Whether heading to Normandy for the anniversary of the D-Day landings in June or visiting concentration camps and battlefields, World War II is becoming an increasingly big tourist draw. There are now museums and sombre sites across the world that can be visited by those wanting to delve into the darkest days of the 20th century. Here are some of the major Second World War attractions that can be found over the globe.
World War II tourism: Normandy, France
The D-Day landings of June 6th, 1944 saw the biggest sea borne invasion force in history land on the beaches of Normandy, northern France. A decisive turning point in the Second World War, the loss of life on both sides was horrendous, as can be discovered at the American Military Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer or Commonwealth Military Cemetery in Bayeux. There are also numerous companies offering tours of the key beaches and battlegrounds. These include Battlebus, who offer a one day British Highlights Tour and a more extensive two day American Experience tour.
World War II tourism: Japan
The spot where the first atomic bomb used in warfare exploded is now known as the Hiroshima Peace Park, with the most striking sight being the Atomic Bomb Dome. This was a former exhibition hall, and it has been deliberately left as a ravaged shell to remind people of the destruction wreaked. Also in the park is the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which goes into depth about the horrors of the atomic bomb and the effect it had on the city.
World War II tourism: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, USA
The surprise Japanese attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor in December 1941 brought America into the war. During the attack, the USS Arizona was destroyed, killing 1,177 on that ship alone. Today, the USS Arizona Memorial and Pearl Harbor visitor centre are Hawaii’s biggest tourist attractions, and both take visitors through the chain of events with displays and films. Home of the Brave Tours runs a full day trip that includes both, as well as visits to Oahu’s main military bases and airfields.
World War II tourism: Stalingrad, Kursk and Moscow, Russia
The siege of Stalingrad was the bloodiest single battle in history, raging for six months before it ended in February 1943. Over 1.5m members of the German and Soviet armies lost their lives in the defining fight of the Eastern front. The city is now called Volgograd, and Three Whales offers an extensive tour of the battlefields and memorials linked to the Red Army’s finest hour. The 12 day tour also visits Kursk, which was the scene of the world’s biggest ever tank battle, as well as military museums in Moscow.
World War II tourism: Auschwitz, Poland
The most notorious of the Nazi death camps, Auschwitz has been left exactly as it was, with the old huts used as exhibition space. Visitors can either go on a guided tour or take things in at their own pace, but either way, it’s a brutal, harrowing experience. For an example of what to expect, there are huge glass cabinets full of the hair of the victims, whilst the ‘Russian block’ is covered in the photographs of all the Russians that were killed there. The Auschwitz Museum and Memorial is in Oswiecim, a couple of hours on the train from Krakow.
This article was originally written for AOL UK.
Copyright David Whitley
Why is the Uk not mentioned? There are hundreds of world war two related places of history to visit, such as Churchills cabinet war rooms, on London, one of the main hubs of WW2!
Nancy