Atmospheric Photographs of France in the 1940s Through a German Soldier’s Lens – Design You Trust

Atmospheric Photographs of France in the 1940s Through a German Soldier’s Lens

26

In 1940, France was invaded and quickly defeated by Nazi Germany. France was divided into a German occupation zone in the north, an Italian occupation zone in the southeast and an unoccupied territory, the rest of France, which consisted of the southern French metropolitan territory (two-fifths of pre-war metropolitan France) and the French empire, which included the two protectorates of French Tunisia and French Morocco, and French Algeria; the Vichy government, a newly established authoritarian regime collaborating with Germany, ruled the unoccupied territory. Free France, the government-in-exile led by Charles de Gaulle, was set up in London.

More: Flickr h/t: vintag.es

1

From 1942 to 1944, about 160,000 French citizens, including around 75,000 Jews, were deported to death camps and concentration camps in Germany and occupied Poland. In September 1943, Corsica was the first French metropolitan territory to liberate itself from the Axis. On 6 June 1944, the Allies invaded Normandy and in August they invaded Provence.

2

Over the following year the Allies and the French Resistance emerged victorious over the Axis powers and French sovereignty was restored with the establishment of the Provisional Government of the French Republic (GPRF). This interim government, established by de Gaulle, aimed to continue to wage war against Germany and to purge collaborators from office. It also made several important reforms (suffrage extended to women, creation of a social security system).

3

These vintage photos from Kai Heinrich were taken by a German soldier that show street scenes of France in the 1940s.

4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
27
28

If you want more awesome content, subscribe to 'Oh, Design You Trust,' our brand new Facebook page! Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

More Inspiring Stories

"Nightshift": An Illuminated Glimpse Into Shanghai’s Late Night Shops And Stalls
Robots And Donuts: The Amazing Retro-Futuristic Art Of Eric Joyner
Dream World: Revisiting the Surreal Urban Landscapes of Japan by Anthony Presley
A Look into the Minds, or Rather, Desks, of Washington Art Notables
Confection: The British Designer Shows Us how Brands Can Adjust to Our Tastes
Nostalgic Photos of Kurt Cobain Wearing a “Hi, How Are You” T-Shirt
Stunning Finalists Of The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2017
Finally, The 2022 Chicken Daddies Calendar Is Here!
Beautiful Vintage Portraits of Björk in the 1980s
The Surfing Trooper
Under the Surface: Mysterious and Magical Underwater Photography by Lexi Laine
Whale Shark with 50 Remoras in Her Mouth Wins Scuba Diving Magazine’s 2020 Underwater Contest
Retro-Futuristic Collages Of Frank Moth Venture Between Dreams And Reality
The Miracle of Birth
Amazing Then-and-Now Photos Show How London Has Changed From Between the 1920s and 2010s
Adoptive Mother Connects with Daughter Through Creative Cosplay Portrait Series
Photographer Creates Miniature Landmarks On His Dining Table Using Household Items
Photographer Documents Stay-At-Home Dads And Their Kids In Sweden
The Artistic Selfies Of Ivanka Danisova, Slovakian Lady Born With Half Face
Big Brother Makes His 5-Year-Old Sister's Dreams Come True With Disney-Themed Photoshoot
A Visual Journey Through the History of the Bond Bug: The Three-Wheeled Microcar that Looks Like a Giant Orange Wedge
Matt Rainwaters Captures Okie Noodling Fisherman for New York Times Magazine
A Collection of Fabulous Potato-Themed Real Photo Postcards From the Early 20th Century
"False Gods": The Superb Retro Aesthetic Artworks of Fârzad Borousan