Synopses & Reviews
Tony Vaccaro's emotional record of the breaking apart of Germany and the people left behind to pick up the pieces.
Published here for the first time ever are the archives of one man who risked his life for peace in World War II and stayed in Germany for five years after the war, creating the most comprehensive photographic diary made by a serviceman.
Drafted into the army in 1944 at the age of 22, Tony Vaccaro went to Europe armed with a gun and a camera. His dedication to shooting war's ugly brutality, even in the midst of dangerous clashes with Hitler's army, never faltered. After the war, Vaccaro was inspired to stay in Europe to photograph the hope he saw in the war's survivors.
Entering Germany traces Vaccaro's remarkable visual journey from the invasion in Normandy through the aftermath of the war in Europe up until 1949, with an emphasis on the spirit of the survivors left in the wake of the war. The sparkle of optimism in people's eyes and the smiles of childrensigns of hope in a bleak, war-torn countryare some of his most touching subjects.
About the Author
Tony Vaccaro was educated both in Italy and America. His photo career was officially "launched" during the Allied invasion of Normandy. After his return to New York in 1949, he worked for LIFE, Look, Venture and Flair magazines. His work has been shown in exhibitions worldwide and he has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Légion dHonneur and the Chevalier of Arts and Letters from François Mitterrand. He lives and works in New York City.