Queen Elizabeth II in Auxiliary Territorial Service uniform, April 1945
A pamphlet produced by the 43 Group in the late 1940s, Britain
This pamphlet was produced in the late 1940s by the 43 Group. Following World War II, Jewish servicemen returned home to find fascists preaching antisemitism on British streets. They formed the 43 Group, which combined political campaigning with a willingness to use physical violence to break up fascist meetings. The contents of the pamphlet includes an open letter to the Jewish community, an introduction to fascism, a list of current fascist organisations, the history of the group, its aims and objectives and a form to apply to join the group. By 1950 fascism had all but disappeared from the streets and the group disbanded.
Winston Churchill’s edited copy of the final draft of the Atlantic Charter, 1941
The Atlantic Charter was a pivotal policy statement first issued in August 1941 that early in World War II defined the Allied goals for the post-war world. It was drafted by Britain and the United States, and later agreed to by all the Allies. The Charter stated the ideal goals of the war: no territorial aggrandizement; no territorial changes made against the wishes of the people; restoration of self-government to those deprived of it; free access to raw materials; reduction of trade restrictions; global cooperation to secure better economic and social conditions for all; freedom from fear and want; freedom of the seas; and abandonment of the use of force, as well as disarmament of aggressor nations. In the “Declaration by United Nations” of 1 January 1942, the Allies of World War II pledged adherence to the charter’s principles.
Picasso with an owl, c. 1948
