Since the end of the Second World War the conflict has been a rich and continuous source of inspiration for the entertainment industry. Today computer games are just the latest in a long line of entertainment media who’ve made a good living from the facts and fiction of World War Two. Just a few years ago computer games were restricted to expensive consoles that plugged into your TV or ran on your PC if properly equipped with a games card. Nowadays high and low quality games are freely available to download onto any mobile device from an Apple iPhone to an Android tablet and everything in between. Like countless millions I’m not immune to the allure of storming the Normandy beaches and flying a Spitfire while sitting on my sofa or relaxing in the garden. So, seeing as tomorrow is June 6th and the anniversary of D-Day I thought I’d mention some of the WWII games I’m currently playing.

Frontline Commando: D-Day by Glu Mobile is a high quality, console-style game available on Android Play. As the name suggests, the game is set during Operation Overlord, the D-Day invasion of Normandy. The game is a shoot ‘em up, whereby you have to complete increasingly tricky missions using various bits of military hardware from the trusty M1 Garand rifle to heavy calibre anti-aircraft guns. The game is free to play, but you can choose to pay real money for some extra items. What is really impressive is the quality of the graphics and general attention to detail. The game is also pretty easy and intuitive to handle, which is another bonus. You don’t need a degree in computer science to get the most out of it.

Visit Google Play to find Frontline Commando: D-Day

Having assaulted Hitler’s Fortress Europa, stormed the D-Day beaches and successfully liberated Normandy, I usually unwind by taking to the air, and play the part of an air gunner in Medal of Gunner by PICTOSOFT Inc. This is another free Android game, where your mission is to protect your B-17 Flying Fortress from constant attack by enemy fighters. The game has nice graphics and authentic shooting action when you’re behind the twin M2 Browning heavy machine guns giving the Hun hell. You can move around the fuselage, and pick your place to fight from Tail Gunner to Ball Turret Gunner plus you’re awarded medals for your success in defending your bomber. The game can be downloaded from Google Play, so check it out.

Download Medal of Gunner for Android

Finally, for all those Apple iPhone and iPad users out there, I’ve recently taken to playing Battle Tank Tiger II by By GIGANT Co. Ltd. The game is available free of charge from the App Store. It’s basically a horizontal-scrolling game where you drive your German Tiger II across the battlefield destroying enemy armour, troops, buildings and anything else that gets in your way. The game looks great with simple, bold, effective block colour graphics, and is very easy to play. I particularly like the ability to call in an airstrike, and use the machine gun button to deal with enemy infantry. Nice and simple, Tiger tank heaven.

You'll find Battle Tank Tiger II at the App Store for iOS

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The Soviet built T-34 medium tank was one of World War Two’s truly decisive weapons. The T-34 entered service in 1940 and continued in production until 1958 having been through a number of redesigns and improvements. Over 84,000 T-34s were eventually built, and the tank has seen service in 39 countries outside of the Soviet Union. The original model had a 76mm high-velocity main gun, sloping armour, wide tracks for good weight displacement when operating on mud and snowy ground.

However, the original crew compartments were poorly designed compared with the German Army’s panzers, and the tank lacked technical sophistication and adequate radio communications. The T-34 was also to suffer because of the Red Army’s inability to deploy this war-winning weapon with any real skill in the early days of the conflict. After the Russian winter halted the German advanced at the gates of Moscow in 1941, the Red Army’s commanders gradually started to appreciate how to use their armour to best effect.

You will find a new video on The War Years YouTube channel, where you can see the famous T-34 in action and learn a little more about it. The T-34 chassis was also used by the Soviets as a platform for their tank destroyers and self-propelled guns. Toward the end of the war the T-34-85 was introduced. This new version of an already highly successful design offered Soviet crews a better main armament, improved armour, enhanced suspension, three-man turret design and new radio-communications plus better fire suppression should the tank be hit.

The T-34-85 was still at a disadvantage when faced by a German Panther tank, and completely outgunned by the ferocious Tiger I main battle tank. But the Russians were producing T-34s at an astonishing rate compared with the trickle of German tanks coming off their production lines. The T-34 is a testament to rugged tank design and engineering, and the triumph of mass production, albeit motivated by a mixture of genuine Communist zeal, fear of Nazi terror and Stalinist oppression.

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