Christmas During the Second World War

Admiralty Christmas Party for Allied Naval Officers' children, 1942. This photograph shows 'Father Christmas' presenting Winston Churchill Junior, the Prime Minister's grandson, with a gift of a book of nursery rhymes at a Christmas party at Admiralty House.

G.I. gets a belated Christmas gift, late due to the Battle of the Bulge. Belgium, January 1945.

Shown are WACs of the 2nd War Company, Norfolk Air Base, Barracks A, HRPE, seated around a Christmas tree with their mascot dog.

A Christmas party held at Admiralty House, London, 17 December 1942 for allied naval officers children. 'Father Christmas' in a costume and mask presents a young girl with a gift.

1940s Bell telephone woman operator wartime Christmas.

Pvt Walter Prsybyla of B Btry, 37th Field Artillery Regt, US 2nd Inf Div writing Christmas cards for friends and family from an artillery ammunition storehouse, Heckhalenfeld, Germany, 30 Nov 1944.

US Army Pfc. W. J. Kessler, Pfc. J. L. Proffitt, Pvt. B. Narter, Cpl. T. J. Barnewski, and Pfc. J. Stoll handling Christmas packages from home for their artillery unit, Germany, 26 Nov 1944.

An American soldier shares presents from home with Italian children during Christmas.

December 1940 in a British bomb shelter.

US Army Sergeant Joseph H. Kadlec delivering Christmas packages sent from home, near Aachen, Germany, 14 Nov 1944.

An ATS girl kisses a soldier under some mistletoe held aloft by her friend, while their depot is preparing for Christmas Day. 20th December 1939

S Army Pfc. Carl Anker, Pfc. Edmund Dill, and Sgt. Ted Bailey sharing the contents of the care package sent by Dill's wife for the Christmas holiday, somewhere in Europe, 18 Nov 1944.

Wartime Christmas on Guadalcanal.

An American soldier with Christmas presents from home.

3rd ID Christmas dinner, Italy, 1943.

Christmas shopping, 1945.

Roosevelt addresses the crowd at the Christmas tree lighting ceremony from the White House South Portico on December 24, 1941. Churchill can be seen on the right.

U.S. Soldiers Caroleers Circle Globe.The Christmas spirit is universal, the traditions unchanging even in the midst of war. Where ever our American troops are to be found throughout the world Christmas Carols will be heard in joyful hymns on the eve of the Nativity of Christ. In Iceland - "O, Come Ye, O Come Ye, To Bethlehem". 1942.

US 5th Armored Regiment tankers gathering around a fire and opening Christmas presents, near Eupen, 30 december 1944; note M4 Sherman tank.

Soldier admires drawings on Christmas V Mail being sent to America from U.S. troops stationed in England, 1942.

U.S. soldier eating ice cream with a little British boy at Christmas party given by troops of the USAAF Service Command for 100 English evacuees at a station "somewhere" in England, 1943.

Left to right: Cpl. Michael J. Sabagh [381st HQ] of Lawrence, Mass., Pvt. Larry H. James [2021st Fire Platoon] of Campbellsville, Ky., Cpl. Goldmer S. Elkins [2003rd Fire Platoon] of Cyclone, W.Va., and Cpl. Thomas Hallingam [330th SS] of Pittsburgh, Pa., trim a Christmas tree for a party given for homeless children somewhere in England. 13 December 1943.

On a Red Cross Christmas Card, U.S. Soldiers in England sent home this scene showing a service at bombed St. Mark's Church, London. Dec. 28, 1942s

Post office at Christmas time, Oak Ridge, 1944.

Even Father Christmas follows the war time safety precautions as he arrives this year, complete with tin helmet and gas mask case, at London's famous Brompton road store, Harrods. 6th November 1939.

This is a sad memorial - In New York City, 1944, piles of Christmas packages meant for American Servicemen who have been listed as missing or killed in action build up and await a Return to Sender stamp.

War or no war, London stores are determined to have their usual pre-war Christmas season and display. 14 November, 1941.

Canadian soldiers enjoying a few drinks on Christmas Day at the front, Ortona, Italy, December 25, 1943.

Us Fifth Army In Italy, Lighted MERRY XMAS sign behind 65-ft. Christmas tree lit up by Italian bulbs strung up by Special Services & the 53rd Signal Battalion at the top of Radicosa Pass at 2500 ft. elevation direction signs to Bologna as Amer. MP stand guard, in the Appennine M .. Italy December 18, 1944

German soldiers of the Volkssturm celebrate Christmas in a cellar, sharing with each other cigarettes and holiday messages from home delivered on postcards. The Volkssturm was established on 18 October 1944. It conscripted males between the ages of 16 to 60 years who were not already serving in some military unit as part of a German Home Guard. Near Königsberg, East Prussia, Prussia, Germany (now, Kaliningrad, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia). December 1944.