Imperial War Museums

Amidst ongoing celebrations ushering in the Year of the Snake, this week's #IWMFilm clip highlights the Lunar New Year celebrations of the Chinese Labour Corps in Noyelles, on the Western Front, in February 1918.   95,000 Chinese farm labourers were recruited by the British Government to form the Chinese Labour Corps. Through their labour and ingenuity, the Corps provided vital logistical support for British forces during the First World War. Their contribution included digging trenches, building roads, unloading ships and trains, and skilled mechanical work repairing tanks. Each week we publish a clip from IWM’s extensive film collection, spanning the First World War to the 21st century. Watch the film in full here: https://lnkd.in/eXhR86qQ. Film: IWM (IWM 168)

Chila Welcomes You opens today! Step in to the vivid imagination of Chila Kumari Singh Burman in this major new art commission at IWM North. In an immersive and playful assemblage of images, patterns, voices and sound, Burman threads memories of her childhood through a wider exploration of migration and the Indian independence movement. The exhibition features light-based neons installed on IWM North’s façade, Burman’s first ever work in tapestry, explorations of photography, a neon corner shop sculpture and ready-made treasures taken from her studio – plus much more. 30 January 2025 to 31 August 2025. Free entry. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3CB9nlK #ChilaWelcomesYou

Holocaust Memorial Day is observed annually on 27 January, remembering the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust and countless others persecuted by the Nazi regime and its collaborators. This #IWMFilm clip shows a group of women survivors, the majority of whom are Jewish, including Maria Salinger and Hella Goldstein, at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. The footage was captured by the Army Film and Photographic Unit during the liberation of the camp in April 1945. Extensive Second World War and Holocaust Galleries were opened at IWM London in 2021. Spanning two floors, the galleries bring together the stories of people from diverse communities to examine the complex relationship between the Holocaust and the course and consequences of the Second World War. To learn about how Holocaust Survivors rebuilt their life see this article: https://lnkd.in/gBJWwk7Z Film: IWM (A70 304-1)

Of the many physically disabled British servicemen who returned from the First World War, over forty thousand had lost limbs. Pluck Wins, from 1927, offers a glimpse of inter-war daily life for these veterans. This unique #IWMFilm clip shows John Hammond, who lost both legs at the Battle of Loos, carrying out construction work. The inter-war period saw developments in societal understanding and approach to physical disability, such as the widespread development and circulation of lightweight aluminium artificial limbs, and the introduction of specialist medical facilities and housing for disabled veterans.    Each week we publish a clip from IWM’s extensive film collection, spanning the First World War to the 21st century. Explore and license a curated collection of IWM films related to the history of disability: https://lnkd.in/exvQn9Mu. Watch the film in full here: https://lnkd.in/eMuhCeN2 Film: IWM (MGH 6572)

Animals have played a role in armed conflict throughout history, not only serving as mascots to boost morale but also as means of transport or manual labour. In both world wars, elephants were commonly used for heavy lifting. In this 1945 #IWMFilm newsreel clip, elephants Kiri and Manni, from the newly reopened Hagenbeck Zoo near Hamburg, assist in the post-war cleanup process. Kiri and Manni were circus elephants, mobilised by local authorities to clear the wreckage from Allied bombing raids, both during wartime and following the German surrender. Each week we publish a clip from IWM’s extensive film collection, spanning the First World War to the 21st century. Explore a curated collection of IWM films featuring elephants: https://lnkd.in/ei5JKQwV IWM Film: WPN 342

The SAS are back in the limelight as the BBC series SAS Rogue Heroes returns for a second series. While the adrenaline fuelled first season was set in North Africa, the second season sees the troops, now led by Lieutenant-Colonel 'Paddy' Mayne, in mainland Europe. Did you know the Second World War drama features archive footage licensed from IWM’s film collection? In April 1943, the 1st SAS was restyled as the Special Raiding Squadron. This week’s #IWMFilm clip depicts men from the unit after capturing the port of Augusta, Sicily. Each week we publish a clip from IWM’s extensive film collection, spanning the First World War to the 21st century. Explore and license a curated collection of IWM films related to the SAS: https://bit.ly/3Pnu2wK Film: IWM (AYY 502/1/8)

As many prepare to celebrate the New Year tonight, this week's #IWMFilm clip features a lively crowd dancing The Twist— a robust social dance comprised of one basic movement to which dancers can add variations. From everyone at IWM, we wish you a safe and happy new year.   Each week we publish a clip from IWM’s extensive film collection, spanning the First World War to the 21st century. This clip is from IWM’s NATO collection. IWM has an in-perpetuity, exclusive, worldwide right to license broadcast quality video from NATO’s archival film collection following an extensive digitisation project. Watch the film in full here: https://bit.ly/41QCFrb © NATO (IWM, NAT 1757) 

IWM is delighted to be partnering with Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd and the University of Exeter on a new Collaborative Doctoral Award opportunity for the project 'War, Photography and Empire: Visual Propaganda and British India c1941-47'. The award is available through the AHRC-funded South, West & Wales Doctoral Training Partnership (SWW-DTP). For more information about the project and details on how to apply, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/49JQ71X Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)

Although this festive season has not brought snow, this week’s #IWMFilm clip does! To wrap up the series of wintry posts, this week’s #IWMFilm clip shows soldiers having a snowball fight on the Western Front, January 1918.   Wishing you a Merry Christmas from IWM.   Each week we publish a clip from IWM’s extensive film collection, spanning the First World War to the 21st century. Watch the film in full here: https://bit.ly/49ZYeHW Film: IWM (IWM 1061-09c)

Get involved with Beyond Borders and help shape our learning offer!   Beyond Borders is an AHRC funded research project jointly led by the IWM and the universities of Edinburgh and Swansea. It examines the impact of the Second World War on national identity across the four home nations, and through the context of empire. As part of Beyond Borders, IWM is engaging with teachers and academics from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to ensure the project has value and impact, across the four nations and their individual curricula. Using the IWM collections, we aim to produce learning resources (KS3/Third Level) and provide in-person and remote CPD for teachers to navigate the impact of WWII on national identity, looking at themes linked to empire and migration.   We’re keen to hear from Key Stage 3/Third Level teachers on how we can tailor our learning offer to best suit your needs as teachers and educators. Join our online Teacher Forums and share your views with us!   Jan 8th (England) Jan 15th (Northern Ireland) Jan 16th (Scotland) Jan 20th (Wales) Jan 28th (Open to all)   Register to participate here: https://bit.ly/49Fxe0a IWM SE1019