This is from my Mother's photograph album and was taken in 1931. It appears to be in Freiburg, Germany but I'm not sure who the group is and it is not in her diaries. However, it is so clear and obviously from a good camera that I think it interesting to note the costumes and faces, hats and places. My mother is 7th from the right in the front line. She appears to have socks on!
I also thought I'd share with you a poem in her diary. Bearing in mind it is 1931 and before the 2nd World War.
"Sing a song of Europe
Highly civilized
Four and twenty nations
Thoroughly hypnotized
Then the battles opened
The bullets began to sing
Wasn't that a silly thing
To do for any King
The Kings were in the background
Issuing commands
The Queens were in the parlour
By etiquette's demands
The Bankers wer in their counting house
Busy multiplying
And all the rest were at the Front
Doing all the dying"
It is quite funny until you come to the last line!
What an amazing photo. It would be wonderful to know who they were, eh. Did she live for a time in Germany? As I look at your mom, you do resemble her.
What an amazing photo both historically and also for it's incredible quality, as you say, it must have been a very good camera. How frustrating not to know who any of them were!
@yonnie She travelled through Germany on this trip for some reason, Yvonne. I think it might have something to do with "The Oxford Group" that she was in and they had connections with Germany. It's quite weird this group to read about - we were brought up with their standards!
Maybe if you sent a copy to a library in Freiburg, someone could identify it. The building behind it is very impressive. I'll have to look up the Oxford Group -- I used to know more about them than I do now!
War never changes -- it's always the young men who die, not the kings and presidents and the titans of industry.
@catwoman2 I presume it is Freiburg as the other ones alongside it state that. However, I've been through her Germany Diary and there is no mention of the photo! Of course, I got intrigued by this diary and now have lost over an hour of my day!
This has such an amazing vintage look, but it is so crisp it seems more like it was shot today with actors. What a precious gift these photos and journal of your mother's!
What a fantastic photo, Maggiemae. Too bad you do not know who is in it besides your Mom. Love the poem till the last line. You are so blessed to have so much history of your Mom.
That poem is pretty much spot on - and the mention of bankers is interesting - in 'The Hare with the Amber Eyes' Edmund de Waal describes the ostentatious wealth and influence of his Jewish banking ancestors (and the resentment towards them) and of course the terrible fate that followed. Cracking photo - content and quality.
I love old photographs like this. They are a window to the past. The poem could have been written about our congress and their penchant for taxing us to death. They have no clue how we live because they are exempt from them- just as kings are exempt from fighting on the front line. Such is the way of power.
What an incredible photo!!! So much detail and to see your Mom right there in the front! I bet she was a character! Loving all of her travels and experiences!
December 19th, 2012
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Yeah, the poem is fun, until the end.
War never changes -- it's always the young men who die, not the kings and presidents and the titans of industry.