The photographs are not always in focus and sometimes the contrast is poor, but then they were taken clandestinely during wartime by a resistance fighter who just happened to be a keen photographer.
The National Resistance Museum in Amsterdam is currently showing these unique photos of life in the Dutch capital during World War II.
Photography was subject to countless restrictions during the German occupation. The Nazis branded many subjects as undesirable and no one was allowed to photograph them. Anyone who did could be arrested.
Karel Bönnekamp (1914-2008) ignored these restrictions. A member of the resistance, he biked around Amsterdam secretly taking pictures of the Nazi occupation. After the war they disappeared into a drawer.
A few years ago, he donated his photographs to the Dutch Resistance Museum. A selection is on view there until 1 April 2012 in an exhibition entitled Amsterdam through the lens of a clandestine camera.
(imm)
Email this Article
Printer-friendly version
Wars of pen and ink often lead to wars of cannon and bayonets.
EDWARD COUNSEL, Maxims
War is nothing else but "eine grosze Scheisse", as they say in good german.
Post new comment
Please be reminded all comments must be in English, short and to the point - guideline 250 words. Abusive and inappropriate comments will be removed.