Emergency Exits

IWM holds approximately 11 million photographs in its archives, covering the causes, course and consequences of modern conflict from the First World War to the present day.

The Second World War was won by millions of Allied soldiers, sailors, airmen and civilians, many of whom came from the countries of the British Empire. It was won using resources extracted from these countries: vital to ensuring the defeat of fascism in Europe and Japanese imperialism in the Pacific. However, for many of the people who had long sought freedom from British control, the end of the war did not mark a return to peace, but the start of a new battle - the battle to decide who would shape their futures. Through 50 photographs, Emergency Exits explores how key conflicts in Malaya, Kenya and Cyprus became defining events in the end of the British Empire. This poignant collection brings to light the lesser-known history of the events that followed the end of the Second World War, and their role in shaping the world we know today.