Conflict since 1945

The end of the Second World War did not bring an end to conflict. There has been fighting somewhere in the world almost every day since 1945.

These galleries cover conflicts that have developed all over the world in the last 70 years, from the Cold War and conflicts in Korea and Vietnam to the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the Argentine invasion of the Falklands and the Gulf War 1990–1991. Displays look at how the granting of independence to former colonies has often been accompanied by fighting and civil war, and how disagreements over territory and access to oilfields have led to conflict in the Middle East.

Although the gallery displays end with the Gulf War 1990–1991, which included the largest deployment of British forces on active service since the Second World War, we continue to collect material relating to current deployments, notably in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Collections in Context

The Cold War
Though fighting did not occur in Europe, the superpowers sought to exert their influence around the world...

The Falklands War
On 2 April 1982, Argentinian forces invaded the British overseas territory of the Falkland Islands...

The Gulf War 1990-1991
On 2 August 1990 Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, a tiny oil-producing state in the Persian Gulf...

Find out what's on

Learning Resources

Cold War and the Iron Curtain
In 1946, Winston Churchill made his famous speech at Fulton declaring that ‘an iron curtain has descended across the continent’...

The Falklands Conflict
The Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory in the southern Atlantic Ocean, was invaded by Argentina on 3rd April 1982. The Falklands, and other British territories in the region...

See all Post-1945 Conflicts Learning Resouces