Amateur Photographer
- Description
- Reviews
- Citation
- Cataloging
- Transcript
As a young man in Germany during the Thirties, Gerhard M. was an amateur photographer who preserved his work in a photo album. In 1941, when he was sent to the Eastern Front as a German soldier, he took along a camera to record his combat experiences in the Soviet Union.
Based on his wartime diary and photo album, AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER recounts Gerhard M.'s experiences with his unit, which was engaged in 'retaliatory measures in captured areas.' Eager to document his wartime exploits, Gerhard took numerous photos, including both quickly-recorded snapshots and carefully composed portraits His subjects included fellow soldiers, Soviet prisoners and other civilian victims of the war, the Germany army's expropriation of livestock and other food supplies from the local populace, and a temporary leave spent happily in Berlin with his fiancée.
After the war, as a citizen of the German Democratic Republic and a dues-paying member of the Soviet-German Friendship Society, Gerhard M. came to regret his enthusiasm for photography. The discovery by East German Communist authorities of his incriminating diary and photo album, replete with horrific images of executions and other atrocities, no longer regarded as personal souvenirs but as legal evidence, led to Gerhard M.'s conviction by a Soviet court and his execution by firing squad in 1952.
'Provides a unique insight into the reality of war, where shooting has become trivial, where killing is a duty.'-The International Culture Forum in Sweden
'Highly intelligent... striking.'-George Robinson, Jewish Week
'A riveting story.'-Jana Prikryl, The Reeler.com
Citation
Main credits
Gedrovich, Irina (Director)
Roshalʹ, L (Screenwriter)
Reznikov, Efim (Producer)
Hille, Stephan (Narrator)
Dorenwendt, Thomas (Narrator)
Other credits
Director of photography, Ilia Melikhov; music and sound, Evgeniy Kadimsky; editor, Sergey Novikov; consultants, Vladimir Magidov, Dmitriy Khokhlov; translation, Gillian McCormack.
Distributor subjects
Black and White; Eastern Europe; Germany; History (World); Human Rights; Photography; Russia; World War IIKeywords
WEBVTT
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.000
[sil.]
00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:24.999
This diary and photo album belong to me.
00:02:25.000 --> 00:02:29.999
I was born in Berlin in 1919.
00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:34.999
In 1934, I became a member
of the Hitler youth.
00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:39.999
In 1940, I graduated
from engineering school,
00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:44.999
specializing as a mechanist.
00:02:45.000 --> 00:02:49.999
My father died in 1933,
00:02:50.000 --> 00:02:54.999
My mother worked in a publishing house,
00:02:55.000 --> 00:02:59.999
lives in Berlin. My wife
is a house keeping.
00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:08.000
[music]
00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:44.999
November 1940,
00:03:45.000 --> 00:03:49.999
I was called up to serve
in the German army.
00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:54.999
[non-English narration]
00:03:55.000 --> 00:03:59.999
In the spring of 1941, I was
sent to join the third company
00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:04.999
of Italian 690 of the
fields on the (inaudible).
00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:09.999
[non-English narration]
00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:14.999
Responsible for carrying
out administrative,
00:04:15.000 --> 00:04:19.999
economic, and retaliatory
measures and captured areas.
00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:28.000
[music]
00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:34.999
3rd September, it rains all the time.
00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:39.999
The chief magistrate provides
00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:44.999
us the fire wood, milk,
butter, cheese, and cream.
00:04:45.000 --> 00:04:49.999
We have beans, (inaudible)
and chocolate for dinner.
00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:54.999
Everything tasted wonderful,
00:04:55.000 --> 00:04:59.999
I must fill up
00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:04.999
and please with myself as a passion.
00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:09.999
I found some cigarettes.
00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:14.999
The only thing I like is a horn.
00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:23.000
[music]
00:05:35.000 --> 00:05:43.000
[sil.]
00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:55.000
You east.
00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:08.000
[music]
00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:24.999
Lately, there has being a lot
of fighting in the woods.
00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:29.999
[music]
00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:34.999
This day, everyone was
firing the weapons non stop.
00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:39.999
[music]
00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:44.999
Our ears are still aching.
00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:53.000
[music]
00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:08.000
[non-English narration]
00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:19.999
There’re ruins everywhere.
00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:24.999
Only the stores and the
(inaudible) pots remain.
00:07:25.000 --> 00:07:29.999
And sometimes
00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:34.999
the reminisce of beds.
00:07:35.000 --> 00:07:39.999
I’ve never seen
00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:44.999
anything like this.
00:07:45.000 --> 00:07:53.000
[music]
00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:59.999
My pipe was burned out
00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:04.999
and I have run out cigarettes.
