Poles executed by Germans

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LAstry2
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Poles executed by Germans

#1

Post by LAstry2 » 04 May 2022, 19:04

https://www.loc.gov/item/89713905/

Any Identification as to year or place?

gebhk
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Re: Poles executed by Germans

#2

Post by gebhk » 05 Sep 2022, 08:21

Hi L'Astry

Alas this tiny thumbnail gives no chance whatsoever of identifying the location - there seems to be a fragment of a built-up landcape in the top right so it may be possible if it can be viewed in a decent size and quality.


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Max
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Re: Poles executed by Germans

#3

Post by Max » 05 Sep 2022, 13:34

A little bit better image

https://researchworks.oclc.org/archiveg ... a/51116086

About This Item /Obtaining Copies /Access to Original
https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/89713905/
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gebhk
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Re: Poles executed by Germans

#4

Post by gebhk » 08 Sep 2022, 08:05

Alas, I was mistaken and no buildings are visible. Unfortunately one bit of sandy roadside looks much like any other sandy roadside. I am no expert, but for what it's worth, my impression is of an exhumation rather than a recent execution.

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Max
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Re: Poles executed by Germans

#5

Post by Max » 08 Sep 2022, 09:03

gebhk wrote:
08 Sep 2022, 08:05
Alas, I was mistaken and no buildings are visible. Unfortunately one bit of sandy roadside looks much like any other sandy roadside. I am no expert, but for what it's worth, my impression is of an exhumation rather than a recent execution.
That was my impression also.
I don't suppose it could be one of the Katyn forest sites?
Although the Library of Congress presumably knows the difference.
Bodies.jpg
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gebhk
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Re: Poles executed by Germans

#6

Post by gebhk » 08 Sep 2022, 09:40

Hi Max

Trouble is, if we don't trust the title, then it could be any damn place. After 1939 there were bodies buried provisionally all over the place in Poland and there was a significant 'tidying up' carried out subsequently with field-buried bodies being exhumed and trasferred to local cemetaries - a process that continues to this day, incidentally, albeit on a much reduced scale, of course. The lack of a strong paramilitary presence would be consistent with this scenario - I don't know why, but the chap in the centre of the photo looks like a policeman to me, but I leave that to the experts (and a better quality picture, I dare say!) to determine. The guy to his right looks (to me at any rate) like a Polish rural civil servant (say a Soltys), which, again, would be consistent with this scenario.

For what it's worth, it doesn't look like Katyn to me but I can offer no logical reasons for that opinion.

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