World War II, also known as the Second World War, lasted from 1939 to 1945 and involved most of the world’s nations. It eventually formed two opposing military alliances, the Allies and the Axis. World War II involved more than 100 million people from more than 30 countries, and it resulted in an estimated 50 million to 85 million fatalities, making it the deadliest war in history.

If you’re wondering what people were doing back home in Alabama during World War II, check out these 17 rare photos:

1. A crowd of people Christmas shopping in Gadsden - December 1940.
Photogrammar/John Vachon
2. A Saturday afternoon at the courthouse in Gadsden - December 1940.
Photogrammar/John Vachon
3. Vestibule of Baptist church during Sunday services in Gadsden. The hats belong to steel and cotton mill workers - December 1940.
Photogrammar/John Vachon
4. A group of company houses near a cotton mill in Gadsden - December 1940.
Photogrammar/John Vachon
5. Soldiers from Fort Benning at Idle Hour Amusement Park near Phenix City - May 1941.
Photogrammar/Jack Delano
6. A street in Phenix City - May 1941.
Photogrammar/Jack Delano
7. Workmen from a nearby powder plant at the post office in Childersburg - May 1941.
Photogrammar/Jack Delano
8. A trailer camp in Childersburg. Many workmen and their families living here are either waiting for job openings or already have jobs at the nearby powder plant - May 1941.
Photogrammar/Jack Delano

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9. Workers, some of them unemployed, on the main street of Childersburg - May 1941.
Photogrammar/Jack Delano
10. Main street of Greensboro - May 1941.
Photogrammar/Jack Delano
11. A church along route No. 80 near Lounsboro - May 1941.
Photogrammar/Jack Delano
12. James F. Drigger is teaching his boy and girl how to water chickens in the FSA (Farm Security Administration) wire-floored brooder in Coffee County - August 1941.
Photogrammar/John Collier
13. A cadet is mounting the plane prior to his training flight. Craig Field, Southeastern Air Training Center, Selma - August 1941.
Photogrammar/Jack Delano
14. Tuskegee Institute, Alabama. Reserve Officers Training Corps - March 1942.
Photogrammar/Arthur Rothstein
15. Ingalls Shipbuilding Company, Decatur. The wheelhouse of a barge is under construction - July 1942.
Photogrammar/Jack Delano
16. Reynolds Alloys Company, Sheffield. A roller from one of the giant rolling mills that has been taken out for repairing - August 1942.
Photogrammar/Jack Delano
17. Marvin Johnson, a truck driver from Montgomery, is sitting with his wife and children for a family photo - March 1943.
Photogrammar/John Vachon

What do you think about these photos? Did you grow up during this significant time in history? Did any of your family members fight in World War II? Feel free to share your stories with us below?

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