Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, and naval infantry or marines. Although disused in modern times, heavy infantry also commonly made up the bulk of many historic armies. Infantry, cavalry, and artillery have traditionally made up the core of the combat arms professions of various armies, with the infantry almost always comprising the largest portion of these forces.
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct military uniform. It may consist of one or more military branches such as an army, navy, air force, space force, marines, or coast guard. The main task of the military is usually defined as defence of the state and its interests against external armed threats.
Operation Alphabet was an evacuation, authorised on 24 May 1940, of Allied troops from the harbour of Narvik in northern Norway marking the success of Operation Weserübung and the end of the Allied campaign in Norway during World War II. The evacuation was completed by 8 June.
An anti-materiel rifle (AMR) is a rifle designed for use against military equipment, structures, and other hardware (materiel). Anti-materiel rifles are chambered in significantly larger calibers than conventional rifles and are employed to eliminate equipment such as engines and unarmored or lightly armored targets. While modern armored vehicles are resistant to anti-materiel rifles, the extended range and penetration still has many modern applications. While not intended for use against human targets, the bullet weight and velocity of anti-materiel rifles gives them exceptional long-range capability even when compared with designated sniper rifles. Anti-materiel rifles are made in both bolt-action as well as semi-automatic designs.
Lists of World War II military equipment are lists of military equipment in use during World War II (1939–1945). They include lists of aircraft, ships, vehicles, weapons, personal equipment and uniforms, and other equipment. There are aggregated military equipment lists by country, and lists of classes of equipment broken down by country or by type.
The arms industry, also known as the arms trade, is a global industry which manufactures and sells weapons and military technology. It consists of a commercial industry involved in the research and development, engineering, production, and servicing of military material, equipment, and facilities. Arms-producing companies, also referred to as arms dealers, or as the military industry, produce arms for the armed forces of states and for civilians. Departments of government also operate in the arms industry, buying and selling weapons, munitions and other military items. An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition - whether privately or publicly owned - are made, maintained and repaired, stored, or issued, in any combination. Products of the arms industry include guns, artillery, ammunition, missiles, military aircraft, military vehicles, ships, electronic systems, night-vision devices, holographic weapon sights, laser rangefinders, laser sights, hand grenades, landmines and more. The arms industry also provides other logistical and operational support.
Demilitarisation or demilitarization may mean the reduction of state armed forces; it is the opposite of militarisation in many respects. For instance, the demilitarisation of Northern Ireland entailed the reduction of British security and military apparatuses. Demilitarisation in this sense is usually the result of a peace treaty ending a war or a major conflict. The principle is distinguished from demobilisation, which refers to the drastic voluntary reduction in the size of a victorious army.
An airdrop is a type of airlift in which items including weapons, equipment, humanitarian aid or leaftlets are delivered by military or civilian aircraft without their landing. Developed during World War II to resupply otherwise inaccessible troops, themselves often airborne forces, airdrops can also refer to the airborne assault itself.
The List of military equipment includes sub-lists by type and country.
The following is a list of lists of currently active military equipment by country.
The Estonian Land Forces, unofficially referred to as the Estonian Army, is the name of the unified ground forces among the Estonian Defense Forces where it has an offensive military formation role. It is currently the largest Estonian military branch with the average size during peacetime of approximately 6,000 soldiers, conscripts, and officers.
This is a list of World War II-related topic lists:
This is an Index of World War II articles, that can be found on Wikipedia.