00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:09.999
There is a swimming pool
in the red army building.
00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:14.999
At least they reds did
something for their army.
00:08:15.000 --> 00:08:19.999
But as for the rest,
00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:24.999
the soviet heaven is not up to much.
00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:29.999
[non-English narration]
00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:34.999
If the (inaudible), that they
were building heaven here.
00:08:35.000 --> 00:08:39.999
[non-English narration]
00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:44.999
Then I don’t want to know
what they would call hell.
00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:53.000
[music]
00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:09.999
[non-English narration]
00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:14.999
This is when I photographed the moment
during the capital soviet Jews.
00:09:15.000 --> 00:09:19.999
[non-English narration]
00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:24.999
With my help were entered in a
piston camp in August 1941.
00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:29.999
[non-English narration]
00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:34.999
Here. I’m with the group of all men against the background
of burning houses in the village of the (inaudible).
00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:39.999
[non-English narration]
00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:44.999
After better was partisans,
00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:49.999
here is a picture of me holding
a (inaudible)then operations
00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:54.999
against the partisans.
00:09:55.000 --> 00:10:03.000
[sil.]
00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:14.999
[music]
00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:23.000
[non-English narration]
00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:29.999
Our company burning down
a (inaudible) village.
00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:34.999
[music]
00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:39.999
[non-English narration]
00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:44.999
[sil.]
00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:49.999
During an operation, I have
participated in against the partisans.
00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:58.000
[sil.]
00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:04.999
Reinforcements were supposed
to come at mid night.
00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:09.999
[non-English narration]
00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:14.999
And slowly almost everything was burnt down
00:11:15.000 --> 00:11:19.999
and major operation against the Jews.
00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:24.999
Over 1,000 were shocked.
00:11:25.000 --> 00:11:29.999
[non-English narration]
00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:34.999
Foreign commando of the third company
00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:39.999
gave an order to gather, all the
male population in this ground.
00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:44.999
Foreign picked out between
20 to 25 of them.
00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:49.999
[non-English narration]
00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:54.999
Then they were taken two to three kilometers
outside the town of Berezino and shot.
00:11:55.000 --> 00:12:03.000
[non-English narration]
00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:09.999
Afterwards, he told us that peaceful citizens
were shocked to frighten the locals,
00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:15.000
after partisan attacks on
German military units.
00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:24.999
Berlin.
00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:29.999
My first leave,
00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:34.999
today I’m going to see Tia.
00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:39.999
If before now I was not in love with
Tia, now I know that I’m really in love.
00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:44.999
I’ve never been as happy as I am today.
00:12:45.000 --> 00:12:49.999
[non-English narration]
00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:54.999
Now, I’m positive with my
future apart from the war.
00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:59.999
And some clear foundation
on which to built.
00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:04.999
[non-English narration]
00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:09.999
Chelsea, I’m promoted
to private first class.
00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:14.999
Yesterday 882 Jews were resettled.
00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:19.999
Chelsea is now free of Jews.
00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:24.999
[non-English narration]
00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:29.999
Now, we are going through the
Jews ranks to find any valuables
00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:34.999
to send to them on to the chancellery.
00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:39.999
There is no water.
00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:44.999
There are candles on the table again.
00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:49.999
But, despite everything some of
the man are still whistling.
00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:54.999
Some are humming songs
and thinking about home.
00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:59.999
We are all feeling extremely home sick.
00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:04.999
But, we will fight this war
until we are victorious.
00:14:05.000 --> 00:14:09.999
[non-English narration]
00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:14.999
A beautiful day, the snow is shining.
00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:19.999
I mean, wonderful spirits.
00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:24.999
It’s as if there is no more war. I
would really like to go for walk.
00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:29.999
[sil.]
00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:34.999
The night passed without incident.
00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:39.999
[non-English narration]
00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:44.999
Our target is eight kilometers to the east.
00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:49.999
At 8pmm, we reached our destination,
00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:54.999
an offensive at the front.
00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:59.999
The snow became heavier.
00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:04.999
Everything has to be painted white.
00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:09.999
Field bags
00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:14.999
and even my camera,
00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:19.999
everything white.
00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:24.999
I had a friend.
00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:33.000
[music]
00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:39.999
They wrestled on the stands.
00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:44.999
That we stand back to back here.
00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:49.999
[music]
00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:54.999
Either we march to freedom
00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:59.999
or we end up with in one common coffin.
00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:04.999
[music]
00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:09.999
The home men knows this.
So does every solider.
00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:14.999
[music]
00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:19.999
With a weapon in his hand
fighting for freedom
00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:24.999
and if need be,
00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:29.999
he will give his life for it.
