Guys, I found this one while looking at the Life Archives now available on Google. It's captioned: I found it very curious because, besides the french officer in the front row (and some at the back), we can see soviet, british, italian, polish and american observers! Also, a german cap can be seen just behind the french in the front. So, if it's indeed Compiegne, why does a polish officer is standing there, and who is this british fellow? Link to full-size: http://images.google.com/hosted/lif...ndsp=18&hl=pt-BR&sa=N&imgurl=b5e66246b0e04c55
I think the answer has to be that the caption is incorrect. I don't think a British general would be very welcome at Compiegne in 1940 An interesting collection of uniforms. Richie
The only explaination I can think of, if the caption is correct, is that this is a photo of the diplomatic corps with the various military liason officers still in France. They may be allowed diplomatic immunity if they were in that standing, and then traded for German diplomats in their various nations. Or something of that sort. If I remember correctly the Poles had established a government in exile just outside of Paris before the French collapsed and established the Vichy government. Then it was transferred to London. Don't know about the others, and America immediatedly recognized the Vichy government when it was established, so the US being there is no surprise. Just guesses on my part of course, and assuming the caption isn't mis-leading somehow.
Anyone can identify the nationality of the two officers behind the british general? Couldn't figure that out...
I'm with Clint on this one. I can see the military delegates from the foreign embassies being at the event.
I have had chance to look at other images of Compiegne in 1940 including the others on the Life images site and I think there is no way the caption is correct as all the other photos of the occasion show only German and French personnel and certainly no civilians. Richie
Weird pic. I would think it´s a pic of foreign officers attending a parade ( Hitler 50 years in 1939 ) or a Wehrmacht practice situation. Watching the Compiegne pics and reading about it I also think there were only German and French officers around.
I agree with skipper. The first thing i noticed about the picture was the people in the background. It looks like two photos combined into one, or a 'modern' black and white picture imposed on an older black-and-white.
This is probably neither war time , nor in France. I can only see one French delegate in the entire picture. It looks like a a pre war parade in Germany.
Hi Musso , you are faster than lightning , you agreed with me before I even had a chance to post my comment
If it´s a Hoffman picture it should be found in a collection book of his photos somewhere else for sure. His pics were Germany´s top pics at the time.
No Muss. I dont think so. It was common to "burn in" the interesting parts of a photo back then by extra exposure in the development of the print and/or dodging the background to a lower exposure with the result seen in the pix.
