Sport and War

From muddy football pitches on the Western Front to makeshift volleyball courts in Afghanistan, sport has always found a place, even in times of war. This fascinating book explores the powerful role of sport during conflict, drawing on the rich collections of IWM. Covering the First and Second World Wars, the Cold War and contemporary conflicts, Sport and War reveals how games and competitions offered moments of escape, camaraderie and resilience in times of hardship. Discover stories of football matches played in the trenches, the rise of women's sport during wartime and the ingenuity of prisoners of war who created equipment from whatever they could find. Learn how the Olympics and Paralympics became stages for political tension and recovery, and how fitness and recreation remain vital for service personnel today. Illustrated with striking photographs, artworks, posters and personal testimonies from letters, diaries and oral histories, this collection brings to life the human stories behind sport in wartime. From professional athletes who served on the frontlines to everyday soldiers finding solace in a shared game, these accounts show how sport has shaped - and been shaped by - conflict.

• Publication date: 19 November 2026
• Page count: 240
• Publisher: Imperial War Museum
• Format: Hardback
• ISBN-13: 9781911748144