Visiting World War II Sites with ToursByLocals

Veterans Day. Armistice Day. Remembrance Day. Whatever the day of commemoration is called in your country, it means the same thing: a time to reflect on the sacrifices those in the military have made in the line of duty. We do this every year on November 11th, the day World War I hostilities ceased, on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month.

In an attempt to understand the horrors of war, and honour the many soldiers whose lives were lost, battlefields around the world have become memorials, and travelers from all over visit so as not to forget.

At ToursByLocals, we have a number of licensed guides with scholarly and personal backgrounds in war history. They offer private tours to travelers who often have a personal connection to the places visited; perhaps their father or grandfather served in battle, or their family emigrated from the war zones. And of course, many travelers have a pure and simple human interest in the major events of the 20th century, and want to see them in person.

Looking through the war history tours on the ToursByLocals site, we’re struck by just how many parts of the world were affected by WWII. Below we’ve rounded up just a few of the many places travelers can go to get a better understanding of how this war that took place 75 years ago influenced a myriad of landscapes and people.

Singapore Learn more about what it was like to live in Singapore under Japanese rule: Singapore and the Japanese Invasion Tour.

Thailand Also in South East Asia, the infamous Bridge over the River Kwai was a living nightmare for thousands of POWs: Kanchanaburi and the Bridge Over the River Kwai Tour.

Saipan In the South Pacific, Saipan was a fierce battleground for American and Japanese soldiers: Saipan War Relics Tour.

Norway Learn about the Norwegian resistance to Nazi occupation, and the story of Oslo’s Jewish population during World War II: Jewish History in Oslo Tour.

Hawaii The attack at Pearl Harbour brought the Americans into the War; our guide has personal family stories to tell from this time: Pearl Harbour Tour.

Italy Explore intact World War II Bunkers, Trenches and Tunnels along Hitler’s “Gothic Line”, only recently opened to the public in Lucca, Italy: Gothic Line tour near Lucca, Italy.

Belgium In December 1944, a quarter of a million German soldiers shattered a quiet night in what became known as the Battle of the Bulge, in the Belgian Ardennes: Battle of the Bulge tour in Belgium.

Malta Malta played a pivotal role in the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations. Located between North Africa and Europe, it was the Allies' only outpost in the Central Mediterranean and it withstood hunger, damage and death during three years of aerial bombardment: Tour Malta's George Cross Island as it was in WWll.

France Witness the site of the largest seaborne invasion in history, on the D-Day beaches of Juno, Omaha, and Utah in Normandy, France: D-Day Beaches Tour in Normandy.

Netherlands Of course war affects everyone – not just those actively engaged in combat. Anne Frank’s story is one of the millions of stories of human suffering brought about by war: Anne Frank House and former Concentration Camp visit.

Japan Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan is dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to suffer a nuclear attack, and to the memories of the bomb's direct and indirect victims. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park tour.