French Soldiers Passing a Shelled Village near Verdun

Description:

When World War II broke out in 1939, LIFE magazine sent Carl Mydans and his wife Shelley overseas to document the unfolding events as a photographer/reporter team. The two began by covering the siege in London. They then moved on to Finland where Mydans was first exposed to combat. After a short stay in Italy, they traveled to France where they witnessed its fall to Nazi Germany.

Mydans' words describe the scene: "Each war begins where the last one left off." French soldiers in May 1940 could be mistaken for the poilus or infantrymen of 1914 as they straggle past a shelled village near Verdun after the German breakthrough at Sedan.

Date Made: 1940-051940

Photographer: Mydans, Carl

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: France: Grand Est, Verdun

See more items in: Work and Industry: Photographic History, Military, Photography, Carl Mydans

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Related Publication: Mydans, Carl. Carl Mydans, Photojournalist

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 2005.0228.059Accession Number: 2005.0228Catalog Number: 2005.0228.059

Object Name: Photograph

Physical Description: paper (overall material)Measurements: overall: 8 in x 10 in; 20.32 cm x 25.4 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ab-f9c9-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1303313

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