The Harley-Davidson military motorcycle nicknamed the “Liberator” during World War II was the WLA.
Harley-Davidson built the WLA for the United States military, adapting the civilian WL series for wartime service. It used a 45-cubic-inch side-valve V-twin engine and was designed for reliability, ease of maintenance, and operation on varied terrain.
The nickname “Liberator” became associated with the WLA because American forces used it during the liberation of Europe. Thousands were produced during World War II, and many were also supplied to Allied nations through wartime aid programs.
The WLA is sometimes confused with Harley-Davidson’s XA, a less numerous shaft-drive military motorcycle developed for desert conditions. The XA was mechanically different, while the WLA remained the better-known wartime Harley-Davidson.