official Story of the Conquest of Italian East Africa [1942 Great Britain War Office] : [Great Britain] War Office; [Great Britain] Ministry of Information : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive Archive.org Maureen
This post is about Royal Navy Staff Histories which were prepared by the Naval Historical Branch for internal use only, although some were later released to the general public. This link has a list of many of them HyperWar: Royal Navy Staff Histories Many of the Battle Summaries are available to download from the Australian Navy Seapower website World War II Naval Staff Histories | The Sea Power Centre This link is part of the page Publications Publications | The Sea Power Centre A royalnavy.mod.uk page Naval Historical Branch https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/locations-and-operations/bases-and-stations/naval-historic-branch includes digitised publications, mainly Second World War publications, particularly Admiralty's Diaries, but including at least one Battle Summary not on the RAN website, and a 1994 HMSO publication Invasion of the South of France "Operation Dragoon", and War with Japan Volume 1-2 published HMSO 1995, the latter Volumes 1-2 of 6 Volumes [in 4, in addition there were 4 volumes of maps] War with Japan, Volume 6 The Advance to Japan 1995 is available in the Internet Archive as a Text to Borrow https://archive.org/details/warwithjapan0006grea The following appear to have been produced for internal use only but there are commercial reprint editions, for which you need to pay, either for digital downloads, or print publications. I have no connection with either of the companies below and am posting for information only, as these publications seem difficult to find. There are three volumes on submarines which are available at the National Archives Kew, as ADM 234/380-382 Submarines, Volume 1: Operations in Home, Northern and Atlantic Waters Submarines, Volume 2: Operations in Mediterranean Submarines, Volume 3: Operations in Far Eastern Waters, Including Operations of Allied Submarines There is a six volume series produced by the Naval Historical Branch The War at Sea by George Hurford. Volume 1 (1939 - 1940) [1944]; Volume 2 (1941)[1944]; Volume 3 (1942) [1945]; Volume 4 (1943) [1945]; Volume 5 (in two parts) (1944) [1946]; Volume 6 (1945) [1946]. These are probably the National Archives Kew records ADM 199/2377- 2383, catalogued as Preliminary narrative for official history The War at Sea. There were at least some volumes produced as books, as a collector of official histories on the Great War Forum recently posted a photograph of Volume 6, and said “This six volume work was completed in 1946, and is the reference work for the actions of the Royal navy in the Second World War on what happened, but not the strategy” Digital downloads available from Naval Historical Branch :: Military Library Research Service (scroll down) Print copies available from Welcome to Caliver Books (scroll down) Maureen
Multiple publications prepared by the Air Historical Branch, Air Ministry, from the website Air Historical Branch. These have been mentioned previously, but the URLs have changed. Now https://www.raf.mod.uk/what-we-do/our-history/air-historical-branch/ then select AHB Narratives and Translations. Includes The Second World War: Campaign Narratives The Second World War: Thematic Studies From the previously mentioned Campaign Narratives, Campaigns in the Far East, Volumes 1-6 is now available in the Internet Archive. Campaigns in the Far East, Volumes 1-6 [Second World War, Royal Air Force] : [Great Britain] Air Historical Branch, Air Ministry : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive Consists of the titles Campaigns in the Far East Vol I Far East Defence Policy and Preparations for War Campaigns in the Far East Vol II Malaya, Netherlands East Indies and Burma Campaigns in the Far East Vol III India Command Sep 1939-Nov 1945 Campaigns in the Far East Vol IV South East Asia Nov 1943-Aug 1945 Campaigns in the Far East Vol V Air Supply Operations in Burma 1942-1945 Campaigns in the Far East Vol VI Air Transport in the S.W. Pacific Area Feb 1945-Feb 1946 Maureen
