Postwar Berlin Jewish Refugees Return from Shanghai 1947 - Original Press Photo

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Postwar Berlin Jewish Refugees Return from Shanghai 1947 - Original Press Photo:
$175.00

An original (not modern reprint) 7x9" vintage photo from a rare archive of post war / Cold War Berlin press photographs that we acquired from an sale house in Berlin. This photo is from perhaps the most fascinating collection of press photos we have ever had the pleasure to deal with. Professionally packaged in a rigid mailer for safe delivery.

Photo Overview

Postwar Berlin Jewish refugees who had fled from Berlin to Shanghai before World War II are shown gathered outdoors listening to a welcome address on their voluntary return to Berlin on August 21, 1947; seated and standing closely together, the men and women wear postwar civilian clothing and carry travel bags as they prepare to leave a Berlin refugee camp for new dwellings arranged by municipal authorities.

After 1938 thousands of German and Austrian Jews escaped Nazi persecution by taking one of the few available routes out of Europe, via the Trans?Siberian Railway and ship to Shanghai, then an open port that required no entry visa. By 1947 many of these refugees faced the difficult choice of where to rebuild their lives, and a small number returned to ruined German cities like Berlin despite harsh conditions and lingering antisemitism. Historically significant images of the Berlin?Shanghai?Berlin refugee story in the immediate postwar years are scarce, so secure this powerful survivor?story photograph today before it disappears into another collection.

Text Present

Front, lower left on suitcase (partially visible):
"...PERC..."

Back, purple stamp (partially visible under label):
"ACME NEWSPICTURES
DIVISION OF NEA SERVICE, Inc.
... 481 8th AVENUE, NEW YORK
... TRIBUNE TOWER, CHICAGO, ILL."

Back, typeset orange caption label:
"BER 845919 . . . . . . . . . . . . . NEW YORK BUREAU

JEWISH REFUGEES WHO FLED GERMANY RETURN
BERLIN: MEMBERS OF A GROUP OF 295 JEWISH
REFUGEES WHO FLED FROM BERLIN TO SHANGHAI
BEFORE THE WAR, ARE SHOWN AS THEY LISTENED
TO A WELCOME ADDRESS ON THEIR RETURN TO
BERLIN AUGUST 21ST. THEY RETURNED VOLUNTARILY,
ALTHOUGH THEY KNEW OF THE DIFFICULT LIVING
CONDITIONS IN GERMANY. THEY WERE KEPT IN
A REFUGEE CAMP FOR A SHORT TIME, BEFORE BEING
RELEASED TO JOIN RELATIVES OR MOVE INTO
NEW DWELLINGS, WHICH BERLIN'S MUNICIPAL
AUTHORITIES PROVIDED.
NY-12/MCS
CREDIT (ACME) PHOTO BY STAFF CORRESPONDENT
BOB BERGFELD 8-27-47 (KG)"

Print analysis: This is an ACME Newspictures wire-service press photograph with an original dated caption slug (August 27, 1947) describing an event on August 21, 1947, and multiple ACME stamps on the verso. The paper surface and tonal range are consistent with late?1940s silver gelatin press prints. Because it was produced and distributed for news use within days of the event, from the original transmitted image, it fits the definition of a Type 1 original press photo, printed c1947.

Condition: Photo is in fair to good vintage condition. May have some rough edges, rounded corners, creases, age coloring, etc from age related wear. Please see images for exact details.