Customer Reviews

Entering Germany: 1944-1949

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Tony Vacarro first entered Germany as an infantryman in December, 1944. Unlike other GI's, he carried a camera along with his rifle. He processed his film in army helmets and hung the wet negatives to dry on the branches of trees. Later, he worked as a photographer with the occupation forces. His stark and arresting black and white images follow the course from the liberation of Germany through the occupation, reconstruction and eventual return to a tentative peace in 1949. This book provides unexpected insight, through the eyes of a sensitive and individualistic observer, into a crucial period in 20th century history. Many of the pictures are truly unforgettable - especially the moving portrait of a dead GI in the snow of the Ardennes forest (p.4-5), the view of the mountains from Hitler's retreat at the Berghof (p. 68-69) and the quirky, humorous shot of the soldier with German children at Tempelhof Airport (p. 188-189) which sums up in a single image the magnitude of the rapprochement between Americans and Germans. "Entering Germany" is a very impressive achievement, and is strongly recommended.

Having lived in Germany in the late 70's, I saw the results of its "economic miracle." I often wondered though, as I drove down streets of Frankfurt or Berlin, what it looked like right after WWII. Well, this book delivers just that. It is a photo-journalistic treasure of post-war Germany and about what it endured (and one might say rightly so.) Each photo tells a story that can go on for hours. If this period of history interests you, you will not be disappointed. Interestingly, it was published in Germany.

In 2002, while on a business trip with Siemens, I chanced upon a copy of Tony Vaccaro's volume of pictures taken in Germany from 1944-1949. The little bookstore in Rothenburg ob der Tauber didn't have a tremendous selection of history titles, but they did have this gem of a book.

Vaccaro's camera details the final agonies of the war from the Hurtgen Forest and into Germany. The pictures of war dead are unflinching and will disqualify this book from sitting on your coffee table in the reach of young eyes. It's an adult view of Post War Germany, the good, the bad, and the horrible.

The pictures offer some amazing images of the destruction wrought upon German cities such as Munich and Frankfurt. They also record the resilience and amazing energy of the German people as they rebuilt from the ruins of Nazi Germany.

Perhaps the most interesting pictures are of the children and interaction of the G.I.'s with them. Vaccaro makes the point that for many young German boys, the G.I.'s became the most important father figures in their lives.

And so a pictorial history that sears with images of the dead, beams with hope as German children crowd around a G.I. as he heads back to America. America's Greatest Generation was and is considered that still by many Germans.

So if you are looking for a book that closes the story of the Second World War in Germany...well let this be the book.

Yes, it is outstanding. Mr. Vaccaro is to be commended for one of the
greatest collections of visual images assembled by one man.

Mr. Vacarro did a great job here, his pictures are telling and touching. Recommended for those who are into the occupation of Germany.

There is very little writing in this book, so it is a photo history. The book is in three languages, so two other translations appear along with the English. Some of these are very touching photos, two dead Germans who appear to be soldiers but are in fact women who fought. Another picture of a dead soldier with a Christmas card from his family opened up. Most of the photos are those of the aftermath of the war when soldiers occupy Germany. These show the devastation of war, and the effects on the population.
I rate this as an average read, but in fact there is little to read. The pictures are great, but it would have been nice to see Vacarro's perspective along with these photos. The reader (?) is left to make his/her own judgement on what they are seeing.

The book was in very bad shape with even the binding coming apart. This was MUCH different than what the seller said about the book. I think I was deceived.