FRONT UND HEIMAT
PART 1: 3.500 GERMAN WW II PHOTOS
CD-ROM, 3500 photos (90 % private) from the
period of World War II (German, some Russian) and 800 further images “Written
and printed matters”, a detailed introduction (in German), list of contents,
bibliography and ca. 200 links to WWII-websites. Price: € 18,02
and packing/postage.
Russia: “Halbkette”, artillery and horses on a muddy road
INTRODUCTION – SUMMARY
PRIVATE PHOTOGRAPHY BY GERMAN
SOLDIERS AND IN GERMANY
DURING WORLD WAR II
From about 1930 onwards, due to falling prices and a simpler technique, taking photographs became possible for an increasing number of the German people. Since the beginning of war in 1939, hundreds of thousands of German soldiers carried a camera with them. Private photography was officially promoted as a “bridge” between the soldiers and their families at home. Also for the “hero chronicles” private photography was encouraged and photographical competitions were held. The real every day life (and death) of war of course was not to be shown. Instructions were given to prevent the use of the photos by the enemy. In reality, these rules were exercised only very superficially in the “Wehrmacht”, except for the navy.
The aesthetical sense of soldiers
taking photographs and their selection of motifs were greatly influenced by
professional examples in magazines, on post-cards etc. The look at the
“enemies” was determined by the own prejudices. These prejudices, especially
against the people in the east are reaching back at least to the beginning of
the 19th century or even earlier. The racist Nazi propaganda could
build up on that. Common stereotypes can be found not only with National
Socialists and those being unpolitical, but also with Christians and even with
opponents of the regime.
The greatest part of the photos
(which generally is the case in private pictures) are photos of the people
themselves and of those they lived with, in this case the comrades as a sort of
second family. Soldiers liked to photograph themselves at the various
activities of military service, together with their equipment, weapons and
vehicles in order to keep the strangeness of the situation for their own memory
and for their families. All these photos should show to those at home that the
soldiers were doing well and that it was not necessary to worry about their
condition. The same is valid for pictures showing leisure and recreation, the
provision of food, personal hygiene, quarters and barracks, the soldiers’
holidays and festivals. Many of these photos seem to show the soldiers’ life as
a sort of holiday camp, as a military staff outing.
Many photos taken in the occupied
countries look like photos from a holiday travel. The local objects of interest
according to Baedeker were taken (and often the photographer himself or
comrades standing in front of it), in the east landscapes and life in the
countryside was preferred. Photos of the local population in the occupied
countries show picturesque types of folkloristic interest, poverty and
primitivism, not so different from many tourist photos of today. Anyway, it is
not possible to transfer the feelings we have when looking at these photos to
their former authors and owners. That is clearly recognized from their
commentaries and descriptions, which – much more than in World War I –
emphasize their own superiority and the inferiority of the others. These photos
were not taken with a feeling of unprejudiced curiosity, but they should serve
as a confirmation of their own prejudices. The prefixed image of the enemy was
now fixed onto the film.
Russia. Captured
“Partisans”. Five minutes later they were shot.
The same is seen in photos showing
prisoners of war. The feeling of the photographer’s own superiority is standing
in first place. The soldiers of the Soviet army were especially thought to be
inferior from the racial as well as the moral point of view. That should be
proven by the photos or even just by the commentaries given to them. Soldiers
from other races were especially photographed very often as they were thought
to be inferior. Further on, photos of POWs express the relief that these
enemies were now no longer a danger for one’s own safety. Their own superiority
and the eliminated danger are also demonstrated by the numerous photos showing
destroyed hostile military equipment and weapons. Even photos of destroyed
houses, villages and cities were partly taken with a feeling of triumph.
Victims of war were photographed
only rarely. It was taboo to photograph fallen comrades from their own party
and dead soldiers wearing the German uniform were too close to their own
possible destiny. The photos of dead enemies other than of the “normal”
sensationalism also contained the feeling of relief about the eliminated
danger. The death of German soldiers was only indirectly shown by the numerous
pictures of funerals, soldiers’ graves and cemeteries. Such photos were taken
as a last memory for the families of the fallen. A special category of photos
are those showing atrocities, massacres, executions and of many people being
killed. In these cases, the commentaries given throw the most light on the
opinion of the photographer.
The greatest part of the soldiers’
photographs was taken in the years from 1939 to 1942. The years from 1943
onward were photographed much less. Films and photographical equipment were
rare and the euphoria of victory which had encouraged photography so much had
disappeared more and more.
Petrol for the airplane
The private photos indicate and
express the predominant point of view by exemplarily portraying the
contemporary perception. These photos show the mentality and opinion of
millions of German soldiers in the war. They are an important testimony of the
wartime experience of the common people and of the influence of Nazi propaganda
which most were not even aware of. By that, the photos are only partly images
of reality. Photos that show different points of view are rare.
The majority of the photos taken in
Germany proper were the normal family pictures. They should now also help to
keep up the connection between the soldiers and their relatives. As many
couples wanted to marry in that unsteady time, photos of marriages with
soldiers wearing their uniforms are common. Of special interest are pictures
showing the destruction caused by the air raids. Until 1942, such photos were
even spread by newspapers and magazines. Afterwards, they were published no
longer as their demoralizing effect was feared. Privates were forbidden to
photograph any military construction but there existed no prohibition to take
pictures of the destruction at private houses. Yet nearly all contemporaries
thought that such photos were “somehow” prohibited, even if there existed no
legal foundation for such a prohibition. Nevertheless, from time to time the
“Gestapo” pursued private photographers of ruins and by that contributed to the
intended feeling of insecurity. Accordingly, most of those taking such pictures
behaved cautiously and conspiratorial.
Continue for: Front und Heimat Part 1, List of Contents