Ben Cosgrosve, from Time's journalist, and LIFE.com take a look and show us photos of some of the countless signs that troops encountered during World War II, from the islands of the Pacific to the deserts of North Africa to the ruined cities of Europe.
"Death Valley" (Midway Atoll, the North Pacific,1942)
Frank Scherschel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
"G.I. Joe from Venefro" (Italy, 1943)
Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
"Who couldn't read signs - by Golly!" (Italy, 1943)
Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
"Now He's 6 feet below" (Italy, 1943)
Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
"All ranks British troops will wear steel helmets" (Anzio, 1944)
George Silk—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
"Stop! Go no further enemy!" (North Africa, 1943)
Hart Preston—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
"What's your hurry? War wont be over till January" (Italy, 1944)
Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
"Peep stop" (Buna Beach, 1943)
George Strock—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
"Danger. Road under heavy shell -fire keep - 100 yd. interval" (Loiano, Italy)
1945. Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
"Mines" (Italy, 1944)
George Silk—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
"Give me five years and you will not recognize Germany again" (Cologne, Germany, 1945)
Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
"You are now in Cologne. Compliments 1st Bn. 36 Armo Inf. Regt. Tex spearhead" (Cologne, Germany, 1945)
Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
"Sight seers! Keep out! Beyond this point you draw fire on our fighting men. He risks he life 24 hours a day. Do you??" (Cologne, Germany, 1945)
Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
"Looting 18 prohibited. Death penalty, by order Adj. Chief of Police" (Manila, Philippines, 1945)
Carl Mydans—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
"You may help your-self here" (Tunisia, 1943)
Eliot Elisofon—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
"To Tokio 3130 Mi - To the beach - To Frisco - What the hell do you care?" (Tarawa Atoll, 1944)
Peter Stackpole—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
"Hollywood and Vine - To the beautiful lake shore drive ride in a "am-fib" luxurious" (Saipan, 1944)
Peter Stackpole—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
"Slow dust brings shell - fire" (Anzio, 1944)
George Silk—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Damnit! Slow down a tank may be coming (Anzio, 1944)
George Silk—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
"Road exposed to enemy artillery keep to right" (Okinawa, 1945)
W. Eugene Smith—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
"Roads and shoulders cleared of krauts - 2nd Armored Division" (Allied drive towards Berlin, 1945)
William Vandivert—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
"Mines" (Italy, 1944)
[Buy the LIFE book, D-Day: Remembering the Battle That Won the War — 70 Years Later]
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WW2 Timeline:
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