Today is the 80th anniversary of VE Day, which celebrated the Allied victory in Europe.
To mark the milestone, we looked at places around St Albans and Harpenden which played a crucial role during the Second World War.
From bombings and plane crashes to a German spy and a secret intelligence base, the district saw its fair share of action during the conflict.
1. Colney Heath crash
On October 22, 1943, Lancaster 7575 was on a training mission from RAF Wigsley in Lincolnshire when the aircraft began to fall apart in the air.
The Lancaster crashed in a field near Warren House Farm, narrowly missing buildings.
All seven crew members lost their lives: P/O Ewan Moore Taylor, Sgt Albert Rooks, F/O Eric Williams, Sgt John Fisher Thwaite, Sgt Henry Thomas Green, Sgt Edward Percy Stock and F/Sgt George Bruce Davis.
According to the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents archives, it is possible that the aircraft was mistakenly shot down by friendly fire.
2. London Colney German spy
Karel Richter was a German spy who was captured in 1941 after parachuting into the UK.
Richter landed near London Colney on May 12, hid his parachute and equipment and spent several days and nights hiding in woodland, too afraid to travel to London.
When he came out of hiding, a lorry driver asked Richter for directions, which he was unable to give.
Suspicious, the lorry driver reported him to the police, who recognised his identity papers as a forgery.
Richter was questioned by MI5, charged with espionage, and tried at the Old Bailey. He was executed by hanging in December 1941.
3. BatfordÂ
On Sunday, May 12, 1941 - the same day Karel Richter landed in London Colney - Batford Methodist Church was hit by a German incendiary bomb and badly damaged.
A large Prisoner of War (POW) camp was also based at Batford during the Second World War, adjoining what is now Common Lane.
The camp opened in May 1943 and housed around 600 Italian prisoners, who were relocated into hostels and farms by November 1944.
The camp then became a POW camp for around 750 German prisoners, who worked on farms in the surrounding areas.
4. King Harry Lane
During the Second World War, Glenalmond House on King Harry Lane became the base for the SIS (the special or secret intelligence service) Section V, which was part of MI6.
By 1942, the base had 24 members of staff gathering information about German spies and their organisations.
Section V returned to London in 1943, and Glenalmond became a centre for training 120 French resistance workers ahead of the D-Day landings.
The workers underwent training which included enemy recognition, gun handling, grenade throwing and nighttime map reading.
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