Dear Friends and Collectors,
June 6, 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day—one of the most decisive moments in modern history. On that day in 1944, thousands of brave American and Allied soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy, launching the liberation of Nazi-occupied Europe and changing the course of World War II.
To honor their sacrifice, I am proud to present a powerful new online exhibition in the Viewing Room of my website: www.pastinpresent.com
This collection features rare original wartime silver gelatin photographs, many of which have never before been seen by the public. These are not simply images—they are vivid windows into history, capturing the grit, determination, and humanity of those who fought to free Europe from tyranny and protect the world from the spread of totalitarianism.
Why this matters now:
As we reflect on this anniversary, let us remember that democracy is not guaranteed—it must be cherished and defended.
In a time when authoritarian ideas are rising once again, and some would tell us that freedom is no longer worth fighting for, it is more important than ever to look back at the generation who fought, bled, and died to give us the rights we enjoy today.
Their courage must not be forgotten.
Their sacrifice must continue to inspire us.
And their example must remind us: freedom is always worth defending.
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These are real moments. Real men. Real sacrifices.
Many American soldiers gave their lives not for conquest or personal gain, but to defend democracy, liberate the oppressed, and protect the freedoms we often take for granted today. -
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"Invasion Chief Is Here" General Eisenhower Supreme C.-in-C. of the Allied Invasion Forces, London
"Invasion Chief Is Here" General Eisenhower Supreme C.-in-C. of the Allied Invasion Forces, London, 1944The photograph titled “Invasion Chief Is Here” captures General Dwight D. Eisenhower upon his return to England after pivotal discussions with President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill. This image, taken in early 1944, showcases Eisenhower in his former office at the American Headquarters during a press conference, reflecting the gravity and anticipation surrounding the impending Allied invasion of Europe. -
Famous shot of Allied commanders having a war conference by a haystack in a field in Northern France, 8.21.44
Famous shot of Allied commanders having a war conference by a haystack in a field in Northern France, 8.21.44, 1944Original war time silver gelatin photograph
4 3/4 x 5 3/4 in
12.2 x 14.7 cm -
Richard R. Ganczak
“Inferno Over Ploiești: 15th AAF B-24 Liberators Strike Concordia Vega Refinery, Romania May 31, 1944”, 1944On May 31, 1944, during one of the most intense bombing raids of World War II, waves of Consolidated B-24 Liberators from the 15th U.S. Army Air Force soared over the Concordia Vega oil refinery in Ploiești, Romania. Undeterred by the flak bursting around them, these bombers delivered a decisive blow to the Axis oil supply chain. The photograph captures the moment just after the bomb loads were released, with towering pillars of black smoke rising from the devastated storage tanks and oil installations below. This image, taken by Richard R. Ganczak, a radio operator and bombardier who flew 70 combat missions, stands as a testament to the bravery and strategic impact of the Allied air campaign against Nazi Germany’s critical resources.
This photograph is part of the Library of Congress collection (Digital ID: cph.3b43591) and has been featured in various publications, including Life magazine. Its historical significance and striking composition have earned it recognition as a featured picture on Wikipedia. .
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D-Day Allied Normandy landing Captured Wehrmacht POW’s waiting to be transported to England, France 6.8.1944
D-Day Allied Normandy landing Captured Wehrmacht POW’s waiting to be transported to England, France 6.8.1944, 1944Original vintage photograph. Watermarks do not appear on the actual photograph.
10 x 8 1/4 in
25.4 x 20.8 cm -
“Attack On Chateau Near La Haye Du Puits” Liberation Of France July
“Attack On Chateau Near La Haye Du Puits” Liberation Of France July, 1944Original Vintage Silver Gelatin Photograph
10 1/4 x 8 in
25.9 x 20.3 cm -
French Resistance Fighters shaving heads of female traitors brothel Aux Belle Poules, Paris
French Resistance Fighters shaving heads of female traitors brothel Aux Belle Poules, Paris , 1944Original vintage snapshot photograph. Watermarks do not appear on the actual photograph.
2 1/4 x 2 1/4 in
5.8 x 5.8 cm -
James A. Mulhaney
“Prisoners Exchange” Col. Earl C. Bergquist, chief of staff, 94th division, and German officers Etel, France 11.16.44, 1944Original war time silver gelatin photograph
4 X 5.1 -
British War Office
“Sherman Seventeen-Pounder Tank In Normandy”, 1944Original Vintage Gelatin Silver Photograph
10 1/8 x 8 in
25.7 x 20.3 cm -
Wehrmacht POW's help wounded US Soldier, Colmar France
Wehrmacht POW's help wounded US Soldier, Colmar France, 1945War time original vintage silver gelatin photograph
4 x 5 in
10.2 x 12.7 cm -
James W. Todd
“Echoes of Liberty – U.S. Soldier Reflects Before Bartholdi’s Statue, Colmar France, 1945Original Silver Gelatin Photo
5 1/4 x 3 3/4 in
13.2 x 9.7 cm -
German officer surrenders to the British troops, probably in Germany
German officer surrenders to the British troops, probably in Germany , 1945Original Vintage Silver Gelatin Photograph.