00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:38.000
[music]
00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:54.999
Today in town,
00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:59.999
I came across the small old Jew.
00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:04.999
He was carrying two oven pipes
00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:09.999
around his neck.
00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:14.999
The Jew came to the market
00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:19.999
with out his passport.
00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:24.999
Now, he is lying with a hole in his head.
00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:29.999
And the oven pipes
00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:34.999
are in our room.
00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:39.999
Hopefully, it will be war by now.
00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:44.999
[sil.]
00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:49.999
[music]
00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:54.999
In Chelsea,
00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:59.999
there are 8000 prisoners.
00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:04.999
I shot one
00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:09.999
who was dismantling roof to get wood.
00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:14.999
He dropped like a stone.
00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:19.999
Obviously, I shot to the head.
00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:24.999
When it is almost dark, they hand out food.
00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:29.999
Half a ladle
00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:34.999
of soup with three strong loafs.
The food get spilled,
00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:39.999
[music]
00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:44.999
Several of the prisoners are badly wounded.
00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:49.999
I give them the final bullet.
00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:54.999
[music]
00:18:55.000 --> 00:19:03.000
[sil.]
00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:09.999
Bread is a problem again.
00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:14.999
We all go out looking for some food.
00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:19.999
Old women at chicken, the old
witch says, \"I don’t understand.\"
00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:24.999
We’ll give you, I don’t understand.
00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:29.999
Open that lid and give us the chicken.
00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:34.999
The chicken is under my arm before
the words are out of my mouth.
00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:39.999
[sil.]
00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:44.999
[non-English narration]
00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:49.999
Everything that could be
turned into food was killed.
00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:54.999
[music]
00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:59.999
Pigs, chickens, sheep.
00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:04.999
Everything was very tasty.
00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:09.999
[music]
00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:14.999
[non-English narration]
00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:19.999
In edition, the Russians left behind
a lot of vodka, biscuits, pickles
00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:24.999
and goat meet.
00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:29.999
[music]
00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:34.999
The vodka is very good.
00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:39.999
[non-English narration]
00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:44.999
A column
00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:49.999
of soviet citizens on their way to
Germany which I met in the (inaudible)
00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:54.999
and the 6th of June 1942.
00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:59.999
[music]
00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:04.999
We find a mud hut,
00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:09.999
four of them huddling there,
and one six month old infant.
00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:14.999
The mother of the baby was
dressed only in a shirt and coat
00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:19.999
and the baby was naked. I
didn’t have my camera although
00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:24.999
I usually always carry it with me. If
possible, I’ll try to get a photograph
00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:29.999
of them tomorrow.
00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:34.999
[sil.]
00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:43.000
[music]
00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:54.999
This photograph belongs to me.
00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:59.999
[non-English narration]
00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:04.999
The original negative from which
this photo was developed is mine.
00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:09.999
I took this picture my self.
00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:14.999
[non-English narration]
00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:19.999
Of the shooting of sovereign
partisan in the summer of 1942.
00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:28.000
[music]
00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:34.999
[non-English narration]
00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:39.999
There is a great future
here for our country.
00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:44.999
[non-English narration]
00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:49.999
I see my task after the wars, harvesting
crops and utilizing raw materials
00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:54.999
for our father land.
00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:59.999
[music]
00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:04.999
A few days ago, I received
another letter from Tia.
00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:09.999
It was a real love letter.
00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:14.999
Despite the huge distance, the tend
00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:19.999
and loving connection continues between us.
00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:24.999
It used to be a gentle flame between us.
00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:29.999
Now it has turned into a bright fire.
00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:34.999
Now, I wish I was by her side now.
00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:39.999
[non-English narration]
00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:44.999
I was awarded an iron cross for
military service on the eastern front.
00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:49.999
[non-English narration]
00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:54.999
In 1943, after being wounded I finished
military school and became lieutenant.
00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:59.999
In 1944, our first son was born.
00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:04.999
At the end of the war, I
surrendered to the Americans.
00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:09.999
Later I moved to east Berlin,
00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:14.999
became the citizen of GTRN.
00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:19.999
In April 1951, I joined the
socialist unity party.
00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:24.999
And then that year, my second son was born.
00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:29.999
I became a member of the Soviet
German Friendship Society.
00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:35.000
And paid my membership dues
regularly and without fail.
00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:54.999
Berlin 10th of May 1952, report
on a search of appointment,
00:24:55.000 --> 00:25:00.000
file, (inaudible).
00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:10.000
Profile of the person on the arrest.
00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:19.999
Marshall college of the supreme court
00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:24.999
of the USSR found guilty,
00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:29.999
sentenced to death by shooting.
00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:38.000
[sil.]
/ 
