Vereidigung pictures with a mystery

[WWIIBuff]

Hi Guys,

I just added these pictures to my collection. There are some pretty clear shots but I'm curious about a couple things on a few of them. I'll explain on the ones in question below.

Also can anyone provide me any information on location, occasion, approximate date, and names of any of the dignitaries?

Thanks
John Klein



Nothing different about this one but do you recognize anyone?

[WWIIBuff]

Vereidigung pic 2

Nothing different here either, but a nice shot I think.

[WWIIBuff]

Vereidigung pic 3

Here is where things start to look a bit strange. Look at the building in the background on the right, is it just an effect of the hazy day, or does the building almost look like it's been superimposed or touched up?

[WWIIBuff]

Vereidigung pic 4

Same question about the buildings on this shot as well. Even stranger is the "ghost" in the right front foreground. It appears as if someone had done some sort of touch-up and erased out a figure. I can't tell if the figure was part of the original shot. Even though it is just a shadow now, he doesn't appear to be wearing a cap or helmet, nor is he bundled up like the soldiers. One thing that does appear consistent however, is the shadow of the "Ghost", it is falling in the same direction as the soldiers shadows.

[WWIIBuff]

Vereidigung pic 5

A nice close-up of the Vereidigung itself. Nothing weird about this one... I just wonder if that might be my fahnen?

[WWIIBuff]

Vereidigung pic 6

Not a very interesting shot but it finishes the series.

[Sebastian G.]

.

[Edward]

JohnK,

They are period pre-war photos taken of the 7th Infantry Division from Munich. The photos you have are period duplicates.

Sebastian,

You are correct as to location.

[WWIIBuff]

Thanks Guys

I appreciate the information. I thought it was the Königplatz (I was just there a year ago this week).

Edward - How did you know it was the 7th infantry division? Have you seen similar pictures?

Any idea about the "gost" figure? Has anyone seen this done before?

Thanks
John klein

[Robert Noss]

Hi John,

I have the same series. Mine are in a very nice album of bavarian infantry regiment of Munich.
They are period duplicates, yes, but of course originals.
Photos taken on such important days like celebrations or Vereidigung were often made by professional photographers (sometimes soldiers themselves) and were "distributed" afterwards to all who wanted to have them.
That was common practice, even with privat taken pictures.
That's why we see similar photos today from totally different sources.

Here is one of mine of that series.


It is possible that the Munich Ehrentempel in Your photo has been "re-worked" by the photographer in his lab, to make it better looking.
That was also common practice done by the more professional photographers.

Look at this regular postcard:



The soldier at the left is painted into the photo. Probably there was no soldier on the original and the space was too empty.




Kind regards
Robert

[WWIIBuff]

Vereidigung pictures

Thanks Robert, I appreciate your expert input. You have supplied great information and a fantastic example of the photographic technology of that period.

This is my favorite series of parade shots with Fahnen so far. I have even used one of these pictures as the wallpaper on my computer screen.

John Klein

[V. J. Kursietis]

Hi John!

To go back to your initial question, the officer saluting in the 1st pic (also the one standing alone at the podium) looks very much like Eugen Ritter von Schobert.

Regards,

VJK

[Edward]

John,

Yes, I also have this series of photos that are part of an album that belonged to a member of the 7th Division.

Regards

[Laurence Strong]

Hi Edward

Your Ghost could have been another photographer, and they did not want him in the big shot! IMO, Hope this helps

[Edward]

Hi Laurence,

I think your photo comment is for John?

Regards