History is often seen as a subject of cramming – what we often don’t
appreciate, is how intertwined it is with our present. Dutch historian
Jo Hedwig Teeuwisse tries to demonstrate that very literally with her
Ghosts of War photo series, where she blends the present day and the
original World War II pictures of the same place into one. Jo spends
hours looking for the locations and taking pictures that match the
originals, and then photoshops them to combine the war ghosts into the
current settings.
“I try to make people realise that history is all around us. That where
you live, work or go to school, once people fought, died or simply
experienced a different kind of life. We are history, history is us,” –
she says.
“Captain WH Hooper, who commands the Company of the 314th IR of the 79th
IUS D and some of his men surround a column of German prisoners. Column
takes a southerly direction, it will join the POW camps located on the
plateau of the Mountain Roule, near the farm of Fieffe.”
“Rue Armand Levéel à Cherbourg.”
“Corner covered, 1943, Acireale, Sicily”
....
“American troops in the center of Cherbourg pass under a balcony with English, American and French flags.”
“France, 1944. Rue des Fossés Plissons à Domfront (Orne). German soldiers surrendering.”
“At la Madeleine, a hamlet of the town of Sainte Marie du Mont, Utah
Beach area. A group of U.S. Fire Engineering leaving the chapel.”
“Allied vehicles drive past Palace Noordeinde, The Hague, (may 1945)”
“German soldiers walking back to Germany after their surrender, walk passed a man with a Dutch flag. The Hague, may 1945.”
“Allied soldiers walking towards center of Eindhoven, September 18th 1944, Frankrijkstraat Eindhoven.”
“On may 7th (2 days after German capitulation) thousands of Dutch people
were waiting for the liberators to arrive on the Dam square in
Amsterdam…Then for some reason the Germans placed a machinegun on the
balcony and started shooting into the crowds… It has always remained
uncertain why it happened but the sad result was that at the brink of
peace 120 people were badly injured and 22 died.”
“Auschwitz I, January 27th 1945. Russian soldiers with prisoners of
Block 19, the quarantine blockhouse in the medical section of the camp.”
“Saint Marcouf (Manche)”
“People are waiting for the liberators. (may 1945)”
“Shopkeeper standing in front of his shop.”
“A group of civilians and GI’s in front of the notary office of
Trévières Street Octave Mirbeau. The entrance is decorated with French
and allied flags.”
“Rue Dom Pedro, civilians and American soldiers tear down the sign
indicating the headquarters of the Todt organization in Cherbourg.”
Via — Link