This link leads to many titles from The Gazette or The London Gazette website: World War 2 despatches | The Gazette... A long list: just download the issue number. "World War 2 despatches Despatches during World War 2, submitted by commanders-in-chief, were published in The Gazette from 1941 until 1951. The issue or supplement number, title and date of publication are listed below. 35305 Despatches from General Viscount Gort, France and Belgium 1939-40 35374 Notification of state of war with Japan 35395 Notification of state of war with Bulgaria 37573 Operations of the British Expeditionary Force, France, from 12 June 1940 to 19 June 1940 37584 Operations in Central Norway,1940 37594 Operations in the Somaliland Protectorate, 1939-1940 37609 Operations in the Middle East from August 1939 to November 1940 37628 Operations in the Western Desert, 7 December 1940 to 7 February 1941 37638 Operations in the Middle East from 7 February 1941 to I5 July 1941 37645 Operations in East Africa, November 1940 to July 1941 37655 Operations of East Africa Command, 12 July 1941 to 8 January 1943 37685 Despatch on operations in Iraq, East Syria and Iran, from 10 April 1941 to 12 January 37695 Operations in the Middle East, 5 July 1941 to 31 October 1941 37703 Despatch on the Persia and Iraq Command covering 21 August 1942 to 17 February, 1943 37711 Operations in the North-west Europe from 6 June 1944 to 5 May 1945 37719 The Battle of Britain, September 1946 37728 Operation in Eastern Theatre, based on India, from March 1942 to 31 December 1942 37729 Air operations in the Middle East from January 1 1941, to May 3 1941 37779 Operations in North West Africa from 8 November 1942 to 13 May 1943 37786 Operations in the Middle East from 16 February 1943, to 8 January 1944 37838 Air operations by the Allied Expeditionary Air Force in NW Europe from 15 November 1943 to 30 September 1944 37846 Air operations in Greece 1940 to 1941 37989 The River Plate battle, 30 December 1939 38005 First and second Battles of Narvik, 10 and 13 April 1940 38011 Norway campaign 17 July 1940 38017 The evacuation of the Allied Armies from Dunkirk and neighbouring beaches, 18 June 1940 38023 Fleet Air Arm Operations against Taranto on 11 November 1940 38031 Battle of Matapan, 11 November 1941 38038 Sinking of the German battlecruiser Schartnhorst, 26 December 1943 38045 The Dieppe Raid, 30 August 1942 38073 The Battle of Sirte, 22 March 1942 38086 The Attack on St Nazaire, 1942 38098 Sinking of the German battleship Bismarck on 27 May 1941 38110 The Assault Phase of the Normandy Landings, 16 October 1944 38111 Liberation of Europe (Operation "Overlord") operations of Coastal Command, Royal Air Force, May to August 1944 38149 The Anti-aircraft defence of the United Kingdom from 28 July 1939 to 15 April 1945 38171 The final stages of the naval war in north-west Europe, December 1945 38177 Operations in the Middle East from 1 November 1941 to 15 August 1942 38183 Operations in the Far East from 17 October 1940 to 27 December 1941 38190 Operations in Hong Kong from 8 to 25 December 1941 38196 The African Campaign from El Alamein to Tunis, from 10 August 1942 to 13 May 1943 38204 The attack on the Tirpitz by Midget submarines on 22 September 1943 38205 The conquest of Sicily from 10 July 1943 to 17 August 1943 38214 Loss of HM Ships Prince of Wales and Repulse December 1941 38215 Operations of Malaya Command, from 8 December 1941, to 15 February 1942 38216 Report on the air operations during the campaigns in Malaya and Netherland East Indies, from 8 December 1941 to 12 March 1942 38225 The capture of Diego Suarez, 16 June 1942 38228 Operations in Burma from 15 December 1941, to 20 May 1942 38229 Air operations in Burma and Bay of Bengal, 1 January to 22 May 1942 38266 Operations in the India Command from 1 January 1943 to 20 June 1943 38269 Naval operations in Ramree Island area 19 January to 22 February 1945 38273 Report of an action with the Italian fleet off Calabria, 9 July 1940 38274 Operations in the Indo-Burma theatre based on India, 21 June 1943 to 15 November 1943 38281 Action between British and Italian forces off Cape Spartivento on 27 November, 1940 38287 Report of an action against an Italian convoy on the night of the 15/16 April, 1941 38293 Transportation of the Army to Greece and evacuation of the army from Greece, 1941 38296 The Battle of Crete, 4 August 1941 38300 The carrier born aircraft attack on Kirkenes and Petsamo, Sept 1941 38308 The contribution of the British Pacific fleet to the Assault on Okinawa 1945 38331 Raid on military and economic objectives in the Lofoten Islands 1941 38342 Raid on military and economic objectives in the vicinity of Vaagso Island, 7 Jan 1942 38346 Battle of the Java Sea, 27 February 1942 38349 Report of the destruction Enemy Raider No 16 by HMS Devonshire, 8 Dec 1941 38377 Mediterranean convoy operations, 19 March 1941 38404 Air operations by fighter command from 25 November 1940 to 31 December 1941 35371 Notification of state of war with Finland/Hungary/Romania 38423 Control of the Sicilian Straits during the final stages of the North African Campaign, 13 November 1943 38426 Naval operations in the Aegean between 7 September 1943 and 28 November 1943 38432 Coastal Force actions, 13 March 1943 38437 Air operations by Air Defence of Great Britain Fighter