Introduction

Conflict has been central to human history. Some of the earliest histories detail war between classical factions, mythical deities, and heroic warriors. While those fantastical tales often neglect the realities of war, nonetheless they are core stories within the human psyche.

However, any such tale of glory ignores the lived experiences of those who fought and often died, those who civilians who suffered greatly regardless of their involvement, and the lasting impact these events caused. This archive collates these stories using the visually documented memory that has survived. While none of these stories are explored in their totality, these snapshots will hopefully provide a window for you to explore.

As you read through these stories, it is important to not only contend with how these people lived, but also why it is important that their memory be documented. If not for these materials and the ongoing efforts to document and save these experiences, our limited understanding of the lasting horrors of war would blunt our ability to rationally understand the sum cost of conflict. Remembering to weigh these costs must be remembered before matching towards the costly, cold end.