Photos explanation

[Michael73]

Hello
This is one page from SS-Totenkopfverbände album taken inside Oranienburg lager

Any thoughts what this "play" might be?

Regards
Michael

[Br. James]

It appears to be a eucharistic liturgy to me...not certain whether it is Roman Catholic or Lutheran...?

Br. James

[pauke]

service

I would say Roman Catholic.

[byterock]

Hmm I would say an anti-religious Joke, Parody or other propaganda event/lecture/skit.

Vaguely Roman Catholic but not. I doubt at that time if an accordion was ever used as a liturgical instrument and the Gestures are way too exaggerated.

[Michael73]

Hmm I would say an anti-religious Joke, Parody or other propaganda event/lecture/skit.

Vaguely Roman Catholic but not. I doubt at that time if an accordion was ever used as a liturgical instrument and the Gestures are way too exaggerated.

My thought exactly!

[Barry Brown]

Probably staged to torment or otherwise mock the religious incarcerated in that KL hell. Still, a valuable historic picture - the unwitting testimony. Thanks for showing.

[Br. James]

You may be right, Byterock, though I've attended a LOT of liturgies in my time and some of the presiding clergy have displayed "over the top" gesticulations...some as wild as Hitler himself! If this were a Roman Catholic liturgy, the celebrant would have been wearing some version of a priest's stole, though this person isn't, and I believe it was much more common for a Lutheran pastor to wear "preaching tabs" than Romans. Not sure why this person appears to be wearing a maniple on his left wrist -- that is the vestment of the traditional sub-deacon...?

Great photos, at any rate! Cheers,

Br. James

[byterock]

It is the Stomach steinway that point this to be some sort of non-religious spoof.

Also have a close look at the men in the front rows that look to be laughing and have their caps on. Not done even in field services.

[Br. James]

Again you may be right, Byterock, but as for the accordion -- the "Stomach Steinway," as you say -- I would imagine that whatever musical instrument(s) that happened to be on hand, with people to play them, would be called upon to support a liturgical service in the field. And, while we see a few people in these photos attending as a congregation, I don't see any of them "laughing;" they are all facing away from the camera. As far as hats being permitted to be worn during a service, I have no information...but I would imagine that it would be hard to maintain that degree of order in such a situation. I assume that anyone would be welcome to attend a field chaplain's service, regardless of whether it was Roman Catholic or Lutheran/Reformed, and when people of varied church traditions form a congregation, well, you get whatever you get in terms of spoken or sung responses as well as general decorum! I know that, even today, some people stand while others sit or kneel, and some maintain complete silence while others make all the responses and enjoy singing the hymns... Perhaps it was the same at the front lines?

Br. James

[jmark]

… have their caps on. Not done even in field services.

Indeed. Hats were always removed during services, even in the field. I've got a few photos of field services and nobody is wearing a hat.

[777]

Interesting. My thoughts:
1. The priest looks to be or is supposed to look like a lutheran priest (special collar)
2. The table decoration looks quite poor and primitive, not what could be expected in Oranienburg (we're not talking about the frontline conditions).
3. Worshipped by his men, the "Totenkopf" commander Theodor Eicke was very anti-christian fellow, who even used to recommend to leave the church. I guess any kind of "Gottesdienst" wouldn't be welcome in one of SS-TV nests.
Anyhow, great album. Michael73 - I don't collect photos, but I always check your stuff just to enjoy to look at it. Sometimes it's really amazing.

[derek]

Michael,
In my opinion the photograph was taken in the SS men's barracks at Sachsenhausen adjacent to, but not in, the camp itself. Those wooden benches were a common feature of the SS areas.
The images show an anti religious parody for the entertainment of the troops reflecting the SS disdain for the church, especially by the SS-TV as 777 and byterock point out. Similar anti Catholic imagery can be seen in "Oberbayern" photos at Dachau.

[Michael73]

Anyhow, great album. Michael73 - I don't collect photos, but I always check your stuff just to enjoy to look at it. Sometimes it's really amazing.

Thanks for your kind words, may be you should try to collect few of these one day

[Michael73]

Michael,
In my opinion the photograph was taken in the SS men's barracks at Sachsenhausen adjacent to, but not in, the camp itself. Those wooden benches were a common feature of the SS areas.
The images show an anti religious parody for the entertainment of the troops reflecting the SS disdain for the church, especially by the SS-TV as 777 and byterock point out. Similar anti Catholic imagery can be seen in "Oberbayern" photos at Dachau.

Thanks Derek, your knowledge about different aspects SS TV and KZ system is second to none

[derek]

Thanks Michael but Marten van Dijken probably knows more than anyone. His TV studies are absolutely exhaustive.

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=881590