War, Security, and Intelligence

Throughout recorded human history, wars have led to the rise and fall of empires, destroyed entire civilisations, and redrawn the political maps of countries and continents on innumerable occasions. At the same time, both war and the possibility of war have precipitated scientific and technological developments, facilitated major shifts in economic policy, and led to profound changes in people’s socio-cultural attitudes and practices. Put simply, war remains one of the most disruptive and consequential historical phenomena, and it continues to influence politics, economics, and culture around the world. Given the complexity and far-reaching impact of violent conflicts, the theme of “War, Security, and Intelligence” not only refers to direct military engagements, but also to diplomacy, state-sponsored surveillance, government propaganda, and domestic politics.

The theme of “War, Security, and Intelligence” intersects with several other themes at BOA, such as “Colonialism and Empire”, “International Relations”, “Politics and Social Movements”, and “Science and Technology”. As a result, the collections shown below contain material relating to a diverse range of historical events and developments. For example, they trace the emergence of anti-colonialist and resistance struggles; illustrate the impact of the World Wars on civilians and military personnel alike; and highlight the tensions between East and West during the arms race after 1945. In addition, they shed light on people’s experiences of war across the globe, from the Americas to the Middle East, and from Europe to Southeast Asia.

26 Collections

Collection
American Records in the House of Lords Archive, 1621-1917
Collection
The American Revolution from a British Perspective, 1763-1783
Collection
British Army Lists of Officers, 1740-1784
Collection
British Diplomacy from the Unification of Germany to the Spanish Civil War, 1863-1939
Collection
British Diplomacy with America and Ireland, an Ambassador's Letters, 1909-1962
Collection
British Government Information and Propaganda, 1939-2009
Collection
British Labour Party Papers, 1906-1969
Collection
British Labour Party Papers, 1968-1994
Collection
British Parliamentary History, 1102-1803
Collection
The Collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the Partition of the Middle East, 1879-1919
Collection
Communisms and the Cold War, 1944-1986
Collection
Conscientious Objection During World War 1
Collection
Debate and Division on the British Left, 1917-1964
Collection
Establishing the Post-War International Order, 1944-1961
Collection
Illustrated War News, 1914-1918 & 1939 Coming Soon
Collection
International Relations Between Britain and America, 1796-1848
Collection
Life on the Front Line: Diaries, News, and Letters from the First World War, 1914-1919
Collection
Life under Nazi Rule: Reports by Anti-Fascists in Occupied Europe, 1933-1945
Collection
Military Intelligence Files: Land, Sea & Air, 1938-1974
Collection
Military Tactics and the Rise of Modern Warfare, 1881-1935
Collection
Paris Peace Conference and Beyond, 1919-1939
Collection
Prison Ship Records from the War of 1812
Collection
Prosecuting the Holocaust: British Investigations into Nazi Crimes, 1944-1949
Collection
Science and Marxism, 1956-1985
Collection
Secrecy, Sabotage, and Aiding the Resistance: How Anglo-American Cooperation Shaped World War II
Collection
‘Thou Shalt Not Kill’: Missionaries in Asia during the World Wars, 1914-1946