- La Courneuve – 8 Mai 1945
- La Fondation pour la Mémoire de la Déportation
- La Liberation de Paris
- Lack of outside support in the Warsaw Uprising
- Lamason, Phil
- Landing Operation on Hainan Island
- Landing Ship, Tank
- Landing Vehicle Tracked
- Language of Nazi concentration camps
- Lapland War
- Last will and testament of Adolf Hitler
- Latvian Legion
- Latvian resistance movement
- Law on the status of Jews
- Law regarding foreign nationals of the Jewish race
- Laws against Holocaust denial
- Lead up to the Warsaw Uprising
- Leadership ranks of the Sturmabteilung
- League of German Girls
- Lebensborn
- Lebensraum
- Legal purge in Norway after World War II
- Legion of French Volunteers Against Bolshevism
- Legionnaires' rebellion and Bucharest pogrom
- Leni Riefenstahl
- Leningrad Front
- Leningrad People's Opolcheniye Army
- Leopold III of Belgium
- Letters from Iwo Jima
- Lexington-class aircraft carrier
- Liberation Front of the Slovenian People
- Liberation of Arnhem
- Liberation of Paris
- Liberty ship
- Lichtenburg
- Lieutenant Hubert Gruber
- Lili Marleen
- List of Adolf Hitler books
- List of Adolf Hitler speeches
- List of air operations of the Battle of Europe
- List of aircraft engines in use by Japan during World War II
- List of Aircraft engines in use of Japanese Army Air Force
- List of aircraft engines of Germany during World War Two
- List of Aircraft engines used by Japanese Navy Air Service
- List of aircraft of Italy, World War II
- List of aircraft of Japan, World War II
- List of aircraft of Russia, World War II
- List of aircraft of the French Air Force during World War II
- List of aircraft of the British, World War II
- List of aircraft of the Japanese Navy
- List of aircraft of the Luftwaffe, World War II
- List of aircraft of the U.S. military, World War II
- List of aircraft of World War II
- List of Allied forces in the Normandy Campaign
- List of Allied propaganda films of World War II
- List of Allied ships at the Japanese surrender
- List of Allied traitors during World War Two
- List of Allied warships in the Normandy Landings
- List of armour used by the Imperial Japanese Army in the Second Sino-Japanese War
- List of armoured fighting vehicles of World War II
- List of artillery weapons of the Imperial Japanese Navy
- List of Australian divisions in World War II
- List of Australian divisions in WWII
- List of Axis war criminals
- List of B-29 Superfortress operators
- List of basic World War II topics
- List of battleships of Japan
- List of Bombs in use by Imperial Japanese Army
- List of British armies in World War I
- List of British armies in WWII
- List of British divisions in WWII
- List of British Empire divisions in World War II
- List of broadsides of major World War II ships
- List of Brothers in Arms characters
- List of Canadian divisions in World War II
- List of Canadian divisions in WWII
- List of Coastal Batteries in Australia and Territories during World War II
- List of common World War II infantry weapons
- List of component units of British 1st (African) Division
- List of component units of British 1st Armoured Division
- List of component units of British 1st Infantry Division
- List of component units of Fighter Command
- List of composers influenced by the Holocaust
- List of cruiser classes of the Imperial Japanese Navy
- List of demolished entertainment venues in Paris
- List of diplomatic missions during World War II
- List of Eastern Fleet ships
- List of engines and weapons used on Japanese tanks during World War II
- List of escort aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy
- List of Female SOE Agents
- List of films about Anne Frank
- List of films based on war books — 1927–1945
- List of Finnish armies in WWII
- List of Finnish corps in the Continuation War
- List of Finnish corps in the Winter War
- List of Finnish divisions in the Continuation War
- List of Finnish divisions in the Winter War
- List of Flower-class corvettes
- List of foreign aircraft tested by Japanese forces from 1930s to WW2
- List of foreign recipients of the Knight's Cross
- List of foreign vehicles used by Nazi Germany in World War II
- List of Gaue of Nazi Germany
- List of Gauleiters
- List of German Army Groups in WWII
- List of German concentration camps
- List of German corps in WWII
- List of German divisions in World War II
- List of German divisions in World War II
- List of German military units of World War II
- List of German World War II jet aces
- List of German World War II night fighter aces
- List of Hawker Hurricane operators
- List of helicopters used in World War II
- List of Holocaust films
- List of Holocaust survivors
- List of IJA Independent Mixed Brigades
- List of IJA Mixed Brigades
- List of Imperial Japanese Navy admirals
- List of Indian corps in WWII
- List of Indian divisions in WWII
- List of individuals in the Warsaw Uprising
- List of infantry weapons of the Imperial Japanese Navy
- List of Italian divisions in WWII
- List of Japanese-run internment camps during World War II
- List of Japanese aircraft in use during the Second Sino-Japanese War
- List of Japanese armored divisions
- List of Japanese Army military engineer vehicles of World War II
- List of Japanese Auxiliary Cruiser Commerce Raiders
- List of Japanese campaigns of the Second Sino-Japanese War
- List of Japanese dreadnought battleships
- List of Japanese government and military commanders of World War II
- List of Japanese HEAT Shells in WW2
- List of Japanese hell ships
- List of Japanese Infantry Divisions
