World War II was one of the defining periods of British history, a six-year period that saw Britain and its Commonwealth stand united against the tyranny of the Axis powers. With the nation initially ill-prepared to engage in war, the British Soldier suffered many trials and reverses of fortune before his central role in the Allied victory in Europe. After early defeats, some British soldiers endured long years of captivity in German POW camps, while others performed the vital duty of home defence and training for the inevitable return to the continent.