Berlin is the most heavily bombed city in history. During World War II, large parts of Berlin were destroyed during 1943–45 Allied air raids and the 1945 Battle of Berlin. The Allies dropped 67,607 tons of bombs on the city, destroying 6,427 acres of the built-up area. Around 125,000 civilians were killed. After the endContinue reading “Black and White Photos of Berlin in Ruins in 1945”
Category Archives: Germany
Street Scenes of Berlin During the 1920s
The Golden Twenties was a vibrant period in the history of Berlin, Germany, Europe and the world in general. After the Greater Berlin Act the city became the third largest municipality in the world and experienced its heyday as a major world city. Berlin was known for its leadership roles in science, the humanities, music,Continue reading “Street Scenes of Berlin During the 1920s”
21 Wonderful Photos of Berlin in 1957
Willy Pragher (born Wilhelm Alexander Pragher) was a German photographer and photojournalist. He studied and trained at the Reimann School of Art and Design, a private art school in Berlin. From 1932, he worked as a freelance press photographer for Ullstein, Berliner Illustrierte and Badische Zeitung. In 1944, Pragher was drafted into the Volkssturm, aContinue reading “21 Wonderful Photos of Berlin in 1957”
Vintage Photographs Show German Women Practicing Swedish Gymnastics in Hamburg From the Early 20th Century
These photographs were taken between 1902 and 1910 by Heinrich Hamann in Hamburg, Germany. As a keen gymnast, Hamann portrayed many athletes in action. Here, German women exercising Swedish Gymnastics in a sports hall and on the Heiligengeistfeld (German: “field of the Holy Spirit”) in Hamburg’s St. Pauli quarter. During the 19th century, Swedish GymnasticsContinue reading “Vintage Photographs Show German Women Practicing Swedish Gymnastics in Hamburg From the Early 20th Century”
35 Amazing Color Photographs That Capture Everyday Life in Berlin Just Before the Bombing Raids in 1940
Before 1941, Berlin, at 950 kilometers (590 miles) from London, was at the extreme range attainable by the British bombers then available to the Allied forces. It could be bombed only at night in summer when the days were longer and skies clear—which increased the risk to Allied bombers. The first RAF raid on BerlinContinue reading “35 Amazing Color Photographs That Capture Everyday Life in Berlin Just Before the Bombing Raids in 1940”
55 Amazing Color Photos of West Germany in 1961
West Germany is the common English name for the Federal Republic of Germany between its formation on 23 May 1949 and German reunification through the accession of East Germany on 3 October 1990. During this Cold War period, the western portion of Germany and West Berlin were parts of the Western Bloc. West Germany wasContinue reading “55 Amazing Color Photos of West Germany in 1961”
24 Vintage Color Photos Showing Life in Germany During the 1950s and 1960s
It was no more than eight years after the surrender of the Nazi government when Josef Heinrich Darchinger set out on his photographic journey through the West of a divided Germany. The bombs of World War II had reduced the country’s major cities to deserts of rubble. Yet his pictures show scarcely any signs ofContinue reading “24 Vintage Color Photos Showing Life in Germany During the 1950s and 1960s”
60 Wonderful Photos Showing Street Scenes in Leipzig, Germany in the Early 1980s
Leipzig is the most populous city in the German state of Saxony. With a population of 605,407 inhabitants as of 2021 (1.1 million residents in the larger urban zone), it surpasses the Saxon capital of Dresden, and is Germany’s eighth most populous city as well as the second most populous city in the area ofContinue reading “60 Wonderful Photos Showing Street Scenes in Leipzig, Germany in the Early 1980s”
40 Beautiful Portrait Postcards Showing Women of the German Cinema Between 1918 and 1933
The Cinema of Germany refers to the film industry based in Germany and can be traced back to the late 19th century. German cinema has made major technical and artistic contributions to film during the period from 1918-1933. Germany witnessed major changes to its identity during the 20th and 21st century. Those changes determined theContinue reading “40 Beautiful Portrait Postcards Showing Women of the German Cinema Between 1918 and 1933”