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HomeResearch & LearnRecommended Resources by TopicFirst and Second World Wars

First and Second World Wars

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First and Second World Wars

Learn about the people and events of the two world wars.

  •  Last updated: March 11, 2025

LIBRARY DATABASES

Access these resources using your WVML card.

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Ancestry Library Edition

Your first stop for all your genealogy searches. This is a made-for-libraries version of the popular Ancestry.com database.

Access Information: Available for in-library use only (on library computers or library Wi-Fi)

 

Twentieth Century History Reference Library

Articles, biographies, diaries, speeches and more from World War I, the Great Depression, World War II and the Cold War. A great place to start for social studies and history assignments.

Access Information: Licensed for West Vancouver residents, students, and business owners only.

World War I Reference Library

Articles, biographies, diaries, speeches and more from the First World War. A great place to start for World War I school assignments.

Access Information: Licensed for West Vancouver residents, students, and business owners only.

World War II Reference Library

Articles, biographies, diaries, speeches and more from the Second World War. A great place to start for World War II school assignments.

Access Information: Licensed for West Vancouver residents, students, and business owners only.

ON THE SHELF

Check these out the next time you’re in the Library.

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Research to Remember

Research packages that contain a brief history on a soldier, questions to guide your reading, and copies of real papers, documents and photos from local soldiers' service records.

World War, 1914-1918

Browse these books, ebooks, and DVDs about The Great War. Includes both fiction and nonfiction.

World War, 1939-1945

Explore these books, ebooks, and DVDs about World War II. Includes both fiction and nonfiction.

on the web

These recommended websites are free and easily accessible! All you need is an internet connection.

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Book of Remembrance/Canadian Virtual Memorial

The seven Books of Remembrance commemorate the lives of more than 118,000 Canadians who have died while serving their country in uniform.

Canadian Great War Project

An ongoing work-in-progress, this website provides a database of Canadian soldiers who served in World War I, as well as timelines, articles, statistics, war diaries and letters from the front.

Canadian War Museum – Canada and the Second World War

Explores aspects of the World War II as they pertain to Canada, including various battles and campaigns and the home front.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission honours the 1,700,000 men and women of the forces of the Commonwealth who died serving in both world wars. This organization cares for cemeteries and memorials at 23,000 locations in 154 countries.

History Channel – World War II

From television's History Channel, this regularly updated site includes articles as well as numerous images and videos about the causes, events and people of World War II.

Library and Archives Canada – Military Heritage

Library and Archives Canada has extensive records relating World War I and World War II, many of which are featured in databases, research guides and virtual exhibitions. The records include muster rolls, military service files, unit war diaries, medal registers, photographic collections, documentary art and posters, as well as published sources.

The Canadian Letters and Images Project

Examine an online archive of the Canadian war experience, from any war, as told through the letters and images of Canadians themselves.

World War I Document Archive

Archive of international primary documents (treaties, diaries, images, etc.) from World War I.

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