A controversy has erupted in France over exhibition of photographs of occupied Paris in World War Two. These are some never seen before rare color photographs by French photographer Andre Zucca.
The exhibition has been suggested to be shut down by Paris deputy mayor Christophe Girard, who heads the city’s culture department. He says unless the organizers seek to counterbalance the cheery vision on display photographs should be taken down.Although photography was forbidden in occupied Paris but Zucca obtained permits and supplies from his employer - the Nazi propaganda magazine, Signal. Zucca died in 1973.
These 270 color photos titled “Parisians under the Occupation”, shows a wartime Paris with more emphasis on joy than the jackboot, which Girard says is inappropriate for an occupation still painful in French collective memory. “We plan to discuss the matter with historians and see if we can modify things to save the exhibition. But if we can’t, I’d like to see it closed,” Girard said.
I don’t understand why it is so hard to accept for the West. Why is that if something is against their point of view then it is either bogus or fraud. I know Nazis were not the “nicest” of persons but still until they have proof, they can’t just order removal of photographs if it goes against their wishes.
Some of the scenes shown in photos include a grand dame on a shopping promenade, sunbathers lounging along the river Seine, chic youths flirting and families spending a day at the races, life going on as normal in a city prized by the Nazis.
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