WW2

 

Hitler's moment of greatest triumph, July 6, 1940.  France has surrendered and Hitler has achieved in less than two months what Germany could not accomplish in the 4 years of WW1. In this photo he is basking in the total adoration of an entire nation.  Had he stopped there, he would have been considered one of Germany's greatest leaders.  But as Ian Kershaw observed, he couldn't stop there.  Hitler was a gambler and he would continue making bigger and bigger bets until he lost. 

Here is Harry Truman passing the same spot in May 1945.  Truman is in the dark suit, Byrnes and Leahy are riding with him.  There's a big version at the Truman library here.  The gaggle suggests they stopped here for the photo.

 

WW2

Divisional standards on parade.  I'm guessing this is the 1934 Nurmberg rally, but it could be anytime up to around 1938.  I have no documentary support for that, but its my feeling based on all the photos I've seen.  The Germans were good at spectacle.  The prominence of these standards at such a propaganda event reflects the totality of Hitler's co-option of the Wehrmacht.  The German Army ceased to serve the nation, but rather served Adolf Hitler. This is literal, they took an oath to him, personally.  Few officers questioned that oath until defeat was certain.

Here are the same standards on display in Red Square during the Soviet victory parade, June 24, 1945.  This parade was remarkable for several reasons, and mostly unknown in the West.  More photographs of this memorable day will appear in this series of WW2 posts.  While the Germans were good at spectacle, the Russians were good at symbolism.

WW2

Another in the tense meeting series.  These are German troops surrendering to Canadians in Holland on May 5, 1945.  They may be surrendering, but these are not beaten men.  They still have fight in them and they're armed to the teeth.  The Canadians were extremely nervous about last minute complications or misunderstandings.  This event was 3 days before the general German surrender, so problems were possible.  The Canadians didn't relax until all the weapons these guys were carrying had been secured.  The kid on the right edge of the photo looks about 14.