World War Two pictures are a valuable resource for anyone
who's interested in truly understanding what took place during this historic
period. Photographs exist from nearly every country who participated in the
war. Looking at the pictures from various entities offers many different
viewpoints of what was happening. When you examine these pictures in the proper
light, the evidence of the photos alone can tell a very compelling story. Here
are some important questions to ask yourself as you're looking at World War Two
pictures to help you get to the bottom of every story.
- Who took the picture? Ask yourself who is standing directly behind the camera. Is it an American fighter pilot, an SS officer, a Jewish mother, or an innocent bystander? Looking at where the photo came from will give you many clues. Pictures from a personal album were likely taken by the owner of the album or a close friend. Pictures for propaganda may have been taken by professional photographers.
- What was the purpose of the picture? This is especially important when you're examining war photos. Some pictures are not as reliable as others. Consider that the photo may have been staged in some way if it was advantageous to the person behind the camera. Nazi photos of Jewish ghettos and concentration camps are not always accurate depictions. Pictures taken by the Allies for the purpose of documenting what happened in the death and labor camps are more reliable.
- Do the subjects know they're being photographed? This is an interesting question to consider with any photo that you're looking at. When the subjects don't know they're being photographed, they're often caught in private or personal moments. You may be able to see facial expressions that tell what they're truly thinking. Posed photos are more likely to offer only what the subjects want you to see.
- When was the picture taken? Though this can't always be determined, placing the time of the picture will help you build an accurate timeline around what was taking place during World War II. Try looking at photos in chronological order to see how the war progressed.
If you don't enjoy dry reading and prefer visual
stimulation, World War Two pictures have a lot to offer. This war was very
heavily documented so there are lots of pictures to explore. It's possible to
look back through the lens of time with these photographs.