Figure 1.-- Here we see the Wehrmacht masrching through what we believe is an occupied city, perhps a Russian or Ukranian city. We photograph is undated and unidentified. The Wehrmacht column is led by drum corps followed by brass musicians. There is an elaborate standard and quite a long column of soldiers. While it is undated, we might guess Fall 1941. We are not sure where it was, but the children marching along the side do not look German to us. Poland is a possibility, but we think Russia is more likely. The group with the solduers is intereting. It is not a rag-tg bunch of children tagging slong. Instead the group seems to be marching with the soldiers, suggesting a degree of support or afinity. There are also a few German soldiers mixed in with the civilians.

Russia

Here we see a fairly large Wehrmacht marching through what looks like a city park. The photograph is undated and unidentified. We have no information on the photogrph. We can make some gusses about the image. We believe that it is an occupied city, perhaps a Russian or Ukranian city. The Wehrmacht column is led by drum corps followed by brass musicians. There is an elaborate standard and quite a long column of soldiers. While it is undated, we might guess Fall 1941. We are not sure where it was, but the children marching along the side do not look German to us. Poland is a possibility, but we think Russia is more likely. The group with the soldiers is intereting. It is not a rag-tag bunch of children tagging along. Instead the group seems to be marching with the soldiers, suggesting a degree of support or afinity. There are also a few German soldiers mixed in with the civilians. Hopefully HBC readers will have some insights. A reader writes, "Fascinating image! I think you are correct that this photograph was taken in Russia (the Soviet Union). It must have been in the winter because there are no leaves on the trees. It looks like a parade in some town. Notice the officer on horseback in the distance.

Children and Marching Bands

A reader writes, "I am not surprised that children marched along with the brass band. That happened all over Europe. The Germans have a long tradition of composing military music. Some of the stirring marches like Teike's "Alte Kameraden" ("Old Comrades") were adopted by the British army as well. Carl Teike (1864-1922) and Julius Fucik (1872-1916) have composed hundreds of marches and they are just as popular in Germany and Austria as John Phillip Sousa is in the United States." HBC has noted many World War II images and bands as well as marching soldiers in general often attract small children tagging along. We do not commonly see youths and adults marching along, unless they were sympathetic to the soldiers.

France

I have noted film footage of World War II, including German bands performing in occupied country. Apparently a military band daily like clock work matched through Paris. I never saw groups of French people marching with the Germans like this. The images I have seen show the French reacting negatively or ignoring the Germans. But I have never seen before a large civilian contingent marching along like this. Notice that here we do not have a few young children attracted by the music. But insteadd a fairly large group mrching along and there are both children and adults. This suggests to me not only an appreciation of music, but some afinity with the Germans.

The Netherlands

A Dutch reader who was a boy during the occupation writes, "When I think back about the German invasion I remember a German brass band marching through Utrecht my hometown. That was in May 1940. Dutch children marched along with the band. Adults did not, but many watched and listened . It is a fact that the Germans are excellent musicians, Nazis or not, and their marches are absolutely stirring. I did not know that a German brass band marched daily on the Champs Elysées. I can imagine that the French could not care less, especially when it took place every day. Children are different from adults. Unless they are forbidden by the parents to trot along, they will do so. But only occasionally a German military band would be playing outside in Holland during the occupation. However, there were concerts in a hall by German bands (for example the Luftwaffe or the Arbeitsdienst) that were attended by German soldiers and Dutch MAZIs.

Created: 6:18 AM 9/22/2006
Last updated: 5:08 PM 9/22/2006