Command in connection with the German Flying Bomb and Rocket Offensives 1944 to 1945 38569 The landings in North Africa, 1943 38895 The invasion of Sicily, 1 January 1944 38899 Operations in connection with the landings in the Gulf of Salerno on 9 September 1943 38937 The Allied Armies in Italy from 3 September 1943 to 12 December 1944 39041 Convoys to North Russia 1942 39171 Operations in Burma and North-East India from 16 November 1943 to 22 June 1944 39173 Air operations in South East Asia 16 November 1943, to 31 May 1944 39187 Operations in Assam and Burma from 23 June 1944 to 12 November 1944 39191 The carrier-borne aircraft attacks on oil refineries in the Palembang (Sumatra) area, January 1945 39195 Operations in Burma from 12 November to 15 August 1945 39196 Air operations in South East Asia from 1 June 1944 to the occupation of Rangoon, 2 May 1945 39195 Operations in Burma from 12 November 1944 to 15 August 1945 39202 Air operations in South East Asia, 3 May 1945 to 12 September 1945 "
Now in the Internet Archive Some Naval Histories in the series "Naval Staff Battle Summaries", or the wider series "Naval Staff History - Second World War". These were prepared by Naval Staff at the Admiralty for use within the Admiralty and Royal Navy. A limited number were subsequently published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office for release to the public. Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine Listing out the books (click on the titles, there should be a link underneath) H.M. Ships Damaged or Sunk by Enemy Action 3rd. Sept 1939 to 2nd. Sept 1945 [British Navy] Listed by Battle Summary No. Selected Bombardments (Mediterranean), 1940-1941 (Battle Summaries Nos. 1, 6, 7 &19) (Naval Staff History Second World War) [British Navy] Selected Operations (Mediterranean),1940 (Battle Summaries Nos. 2, 8, 9 & 10) (Naval Staff History Second World War) [British Navy] Naval Operations in the Battle of Crete 20th May – 1st June 1941 (Battle Summary No. 4) (Naval Staff History Second World War) [British Navy] Battle Summary No. 12 The Attack on St. Nazaire 28th March, 1942 [British Navy] Battle Summary No. 13 Actions with Enemy Disguised Raiders 1940-1941 [British Navy] Battle Summary No. 14 (revised) Loss of H.M. Ships Prince of Wales and Repulse 10th December, 1941 (Naval Staff History Second World War) [British Navy] Battle Summaries. No.15 Naval Operations off Ceylon Mar.-Apr. 1942 (Also) No.16 Naval Operations at the capture of Diego Suarez (Operation “Ironclad”) May 1942 [1943, British Navy] Battle Summary No. 17. Naval Operations of the Campaign in Norway April-June 1940 (Naval Staff History Second World War) [British Navy] Battle Summary No. 21 Naval Operations in the Campaign for Guadalcanal August 1942-February 1943 [Allied Navies and other Allied Forces] Battle Summary No. 27 Naval Aircraft Attack on the “Tirpitz” April 1944 [1944] (Also) Tirpitz An account of the various attacks, Volume 1 and Volume 2 [1948] [British Navy] Raid on Dieppe (Naval Operations) 19th August 1942. Battle Summary No. 33 (Naval Staff History Second World War) [British Navy] Battle Summary No. 35 The Invasion of Sicily, Operation “Husky” 10th July to 17th August 1943 [1946, British and Allied Forces] Battle Summary No. 38 Operation “Torch” Invasion of North Africa November 1942 to February 1943 [British and Allied Forces] Battle Summary No. 39 Operation “Neptune”. Landings in Normandy June 1944 [British and Allied Navies] Battle Summary No. 40 Battle for Leyte Gulf 23rd-26th October, 1944 [Allied Forces, mainly American] Invasion of the South of France, Operation "Dragoon", 15 August 1944 [Battle Summary No. 43, British and Allied Forces] Battle Summaries Nos. 45 & 46 Battles of Coral Sea and Midway (Naval Staff History Second World War) [American Forces] The Campaign in North-West Europe June 19-May 1945 [Battle Summary No. 49. Mainly Naval Operations. British and Allied Forces] Battle Summary No. 52 The Tobruk Run June 1940 to January 1943 (Naval Staff History Second World War) [British Navy] War with Japan Volume 1 Background to the War [Second World War, Great Britain Ministry of Defence Naval Historical Branch] If any one wants to read further editions in this series , there were 9 reprint editions republished 2000-2002 and 2014-2016 by routledge.com. The 2000-2002 editions appear to have been originally published by other publishers, not Routledge https://www.routledge.com/Naval-Staff-Histories/book-series/SE0599 (I have no connection with this publisher) Maureen
Cracking intel, as usual. I had been looking all over for in-depth coverage of coastal operations in NA, beyond the usual "Naval War in the Mediterranean" work, and now you delivered it right on my lap. Thank you very much!