- List of Japanese infantry weapons used in the Second-Sino Japanese War
- List of Japanese military detachments in World War II
- List of Japanese military equipment of World War II
- List of Japanese Mixed Brigades
- List of Japanese nationalist movements and parties
- List of Japanese naval commanders
- List of Japanese Navy Air Force aces
- List of Japanese Navy ships and war vessels in World War II
- List of Japanese steam battleships
- List of Japanese tanks and armoured vehicles of the WWII period
- List of Japanese trainer aircraft during World War II
- List of Japanese World War II explosives
- List of Japanese World War II military specialists on the USSR
- List of Japanese World War II navy bombs
- List of Japanese World War II radar
- List of Japanese WW2 Weapons
- List of jet aircraft of World War II
- List of Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves recipients: 1940
- List of Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves recipients: 1941
- List of Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves recipients: 1942
- List of Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves recipients: 1943
- List of Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves recipients: 1944
- List of Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves recipients: 1945
- List of Kriegsmarine ships
- List of leaders of Independent State of Croatia
- List of Liberty ships: A-F
- List of Liberty ships: G-L
- List of Liberty ships: M-R
- List of Liberty ships: S-Z
- List of Liberty ships
- List of Luftwaffe aircraft prototype projects during World War II
- List of Maginot Line ouvrages
- List of major U.S. Commands of World War II
- List of major World War II warships built by minor powers
- List of Mauthausen-Gusen inmates
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Battle of Iwo Jima
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II
- List of Medal of Honor recipients: World War II
- List of members of the July 20 Plot
- List of military aircraft of Germany
- List of military engagements of World War II
- List of military equipment of the Canadian Army during the Second World War
- List of Military Operations in the West European Theater during WW2 by Year
- List of Military operations on the Eastern Front European Theater during WW2
- List of military operations on the Eastern Front of World War II
- List of military operations
- List of military units in the Warsaw Uprising
- List of military vehicles of World War II
- List of National Socialist publishers
- List of Naval and land based operations in Mediterranean Sea Area during WW2
- List of Naval and land based operations in Pacific Theater during WW2
- List of Nazi-German concentration camps
- List of Nazi Party leaders and officials
- List of networks and movements of the French Resistance
- List of New Zealand divisions in World War II
- List of North African Campaign Battles
- List of officers of the People's Liberation Army
- List of people involved with the French Resistance
- List of people who assisted Jews during the Holocaust
- List of Polish armies in World War II
- List of Polish armies in WWII
- List of Polish divisions in World War II
- List of Polish divisions in WWII
- List of posthumous publications of Holocaust victims
- List of POW camps in Australia
- List of POW camps in Britain
- List of POW camps in Canada
- List of POW camps in Italy
- List of POW camps in Japan
- List of POW camps in occupied Germany
- List of POW camps in the Soviet Union
- List of POW camps in the United States
- List of prisoner-of-war camps in Germany
- List of Pro-Axis Leaders and Governments or Direct Control in Occupied Territories
- List of prototype World War II combat vehicles
- List of prototype WWII combat vehicles
- List of Radars in use by Imperial Japanese Army
- List of Righteous Among the Nations by country
- List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons
- List of Second World War Victoria Cross recipients
- List of secondary and special-issue World War II infantry weapons
- List of ships of the Free French Naval Forces
- List of ships of the Japanese Navy
- List of ships sunk by Axis warships in Australian waters
- List of ships sunk by the Imperial Japanese Navy
- List of SOE Agents
- List of SOE establishments
- List of South African Divisions in World War II
- List of Soviet Union divisions 1917–1945
- List of Special Operations Executive Operations in WW2
- List of SS personnel
- List of subcamps of Auschwitz
- List of subcamps of Buchenwald
- List of subcamps of Dachau
- List of subcamps of Flossenbürg
- List of subcamps of Gross-Rosen
- List of subcamps of Herzogenbusch
- List of subcamps of Kraków-Płaszów
- List of subcamps of Mauthausen
- List of subcamps of Mittelbau
- List of subcamps of Natzweiler-Struthof
- List of subcamps of Neuengamme
- List of subcamps of Ravensbrück
- List of subcamps of Sachsenhausen
- List of subcamps of Stutthof
- List of tanks and armoured vehicles of the Imperial Japanese Navy
- List of territories occupied by Imperial Japan
- List of the 108 Martyrs of World War Two
- List of theaters and campaigns of World War II
- List of U-boats never deployed
- List of undersea-carried planes during World War II
- List of uniforms and clothing of WWII
- List of United States Army Air Forces Air Force Component Commands
- List of United States Army divisions during World War II
- List of United States Navy escort aircraft carriers
- List of United States Navy losses in World War II
- List of United States Navy ships present at Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941
