For most Americans and American school children, WWII was known almost exclusively through black and white photography. Sixteen millimeter color film and 35mm slide film became available to the public in the mid 1930's, but color photography did not start to gain widespread accaptance in the U.S. until the 1950's.

For those aware of extant WWII color film, you may be wondering why most of the color film was shot in the Pacific Theater. At the start of the war, the Army requisitioned most of the black and white film stock so the Navy and Marine Corps were left with mostly color film.

The Germans actually used mostly color film during the war, but most of the archives were destroyed.

The first clip I'm showing is of some good, but extremely rare 16mm color film shot in Europe during Operation Overlord.

Now for some color German film of their paratroopers. and Wermacht troops at the Oder River. Russian Victory Parade 1945 Part 1 Russian Victory Parade Part 2 Part 3 and Part 4, the final part: More German color film: (some good stuff) U.S. Navy and Marines, Saipan and Marianas Iwo Jima in color: