World War I Photography--Soldiers at the War's End, Germany, November 1918

 JF Ptak Science Books   Post 1321

I'm not sure what this photo depicts specifically but in general it sends an image of exhaustion and wear.  The caption for the image says that it shows "the condition of the Hun troops" and that the subject "Herr Professor" is learning "a good many things not hitheroto found in books".  Maybe he was a teacher, maybe not.  Machts nichts. His pants looks velour-like and his boots (if that's what his footware was) look very thin.  He is ragged, his double-fold glasses look like they're at their limit, his face looks swollen behind his beard, and he just looks "done", in general. 

[The original of this photograph is available at our blog bookstore.]

I'm not sure what he is doing, or where he is.  He may be trying to figure out local currency to purchase whatever it is the vendor-woman has on the tray at her hip--she os holding out her hand, and looking at his.  The soldier definitely has something there, and he looks basically too weary to comprehend it.  the hand language is ambiguous to me.  He may have received something already, some sort of food, and he is staring at it now, thinking perhaps how little of it there was.  He's eating, and already has taken a bite of whatever bread-like thing is in his left hand.  I'm not sure what attracted the attention  of the boy in the center--perhaps it is simply the camera, and he wanted to be in the shot. 

There's a shadow in the foreground-left of what looks like someone making a photograph of teh scene--probably not our photographer, but another, with a brownie or some such smaller camera.

At the end of years of fighting every general soldier deserves respect and, at least, some free food--I hope this guy got his.

And the accompanying text to the news photo service image, to be used if published:

Comments

[Jeff Donlan]

It's the beginning of a Chekhov story. Or the end.

[John F. Ptak]

you're right. It doesn't seem too middle-y.