SS-Standartenführer Paul Blobel

[J. Duncan]

Another of Blobel, shorn of his beard, the day of his death

[Gorque]

He's giving the middle-finger salute.

[J. Duncan]

That’s the hand of one of the hangmen whose faces are blotted out - I didn’t notice that Gorque! Very observant.

[Gorque]

I'm sure he (Blobel) was thinking of expressing what the hangman did by accident.

[steve248]

I think 1951 might be a bit early for today's significance of the middle finger.
Looking more closely the middle finger is trying to keep the i.d. board level.

[J. Duncan]

You are most likely right Stephen
Don’t think it was a common gesture
back then. Projecting modern vulgarity
onto the past than reality

[huddyhuddy]

Hello,

Here is an image from 1939.

[Michael Miller]

...

[Max Williams]

Mike & Huddyhuddy,
Look at post no. 23 et seq in this thread.
Max.

[Michael Miller]

Thanks, Max. That's why I need to read previous posts before commenting.

~ Mike

[Michael Miller]

Regarding the middle finger, that "salute" has existed for many centuries, at least back to Roman times. I'm confident it was intentional.

~ Mike

[huddyhuddy]

Thank you Max, will do so.
Keep well.

[huddyhuddy]

Yes, I got the document at the end yesterday.