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Photos Unpublished negatives from WW2

NebrHogger

NebrHogger

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I bought 2 rolls of black & white negatives from an auction site. The can is labeled Darmstadt and Bingen. So far, it appears to be from post war occupation/ pre-cold war era. At first I thought the images were bomb damage assessment, but so far it seems to be touristy snaps. Scanning the negs, I did see rubble strewn streets and cleanup crews with horses and wagons.

Since the film had laid tightly coiled since the late 40s (at least) it wasn't easy snipping 10 from each roll to stuff in my Canon negative scanner. For now, I've hung the rolls with weights in an attempt to straighten the mess.

I sincerely believe these images have never been printed or published. I'll post as many of them here as I can. The camera operator (I hesitate to call him a photographer) did rather a slap-dash job in focus and composition. Since so many frames show chemical stains, I'm ready to believe he developed them, too.

From the original 20 frames I snipped from the rolls, these 4 are the only ones worth posting at the moment.
Image #4 seems to be some sort of military equipment/vehicle. If anybody recognizes what it might be, please post!
Perhaps interior of an SP gun?


Germany 1.webp



Germ 2.webp


G3.webp


G4.webp
 
NebrHogger said:
I bought 2 rolls of black & white negatives from an auction site. The can is labeled Darmstadt and Bingen. So far, it appears to be from post war occupation/ pre-cold war era. At first I thought the images were bomb damage assessment, but so far it seems to be touristy snaps. Scanning the negs, I did see rubble strewn streets and cleanup crews with horses and wagons.

Since the film had laid tightly coiled since the late 40s (at least) it wasn't easy snipping 10 from each roll to stuff in my Canon negative scanner. For now, I've hung the rolls with weights in an attempt to straighten the mess.

I sincerely believe these images have never been printed or published. I'll post as many of them here as I can. The camera operator (I hesitate to call him a photographer) did rather a slap-dash job in focus and composition. Since so many frames show chemical stains, I'm ready to believe he developed them, too.

From the original 20 frames I snipped from the rolls, these 4 are the only ones worth posting at the moment.
Image #4 seems to be some sort of military equipment/vehicle. If anybody recognizes what it might be, please post!
Perhaps interior of an SP gun?


View attachment 529182


View attachment 529183

View attachment 529184

View attachment 529185
Click to expand...
Looks like an electronics vehicle, possibly radar or a listening post. Judging by the font on the door likely American (built).
 
Processed a few more just now. Results seem to be in 2 categories: readable or a complete waste of film.

This pic and others of women in the town tell quite a sordid story. Women who've lost friends, relatives and very likely a spouse to the war. Also a strong possibility their home is now a pile of rubble. But... you get really hungry and life seems hopeless...
WW2a.webp


A better shot of the equipment in question. Possibly a German radar on a rail car? In another pic too crappy to post, it looked like the RR yard took a hard hit.
WW2b.webp


WW2c.webp


The camera operator took a shot of his pals. Not a particularly squared away looking bunch.
WW2d.webp



Nope - not squared away at all. In their defense, it might be a clean up detail. That or regulations may have slacked off a bit during the occupation years.
WW2e.webp


Your basic tourist type snap shot. Shown is the countryside around Darmstatd or Bingen.
WW2f.webp
 
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Ah right, Thanks for the clearer pics. Looks like a Würzburg radar. Those are mainly known for the large emplaced version based on the D model known as Würzburg-Riese (Giant) used liked the British Chain Home radar, but there were mobile truck, trailer and train mounted versions too of the A model for tactical level AD.
 
These are the final frames from the set. Only 2 toss outs, but there were several duplicate images - like the guy was trying to burn up the rolls of film. There was a bit of disappointment with these - really nothing of substance. I'd very much like to know where to send the negatives, but clearly that's impossible. I asked the seller if he had more - said, "he might".

Possible damage from bomb splinters. Both towns took a hard hit from RAF raids.
final 1.webp


I believe this shows empty streets where rows of houses used to exist across the river.
final 2.webp


Hard covers and bloused boots - these guys are much more squared away.
final 3.webp


Another image of a local woman.
final 4.webp



Statue - gosh, what GI doesn't appreciate classic art?
final 5.webp


Garden with bomb damage.
final 6.webp



Part of the fellow's unit - apparently on bivouac.
final 7.webp
 
Is it possible to enhance the pictures with a photoshop like program?
Work on the contrast etc.. etc.. ??
 
Connaught Ranger said:
Is it possible to enhance the pictures with a photoshop like program?
Work on the contrast etc.. etc.. ??
Click to expand...
It's certainly possible, but I've no skills that way. If anyone cares to try, please be my guest! All I was able to alter was darkness in a few cases or crop developer stains.

A friend suggested trying an AI program, but I know nothing of that, either.
 
Connaught Ranger said:
Is it possible to enhance the pictures with a photoshop like program?
Work on the contrast etc.. etc.. ??
Click to expand...

NebrHogger said:
It's certainly possible, but I've no skills that way. If anyone cares to try, please be my guest! All I was able to alter was darkness in a few cases or crop developer stains.

A friend suggested trying an AI program, but I know nothing of that, either.
Click to expand...
I'll have a look this evening. Improving contrast and such should be fine. In my experience black & white images is very much a hit and miss for Ai upscaling though. Less contrast data for the Ai model to work out what is what.

The view across the river looks more like terrassing to me. Not enough discoloration to indicate explosions and Fire damage. Also no apparent rubble. Doubtful they'd have it cleared out this quickly without redevelopment at least starting. Also looks like some patches of trees with leaves in what would have been the center of the inferno.
 
Just had a go at two different types of image. Some parts of some images are so whited out that there simply isn't much detail. Also the photographer's preference for overview shots doesn't help with the amount of detail (lack of).

Original/edited

comp1.webp


comp2.webp
 
Great work! There were a number of frames I didn't post since they were so crappy or mostly obscured by developer stains. The guy was no photographer. In fact, I think he would have been as bad with a modern day point & shoot camera.

I'm still checking with the seller to see if he has more exposed negatives.
 
First batch in alphabetical order. I've left in some light discolouration and noise as otherwise pictures look too smooth. Some of the poorest images well let's say that it's a matter of personal taste on how much improvement there is. Also not much point in making them larger other than to run Ai to get rid of the worst noise, sharpen and then scaling them to their original size.

final 1_E.webp

final 2_E.webp

final 3_E.webp

final 4_E.webp

final 5_E.webp
 
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