8 x 10 in
20.3 x 25.4 cm -
Nazi Prisoners Are Brought In by 94th Division Infantrymen near Beuren, Germany 2.20.45
Nazi Prisoners Are Brought In by 94th Division Infantrymen near Beuren, Germany 2.20.45, 1945Original vintage photograph.Watermarks do not appear on the actual photograph.
10 x 8 1/8 in
25.4 x 20.7 cm -
Harold Siegman
Americans Link With Russians In Germany, April 1945 , 1945Original vintage photograph. Watermarks do not appear on the actual photograph.
4 X 5.5
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Robert H. Schmidt
“Dash Through the Flames: 88th Division Soldier Amidst Battle’s End – Vicenza, Italy, April 1945”, 1945This powerful wartime image, taken on April 28, 1945, in Vicenza, Italy, captures a U.S. Army infantryman of the famed 88th Division racing past still-burning German vehicles. Snapped by photographer Schmidt of the 196th Signal Photo Company and issued by the U.S. Army Signal Corps (SC 208335), the image was part of the official war documentation effort during the liberation of northern Italy.
The 88th Infantry Division, nicknamed the “Blue Devils,” played a crucial role in the Italian Campaign’s conclusion.
After a vicious engagement outside Vicenza on April 27, the 88th Division Task Force Frye prepared to enter the city. On the following morning, the Americans had about four tanks moving along the SR11 regional road when they were ambushed. From that point on, it was a tough fight through the city. American troops were attacked by German snipers hiding in buildings, targeted with hand grenades thrown from roofs, and shot with panzerfaust, a weapon similar to a bazooka that fires projectiles that enter a tank and then destroy it from the inside out. On top of that, they were forced to drive with their hatches open, heads fully exposed. Three Americans died in the battle, all from head wounds. For the 752nd Tank Battalion, it was the worst casualty day of the entire war. Sixteen American soldiers were wounded in addition to the three killed, and five tanks were destroyed. ight Silver Stars and three Bronze Stars were awarded for actions in Vicenza that morning. The entire unit was awarded a distinguished unit citation. After the battle, American forces continued their race toward the border, leaving Vicenza to rebuild. It was the most heavily bombed city in the Veneto region, with destruction to homes and iconic buildings.
This image was made during the final days of Nazi occupation in Italy, mere days before Germany’s total surrender in WWII.Photographer Robert H. Schmidt a front-line photographer whose work now forms part of the war’s visual legacy, later authored The Forgotten Front in Northern Italy, a rare memoir detailing the risks and realities of life as a WWII combat photographer.
Crystal clear, exceptional quality Type 1 silver gelatin photograph, one of the best dynamic and dramatic WWII photographs I ever handled.
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Clifford A. Stocking
“Flak Inferno: The Final Moments of ‘Little Warrior’ Over Fallersleben, June 29, 1944”, 1944Original Vintage Type 1 Silver Gelatin Photograph
8 x 10 in
20.3 x 25.4 cm -
Captured German Paratroopers – Fallschirmjäger POWs in Cerisy-la-Forêt, Normandy, France
Captured German Paratroopers – Fallschirmjäger POWs in Cerisy-la-Forêt, Normandy, France, 1944This striking original WWII silver gelatin press photograph, taken on July 26, 1944, in Cerisy-la-Forêt, France, captures a group of captured Luftwaffe Fallschirmjäger (German paratroopers) sitting against a stone wall under U.S. guard. The exhausted expressions and disheveled uniforms reveal the immediate aftermath of fierce combat during the Allied advance across Normandy following D-Day.
Identified on the verso, U.S. Military Policeman Corporal Everett Paw of Mayfield Heights, Ohio, is shown watching over these prisoners of war as they await interrogation. The photograph was taken by the U.S. Army Signal Corps (Cook, 5th Signal Corps Photo) and bears an original Field Press Censor stamp dated July 27, 1944, certifying it was cleared for wartime publication.
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German soldier surrenders to Lt. Roy Rogers "Roger's Rangers”, Linnich, Germany
German soldier surrenders to Lt. Roy Rogers "Roger's Rangers”, Linnich, Germany, 1945A holed-up Nazi, overlooked in initial mopping-up, emerges from his hideout and surrenders to Lieut. Rey L. Rogers, Island Park, Minn. For ten nights previous to the Roer River “jump-off” near Linnich, Germany, Lieut. Roy L. (“Buck”) Rogers led his specially picked and trained Division Battle Patrol (now well known as the “Buck Rogers Patrol” or “Roger’s Rangers”) in nightly raids and scouting forays across the Roer to varying depths in the enemy’s positions, searching out the terrain and Nazi defenses. On the morning of the push, Lieut. Rogers and 18 of his men crossed again with the mission of clearing a 500-yard strip of dike across the river in preparation for the main crossing. The mission was accomplished with only four of the patrol wounded, none seriously. This photo shows the morning-after visit to the scene of the night patrol mission.
