Brunswickhaven, 1945
Rating
Title
Brunswickhaven , 1945
Creator
Shaffer, Melvin C.
Description
These photographs , made in the town park of Braunschweig , are truly extraordinary in their depiction of the aftermath of war . This area , while not totally demolished , had been the center of a battle which controlled the approach to Berlin . Evidence of this fighting can be seen in the trees without foliage , downed poles and trees . The fighting had probably finished here not more than 10 days previously and yet the population is out walking , dressed reasonably well . Seen here are Russian soldiers and sailors , a few German military people , and young , well-dressed women . As one of the very few American soldiers in this area , I was always a target for these women . Here as in Berlin their attention was directed towards my jeep driver and myself . They had no fear of US soldiers but they were terrified of the Russians . At times I felt they were attempting to relate to us as a protection from the Russians . [paragraph] The older Germans were very much aware of this also and voiced their disapproval , one going so far as to tell these specific girls that they did not need act that way , and there would be food tomorrow at the feeding station towards the rear of the photo where people are already lined up . Scenes just as this resulted very early on in the establishment of a non-fraternization policy by the US military forces command . [paragraph] On a similar occasion as this, I talked with one of the girls about the war and felt that she was a bit arrogant , which prompted me to say"Well we won. " To which she replied"And just what did you win ?
Original Date
1945
Date (EDTF)
1945
Place Depicted
Germany
City or Area
Braunschweig
Keywords
World War 1939-1945 ; World War 2 ; World War II ; WW2 ; Battle of Berlin Germany 1945 ; Description ; Travel ; Braunschweig ; Germany ; Social conditions 1933-1945 ; Urban parks ; Crowds ; Women ; Photographs
Subject
World War, 1939-1945 Berlin, Battle of, Berlin, Germany, 1945--Photographs Braunschweig (Germany)--Description and travel--Photographs Braunschweig (Germany)--Social conditions--1933-1945--Photographs Urban parks--Germany--Photographs Crowds--Germany--Photographs Women--Germany--Photographs
Type
Image
Digitization Date
Digitized: 2002-05-25
Digital Format
.jpg
Call Number
Ag2002.1454
SMU File Name
gmcs779g.jpg
Digital Collection
Melvin C. Shaffer World War II Photographs
Library
DeGolyer Library
Publisher
SMU Libraries
Rights
This item may be protected by copyright law. Please cite the DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University as the source of this file. For more information contact degolyer@smu.edu.
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