Between the Covers

Hardcover. Three albums. 1. Oblong quarto measuring 12.5" x 10" with paper boards; 2. string-tied oblong quarto measuring 12.5" x 8.5" tan cloth over paper boards; 3. small quarto measuring 9.5" x 8" textured tan and blue cloth. Together they contain 412 sepia-toned or black and white gelatin silver photographs measuring between 1.5" x 1.75" and 4.5" x 7", some with captions in German. Very good or better albums with some rubbing with near fine photographs.

A collection of photographs contained in three albums of a German Wehrmacht soldier, referred to only as Conrad, beginning in 1932, during the voluntary years of the army before Hitler enforced conscription. The photos show a combination of leisure activities, including sailing, hiking, and going to the orchestra, as well as army training. The first album is the most heavily captioned of the three and begins with photos of the orchestra while Conrad was attending the 1932 Schütz festival, a celebration of the music of German composer, Heinrich Schütz. Following these photos are images of men hiking and skiing a summit in either Germany or Austria. These images show the men posing with ropes and walking sticks, seemingly experienced climbers.

Conrad was also an avid sailor and is seen throughout the albums with friends boating in the North Sea. One section of photos shows the smiling German on a trip in May of 1932. They spent time on the beach and taking hikes. One group of photos shows Conrad and a young woman jumping off the docks and swimming. Other photos show rural Germany and Austria including various farms, with a woman tending to pigs and riding her motorcycle on a dirt road.

By the fall of 1932 Conrad is seen participating in military training exercises. The men, shown on horseback practicing jumps and maneuvers, are smiling and happy in what appear to be officer uniforms. The Nazi party was gaining momentum and would soon take over German politics completely and these soldiers were seemingly early proponents of the new regime. He included pictorial postcards of early photos of Der Fuhrer in his albums. One photo shows a car of high ranking Nazi officers with swastika armbands driving past a crowd giving the Nazi salute.

The albums continue to show army training along with the soldier’s quarters and uniformed men. They are seen sitting in trenches, posing in fields, smoking cigarettes, and marching. There are numerous photos of officers, one of whom is saluting while riding a bicycle, as well as groups of men training and marching along the German countryside, participating in target practice, marching in water, and running across fields. Conrad’s fellow soldiers also had a company puppy which is seen in the arms of several officers, as well as in his cage.

An extensive collection of photographs detailing the early days of Hitler’s army and the carefree life of a German officer outside of his training.

Item #405069