Berlin hosts a large retrospective exhibition of the largest Soviet photojournalist twentieth century - the creator of the famous image of World War II: Berlin has fallen and Soviet soldiers stand red flag over the Reichstag

Most people do not know that the photo was taken not in the same historical moment. Eugene Chaldea staged these developments 2 May 1945, three days after Soviet troops captured the German parliament building.

In the parliament building burned 28-year-old photographer with the rank of lieutenant met a young friend and urged him popozirovat on the roof with the banner. He joined two more Red Army soldier. Chaldea otsnyal entire film, 36 frames. One of them in various versions has become the icon of the twentieth century, the picture that is in the collective memory of Germans and Russians at the same time a defeat of Nazi Germany and the victory of the Red Army.

Photo is the central exhibit at the exhibition «Eugene Chaldea. The decisive moment », which is the first comprehensive retrospective of the photographer during the Second World War.

The exhibition, which takes place in the Gropius-Bau museum in Berlin, shows how the work of the Chaldeans as a war correspondent, and later staff photographer «Truth» blur the boundaries between photojournalism, art and propaganda.

For the Russians used the Reichstag photo is as a symbol of victory, which for Americans is a snapshot of raising the American flag on the Japanese island of Ivodzima made by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal.

But with the way the Reichstag well: smoke in the background was later vytravlen on the negative, to create the impression that the battle is still ongoing.

Chaldea has been artistic director, he chase the most important events. Against the background of many documentary modest but brilliant photos, which he did for six decades, painfully aware that his most famous shot he had been subjected to repeated manipulation, for which it later has been criticized. Tangled history with photos of Red Flag on the Reichstag reconstructed exhibition curator Ernst Folland in his little book.

From there it follows that even at night, after photographing in the Reichstag, Chaldeans flew to Moscow. Then in the photograph, first published May 13, 1945 in the trade union journal «Ogonek», was originally forged one piece. In fact, a Red Army soldier, his friend lodged a banner on both hands were a clock. Then with the words «Uri, Uri» (from the German word Uhr - hours. - Ed. ) maraud Soviet soldiers in Berlin. Chaldeans, and later he confessed that, in one of the negatives with a needle soskoblil hours on the right hand of his model.

On the next versions of photographs in the sky suddenly appeared dark cloud lightning. At last found a new version of the banner, which dramatically flutter in the wind.

While 1 and 2 May, 1945 at least three Soviet military photographer photographing soldiers with flags in the Reichstag and its dome, garland inherited photos Chaldeans.

Ernst Folland, one of the curators of the exhibition, called the Reichstag photo «the promotion of one hundred twenty percent», especially given the fact that it was made in accordance with the requirements of the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.

«Stalin very much like to get the combination of Reichstag and the red flag», - noted Folland.

In another photo shows a tank standing in front of the Brandenburg Gate and the string of fighter aircraft in the sky. At closer examination it becomes clear that the tank was cut from another picture, and aircraft penciled.

Chaldea did not see ethical issues in training montage. According to Follanda, to question the veracity of photographs of the photographer would simply replied: «This is a good picture. I made it. Auf Wiedersehen (Goodbye )».

Chaldea labored in obscurity for most of his life and his last years, until 1997-th, cheat in a small Moscow apartment on a modest pension.

retrospective of more than 200 photographs assembled, private collectors Folland and Heinz Krimmer, who played an important role in trying to bring the work of the Chaldeans to a wider audience.

«Photos Chaldeans have in every German school books. His photographs are known, but the people who made them - not », - said Krimmer. The Chaldeans had never considered himself a painter, and only occasionally sold his works in a small quantity at home.

Chaldeans, who was born into a Jewish family in 1917, he built his first camera at the age of 12 years. He began to photograph for the Soviet news agency Tass in 1936 and created the most memorable photos during the Second World War and after it. Among the most famous - photographs of the conference of heads of the allied powers in Potsdam in 1945 and the Nazi war criminals at the Nuremberg Trials.

After the war, the Chaldeans have difficulty finding work full-time because of Stalin's repression and anti-Semitic purges.

Only after Stalin's death in 1953, the Chaldeans have to work in the Soviet newspapers.

Folland and Krimmer met him in Moscow in 1991 and began collecting his work. Their collection of photos is now the largest outside Russia.

In 1994, in Berlin, they organized the first exhibition of the Chaldeans and published a book with some of his photos.

The current exhibition runs from May 8 until July 28 with the support of the Federal Cultural Foundation of Germany. This year it will go to Ukraine. The exhibition may also be in the United States, although details have not yet spelled out.

Military photos are a central part of the exhibition, which also includes photographs of devastated Europe. Since 1950, Chaldea photographed mostly workers, politicians and artists such as cellist Mstislav Rostropovich and composer Dmitri Shostakovich.

According to the curators, Berlin - the first stop on the way the exhibition.

«The most famous photographs of the Chaldeans were made right here, around the corner», - said Krimmer.

Source: www.inopressa.ru