War, Security, and Intelligence

Many of the primary source collections published by British Online Archives (BOA) can be grouped under the broad theme of “War, Security, and Intelligence”. This theme encapsulates direct military engagements, but also diplomacy, state-sponsored surveillance, government propaganda, and domestic politics. Naturally, “War, Security, and Intelligence” intersects with several other BOA themes, such as “Colonialism and Empire”, “International Relations”, “Media and Communications”, “Politics and Social Movements”, and “Science and Technology”.

The collections grouped under this particular theme contain extensive material relating to a diverse range of historical events and trends. For example, they chart the development of military technologies and strategies throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. They likewise illustrate the impact of warfare, particularly the World Wars, on military personnel and civilians across the globe.

Furthermore, these collections trace the emergence of anti-colonialist and resistance struggles. They also illuminate the tensions that emerged between the USSR and the West following the Second World War, and which ultimately escalated into the Cold War. Indeed, the collections document the various initiatives and institutions that the Allied nations established in order to eliminate Nazism and to generate a more co-operative, economically integrated global order. They are a valuable resource for students, educators, and researchers.