Figure 1.--Many of the photographs we have found taken by German soldiers in the East have no indication where they were taken. In this case we know that these peasants were photographed in the Ukraine.

We notice large numbers of photographs that the German soldiers took of Soviet civilans. Most of these photographs were taken rural areas rather than in the cities. And they look to us to have been taken during Barbarossa in 1941, not subsequently in the War. Russia was so new and strange, it generated a great deal of interest. After Barbarossa failed before Moscow (December 1941), the Germans seemed less interested in taking snapshots. These seem to be informal snapshots taken by the soldiers and not more professional photographs taken by battlefield photographers. Many of the photographs unfortunately are not identified as to where they were taken or who took them. Notably many were taken in areas not populted by ethnic Russians. This is because the areas of the Soviet Union seized by the Germans were the western areas populated by Balts, Poles, White Russians, and Ukranians. We see quite a number of these photographs being sold by photo dealers. We do not see similar photographs being talen in the West during the German offensive there (May-June 1940). There seem to be two kinds of German snapshots. One are rather like tourist snapshots when visiting a Third World photographs. It is rather like the German soldiers are seeking to make a historical record of a backward society. Many photographs have the flavor of photographing zoo animals. The people seem stunned or fearul as the German columns race through village after village. Other photographs show the German soldiers engaging with the local population in different ways. Some even seem to show a degree of friendship between the Germans and Soviet people. especially on the part of the children.

Collections

We notice large numbers of photographs that the German soldiers took of Soviet civilans. Some are part of substantical photographic collections or albums the soldiers compiled. Some soldiers seem anxious to document their exploits. Some soldiers seem to have understood what the NAZIs planned in the Soviet Union. It seems likely thst msny did not.

Location

We notice large numbers of photograophs taken in the Soviet Union, although most are not identified. Most of these photographs were taken rural areas rather than in the cities. Many of the photographs unfortunately are not identified as to where they were taken or who took them. Notably many were taken in areas not populted by ethnic Russians. This is because the areas of the Soviet Union seized by the Germans were the western areas populated by Balts, Poles, White Russians, and Ukranians. We see quite a number of these photographs being sold by photo dealers. We do not see similar photographs being talen in the West during the German offensive there (May-June 1940).

Chronology

Many of the photographs look to us to have been taken during Barbarossa in 1941, not subsequently in the War. Russia was so new and strange, it generated a great deal of interest. After Barbarossa failed before Moscow (December 1941), the Germans seemed less interested in taking snapshots.

Photographrs

These seem to be informal snapshots taken by the soldiers and not more professional photographs taken by battlefield photographers.

Types

There seem to be two kinds of snapshots German soldiers took in the Soviet Union during Barbarossa. One are rather like tourist snapshots when visiting a Third World photographs. It is rather like the German soldiers are seeking to make a historical record of a backward society. Many photographs have the flavor of photographing zoo animals. The people seem stunned or fearul as the German columns race through village after village. Other photographs show the German soldiers engaging with the local population in different ways. Some even seem to show a degree of friendship between the Germans and Soviet people. especially on the part of the children. In some cases th children seem to be working for the Germans. In other instances there seems to be a froendly relationship.

Cigarttes

Created: 4:09 AM 9/23/2007
Last updated: 9:02 PM 11/4/2014