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