Wartime Press was built by two friends who met in a carpool and discovered they shared the same passion — preserving the authentic printed voice of World War II for future generations.
My name is Eric — Irek in Polish, short for Ireneusz — and I have been collecting WWII publications for over 15 years. I grew up with a deep connection to this period of history. As a Polish-American, WWII is not just history to me — it is personal. Poland lost more of its people in that war than almost any other nation, and the documents we preserve here tell part of that story.
My collecting partner and dear friend Dave Gallagher shared that same dedication. Dave was a meticulous historian and one of the most knowledgeable collectors of American unit histories and unit newspapers I have ever known. He was collecting long before we met, and when we joined forces Wartime Press became something neither of us could have built alone. It was Dave who first asked me to search for German magazines in Poland — a request that helped shape the European side of our collection. His passion, expertise and friendship are woven into every corner of this archive. We continue this work in his honor.
Today Wartime Press is a family operation based in Aiken, South Carolina. My wife and children help keep the archive growing, one document at a time. We all have regular lives — jobs, school, busy evenings — but we carve out the time because we believe what we are doing matters.
“Eric and Dave — Wartime Press founders”
History of Wartime Press
What started as a personal collecting passion has grown into one of the most comprehensive digital archives of WWII publications available anywhere. We have been contacted by veteran families, news organizations, independent researchers, and documentary filmmakers seeking material from our collection. Every contact like that reminds us why this work is worth doing.
Our archive includes books, booklets, magazines, manuals, newspapers, propaganda leaflets, unit histories, and unit publications from the United States, Great Britain, Germany, Poland, Italy, Japan, and other nations. We currently have over 15,000 items available with thousands more being added regularly.
Why We Display Publications From All Sides
Good or bad, all aspects of WWII are part of history. These publications offer an unfiltered look into the past — how soldiers lived, what they were told, what they believed, and what they experienced. They help us understand not just the war but the world that produced it.
This site contains PDFs of publications from all sides of WWII for historical and educational purposes only. We do not promote any form of hatred, racism, indifference to human life, or political extremism. We are Christians who believe in the dignity of every human being. We present these documents as historical artifacts, nothing more.
Our Preservation Mission
This is still a work in progress. Scanning, describing, and cataloging 36,000 items takes time when you have a regular job and a family. We work evenings, Fridays, and Saturdays. We are in it for the long haul.
All material is for individual use only. Please do not resell anything from our site. For any other arrangements please contact us beforehand.
Can You Help Fill the Gaps?
If you have high resolution scans or original WWII publications you would like to contribute to the archive, we would love to hear from you. All donors receive acknowledgment and recognition on the site.
If you are searching for a family member who served in WWII, please reach out. Many of our publications contain rosters, medal citations, and individual mentions. We are happy to help with your personal research.
Thank you for being part of preserving this history.
Eric (Irek) Wartime Press Aiken, South Carolina