Figure 1.-- German soldiers took lots of photographs as they set out to conquer Europe. It was a kindcif militart tourism. We think that many of the German soldiers were struck with how primotive the East was. And this was true in Polsnd even before they entered the Soviet Union. Weare not sire if this affected their thinking bout the war. It may have confirmed their pre-existing attitudes of German superiority. It does not seem to have generated any sympsthy for the comquered people, even the children. The soldier who took this pgotograph wrote, "Ein ppluisher junge' [writing a little unclear] (a Polish boy) on the back. He apparently took lots of photograohs, 44/13 is also written on the back.

Front-line German soldiers were not susposed to carry cameras. This regulation does not seem to have been stringently enforced. And apparently soldiers on occupation duties could carry cameras. Thus many German soldiers compiled photographic albums of their military careers. We have found whole albums of such photographs. Often they photographed themselves and their comnrads. Other took tourist type phitographs. Many took photographs of the locals especially the children. We can not know what was on their minds. We do not think that many even knew about Generalplan Ost and that their Government was planning to kill many of the Polish children that they were photographing. We think that many of the German soldiers were struck with how primotive the East was. And this was true in Polsnd even before they entered the Soviet Union. Weare not sire if this affected their thinking bout the war. It may have confirmed their pre-existing attitudes of German superiority. It does not seem to have generated any sympsthy for the comquered people, even the children. One of the subjects they photographed in Poland and other occupied countries were the children they encountered. Poland under NAZI rule became what was referred to as the Government General. And the Germans began deporting Poles from the western areas annexed to the Reich.

Created: 11:11 AM 8/20/2014
Last updated: 11:11 AM 8/20/2014