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As did so many young German men, my father served in Russia during World War II. But unlike many young German men, he had a camera and took pictures. Miraculously the photos have survived.
Today, on Veteran’s Day, I took out the photos, stored in an AGFA photo-paper box stamped with an expiration date of October 1941, that offer a glimpse into a war in another time and place.
I can’t post the photos, they are not mine to post, but I can tell you what my father’s camera saw.
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A row of women in heavy winter clothing squat in the rubble by the side of the road. Each has a white cloth wrapped around her head and a basket in front of her. The baskets are not large, they are handled baskets of the size that may be carried comfortably over one arm. Standing over the women is a young man in uniform. He has a cylindrical object, about the size and shape of a large thermos, on a strap over one shoulder and is wearing high boots. He is looking down at the women. The nearest woman, the one in front of the young soldier, has her head bowed to her knees. The caption, written in pencil on the back, says, “Market in Pleskaü.”
Six young boys about 10 years old squint into the sun. They are sitting on and standing around crude wooden hand wagons that look as if they were built of scrap lumber. They’re wearing winter coats, some of them ragged. A blonde smiling boy standing in the middle has a fancy coat with deep cuffs and a sash over one shoulder. The boy next to him has two fingers in his mouth. A somewhat older-looking boy at the front left is wearing a military cap. A small blonde boy with a shrewd expression and a ragged coat is barefoot. The caption reads, “These boys have organized a transportation business. For several cigarettes or a bit of bread they will transport German soldiers’ luggage many kilometers through the city.”
A row of old women in rags is sitting on stone steps. The nearest woman, her head covered with a scarf has her eyes closed, her right hand is clenched in a fist near her chin. She is holding a dirty can on her left knee. The caption says, “Smolensk, beggars in front of the cathedral.”
A dignified elderly gentleman with a neat white beard and thick round glasses is sitting on stairs. He is wearing a somewhat rumpled suit. One leg of the suit has been badly ripped and then neatly patched. His feet wear battered shoes and are neatly together in front of him. A cane rests between his legs; a hat rests on his knees. He holds his hands palm up, one on either side of his knees. His right hand holds a small dark object, perhaps a pocket knife. The left hand holds an unidentifiable light-colored object. The caption says, “Beggar.”
Three dark huddled figures hurry past the ruins of apartment buildings in a field of rubble. The caption says, “Kiev.”
A portrait of a young man looking steadily into the camera. He is wearing a gray wool coat with a large collar folded up. His hat is also of gray wool in the style with ear flaps. His lips are cracked and swollen with the cold. His eyes look gummy. The caption reads simply, “POW.”
A very young woman smiles shyly. Her dark hair is parted in the middle and covered with a ragged scarf. She seems to be wearing in a large plaid blanket and is carrying what looks like a bundle of rags. The caption reads, “Russian Gypsy with child.”
Four soldiers are standing in rubble. Twisted girders show in the foreground. A young soldier, shirtless, wearing only too-large trousers and a hat, looks over his shoulder back at the camera. The caption says, “Pleskaü.”
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