Dead German soldier, re-enactment or real photo? (gruesome photo!)

[PerMilitaria]

Hi,

I came across this photo which I have never seen before. What do you think; real or re-enactment?

[Daniel.S]

its probably real..as the corpse is looted.

[PerMilitaria]

And yes, I noticed the eye. But my thought was it could be photoshopped.


I've seen so many re-enactment photos been posted on websites and Instagram with a well written description about the photo, making people think it's real.

[Arthur Kullmer]

I would say by the looks of his jowels a reanactor

[Casper]

This picture really has me puzzled.
At a first glance, i thought "re-enactor" without being able to put my finger on why.

Then i had a little look around the internet.
Found a guy, Tony Vaccaro, who claims to have taken the photo december 20th 1945 during the Hurtgen forrest battle. Looking over his website, it all seems possible.

Regarding the date, it must have been a typo and he meant 20th december 1944.

Regarding the photos. If you compare the posted one, to the one on Tonys website, i dont get where all the white speckels come from. Im guessing Tony would have the original photo. So why is there white stuff on his, but not on the one posted.

Anyways, have a look on his site for your selfs.

http://tonyvaccaro.studio/portfolio/world-war-ii/

[Wiking44]

My opinion is that this is a re-enactor. The image is too sharp. The soldier is too well fed. The uniform is too clean. The letter on the ground is pristine, and finally, the Hürtgen Forest in December 1944 was pretty much buried in snow. No sign of it here.

[Gran Sasso]

My opinion is that this is a re-enactor. The image is too sharp. The soldier is too well fed. The uniform is too clean. The letter on the ground is pristine, and finally, the Hürtgen Forest in December 1944 was pretty much buried in snow. No sign of it here.

Also the MP44 ammo pouch looks fake

[Mil-Archive]

My first reaction is also re-enactor. Hard to say exactly why, it just has the feel of a re-enactor one to me. The placement of the discarded paperwork doesn't help it.

[H.W Plainview]

the "Too good to be true syndrome"

[kefru177]

I agree that its a re-enactor. Next question is why would someone do this

[jujuy]

not exactly the same pic.
on the blog one, somebody throwed some "snow" on the ground and on the live corps.
On the pic here, you'll note the snow has changed into drops of water.
really smells reac

I agree that its a re-enactor. Next question is why would someone do this

[Nische]

I believe the photo can be found in this book; which was taken by George Stevens near the end of WW2. I used to own this book, and had practically every photo memorized.

There should be another forum member who owns this book who can verify.

[starikurac]

The open eye is without 'life' in it.

[scottr]

I think the photo is period and a lack of significant snow can be explained. The trench in which this soldier lays may be a freshly dug grave. Hints of snow seen on his sleeves and speckles from the website hosted version of this picture might indicate the soldier's body was found face down in a snowy area and later moved to this trench for burial. He was tossed in right side up to aid in searching pockets for loot and intel before covering with soil. The website hosted photo could also be an earlier shot, taken right after the body was relocated. Would explain the snow splotch near the envelope and why most of the snow spots are missing in the second photo (melting).

[Tom B]

??????? Tom