- List of units using the B-26 Marauder during World War II
- List of V-1 storage depots
- List of V-2 test launches
- List of Vichy France Air Aces
- List of victims of Nazism
- List of victims of the Babi Yar massacre
- List of Victory ships
- List of Waffen SS units
- List of war apology statements issued by Japan
- List of weapons of military aircraft of Germany during World War Two
- List of weapons of the Japanese Navy
- List of weapons of World War II Japanese aircraft
- List of weapons on Japanese combat aircraft
- List of World War II aces by country
- List of World War II aces from Australia
- List of World War II aces from Austria
- List of World War II aces from Belgium
- List of World War II aces from Bulgaria
- List of World War II aces from Canada
- List of World War II aces from China
- List of World War II aces from Croatia
- List of World War II aces from Czechoslovakia
- List of World War II aces from Denmark
- List of World War II aces from Finland
- List of World War II aces from France
- List of World War II aces from Germany
- List of World War II aces from Greece
- List of World War II aces from Hungary
- List of World War II aces from Italy
- List of World War II aces from Japan
- List of World War II aces from New Zealand
- List of World War II aces from Norway
- List of World War II aces from Poland
- List of World War II aces from Rhodesia
- List of World War II aces from Romania
- List of World War II aces from Slovakia
- List of World War II aces from South Africa
- List of World War II aces from Spain
- List of World War II aces from the Soviet Union
- List of World War II aces from the United Kingdom
- List of World War II aces from the United States
- List of World War II aces from United States
- List of World War II air aces
- List of World War II artillery
- List of World War II Battles
- List of World War II battles
- List of World War II British naval radar
- List of World War II conferences
- List of World War II convoys
- List of World War II electronic warfare equipment
- List of World War II evacuations
- List of World War II films
- List of World War II firearms of Germany
- List of World War II firearms
- List of World War II flying aces from Romania
- List of World War II guided missiles of Germany
- List of World War II Infantry Anti-Tank Weapons of Germany
- List of World War II military aircraft of Germany
- List of World War II military equipment
- List of World War II military gliders
- List of World War II military operations
- List of World War II military units of Germany
- List of World War II military vehicles by country
- List of World War II military vehicles of Germany
- List of World War II POW camps
- List of World War II ship classes
- List of World War II ships of less than 1000 tons
- List of World War II ships
- List of World War II torpedoes of Germany
- List of World War II video games
- List of World War II weapons of France
- List of World War II weapons of Germany
- List of World War II weapons of Italy
- List of World War II weapons of the Soviet Union
- List of World War II weapons of the United Kingdom
- List of World War II weapons of the United States
- List of World War II weapons
- List of WW2 Luftwaffe aircraft by manufacturer
- List of WWII POW camps in Kenya
- Lists of World War II topics
- Lithuanian 1941 independence
- Lithuanian Activist Front
- Lithuanian Security Police
- Lithuanian Territorial Defense Force
- Little Boy
- Liverpool Blitz
- Living with the enemy in the German-occupied Channel Islands
- Local Self-Defence in Lithuania during the Nazi German occupation (1941–1944)
- Lockheed Model 10 Electra
- Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar
- Lockheed P-38 Survivors
- Lom prisoner of war camp
- London and Paris Conferences
- London Can Take It!
- London Charter of the International Military Tribunal
- London Victory Parade of 1946
- Los Alamos National Laboratory
- Los Alamos National Security
- Los Alamos Primer
- Los Alamos Ranch School
- Los Alamos, New Mexico
- Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust
- Losses during the Second Battle of the Atlantic
- Lost Battalion
- Lower Silesian Offensive Operation
- LSM-1-class landing ship medium
- Lublin-Brest Offensive Operation
- Lublin Army
- Lublin R-VIII
- Lublin R-XIII
- Luftflotte 1
- Luftflotte 2
- Luftflotte 3
- Luftflotte 4
- Luftflotte 5
- Luftflotte 6
- Luftflotte Reich
- Luftlande-Sturm-Regiment
- Luftstreitkräfte
- Luftvärnskanonvagn L-62 Anti II
- Luftwaffe Central (Weissrutenische) detachment
- Luftwaffe Commander
- Luftwaffe Field Division
- Luftwaffe Fliegerführer
- Luftwaffe Institute of Aviation Medicine
- Luftwaffe North (Ostland) detachment
- Luftwaffe Northern (Arctic) detachment(Luftflotte 5)(Finland-Norway)
- Luftwaffe Order of Battle August 1940
- Luftwaffe serviceable aircraft strengths (1940-1945)
- Luftwaffe Southern (Balkan-Ukraine) detachment
- Luftwaffe units before the 1939 invasion of Poland
- Luftwaffe
- Luftwaffen-Legion Lettland
- Luftwaffenhelfer
- Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr
- Luger P08 pistol
- Luxembourg in World War II
- Luxembourgish government-in-exile
- Luxembourgish Patriot League
- Luxembourgish Red Lion
- Luxembourg Resistance
- LVI Panzer Corps
- Lviv Civilian Massacre (1941)
- Lviv pogroms
- Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive
- Lwów Ghetto
- Lwów Uprising
- LXIV Corps (Germany)
- Léon Degrelle
The German designations of foreign firearms in World War II is a list of known foreign firearms and equipment compiled by the German armed forces before World War II.