[WWII Photo Album]

Amazing collection of WWII press photos.

This spectacular collection of WWII press photographs vividly captures the excitement, chaos, and devastation across multiple theaters. Rather than limiting the contents to one particular area or topic, a variety of subjects are explored within the decorative covers.

American and German submarines slip beneath the waves during training exercises and just a few pages later, planes lie in flames across the French countryside. The Winter War is well-covered, with images of Soviet bomb damage in Helsinki and snow-camouflage Finnish soldiers waiting in ambush. The crew of the Graf Spee cheers on from Buenos Aires, then the mighty ship is burning in Montevideo harbor. Churchill addresses the crew of the H.M.S Exeter, King George inspects Beaufort bombers, and a ‘rare photo of Hitler of yesterday’ shows the dictator in the interwar years.

Carbon-copied captions affixed to most of the images offer interesting contemporary details and further information. Many note approval by their respective censors, including Germany. One notable example highlights Nazi repression in Warsaw – “A Nazi policeman using force to emphasize an order recently in Warsaw where the Germans are maintaining a strict discipline. The city is reported to be slowly taking up normal life again after the terrific bombardment it received early in the war.”  Other interesting entries highlight the use of dogs in combat (both as morale boosters and message carriers) and the prevalence of deadly accidents.

Most of the photos were taken in late 1939 or early 1940, according to the dates on the captions, where applicable. Rubberstamps on the verso indicate they originated from a variety of sources, including Associated Press, Duluth News-Tribune, and World Wide Photos. Since the date was before America entered into the war, the accompanying commentary is perhaps surprisingly soft on the Germans.