Posted on 09/16/2009 10:49:22 AM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
The only colour photographs of the German surrender of World War Two have emerged 64 years after being taken by a lowly clerk who hid behind a tree.
Crafty Ronald Playforth covertly captured one of the most historic events of the 20th century after sneaking into a clump of trees overlooking the scene of the surrender.
With his camera, he snapped Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery greeting the highest ranking officers of the remains of Hitler's Third Reich outside his HQ tent.
Although defeated and just days after the Fuhrer's suicide, the never-seen-before photos show the German officers looking immaculate yet menacing in their long overcoats and jackboots.
Until now the only images of the momentous occasion in existence are the official black and white ones held by the Imperial War Museum.
Mr Playforth kept hold of his pictures along with a handwritten speech Montgomery wrote in March 1945 to rouse British soldiers ahead of a final push into Germany.
The historic items have remained in Mr Playforth's family ever since but have now been made public for the first time as they are being sold at auction.
Andrew Aldridge, of Henry Aldridge Auctioneers of Devizes, Wilts, said: 'Playforth knew he was about to witness one of the most important events of the 20th century.
'He was of too low a rank to be present so he crept into the trees and bushes on the perimeter of the HQ tent and took four photographs using colour slides.
'As far as we know these are the only colour photographs to capture this historic event, all the others are black and white.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
I see hues, this passed for color in the early 40s. Compare it with a b&w photo, there is a difference.
Here's me in the fall of '45:
Awwww, how cute you were. (I’m sure you still are.) I’ve been putting hundreds (actually around 2,000) pictures from my family from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s and up into my computer for my family, so I know what you mean. It’s been a real labor of love and sad, too, since almost all are dead (except for this generation and some of them are, too).
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Gods |
Just adding to the catalog, not sending a general distribution. |
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