Ruined Berlin in Valery Faminsky’s eyes

Berlin May 1945 photos (I)

These pictures were taken by Soviet war photographer Valery Faminsky (1914–1993) during the Fall of Nazi-Berlin in May 1945. This archive was discovered recently in Moscow. He photographed the Red Army’s combat path from Ukraine to final Berlin battleground. Photographer Arthur Bondar heard that the family of Faminsky was selling the album and negatives after his death in 2011, so he acquired this unique archive in 2016.

These amazing pics of World War Two were taken during April 22nd to May 24th 1945, as Faminsky accompanied Soviet troops during their final assault of Third Reich’s capital. One of the most valued aspects of this album is that they are recorded far away from Soviet propaganda: images showing the troops daylife during their march to Berlin, the population, the ruins of the big city…the true face of destruction accomplished by the Allies. He also documented the care of wounded soldiers in Berlin for the medical authorities.

A truly witness of the reality of war, enjoy it.

The Reichstag’s burnt out main entrance and portico. Photo: © Valery Faminsky, Arthur Bondar’s private collection. Berlin, May 1945

Another view of the destroyed Berlin Reichstag building, looking East. Photo: © Valery Faminsky, Arthur Bondar’s private collection. Berlin, May 1945

Ruined Waldermarstraße. Photo: © Valery Faminsky, Arthur Bondar’s private collection. Berlin, May 1945

Civilians and their families fled the city, Schlesischer Bahnhof, 1945. Photo: © Valery Faminsky, Arthur Bondar’s private collection. Berlin, May 1945

Bomb craters and trenches among rubble near Kroll Opera, Berlin. Smoke columns rises from recent street fightings. Photo: © Valery Faminsky, Arthur Bondar’s private collection. Berlin, May 1945

An old-woman among destruction at Pfarrstraße, Berlin. Photo: © Valery Faminsky, Arthur Bondar’s private collection. Berlin, May 1945

Roßstraßenbrücke at Wallstraße. Note bombed out apartments in the background. Photo: © Valery Faminsky, Arthur Bondar’s private collection. Berlin, May 1945

Photo: © Valery Faminsky, Arthur Bondar’s private collection. Berlin, May 1945

A panorama view of the ruined Roßstraßenbrücke at Wallstraße. Photo: © Valery Faminsky, Arthur Bondar’s private collection. Berlin, May 1945

A Berliner old man stands next to a warning from Berlin Wehrmacht’s Kommandantur. Photo: © Valery Faminsky, Arthur Bondar’s private collection. Berlin, May 1945

Berliner Frau sits next to her suitcase in an abandoned street. Photo: © Valery Faminsky, Arthur Bondar’s private collection. Berlin, May 1945

Bombed out building and debris in the Nazi-capital. Photo: © Valery Faminsky, Arthur Bondar’s private collection. Berlin, May 1945

A lonely horse in the middle of Falckenstein Straße, Ecke Schlesische Straße. Sadly, it would became food for Berliners soon… Photo: © Valery Faminsky, Arthur Bondar’s private collection. Berlin, May 1945

Helsingforser Straße. Two images of destruction: the combined action of Western Allies bombing campaign and the final Russian assault. Photo: © Valery Faminsky, Arthur Bondar’s private collection. Berlin, May 1945

Photo: © Valery Faminsky, Arthur Bondar’s private collection. Berlin, May 1945

German civilians -notice they are all elderly men and women, abandoned the defeated city as Soviet troops conquered Berlin. Photo: © Valery Faminsky, Arthur Bondar’s private collection. Berlin, May 1945

Last summer we can see all this impressive images in an exhibition in Berlin. Bildband Berlin opened this show during 12th May – 12th July 2018 at Immanuelkirchstr. 33 (Prenzlauer Alle). Also you can purchase his complete album in a fabulous German/English 184 pages-edition: “Valery Faminsky – Berlin Mai 1945” at their bookshop.

All photos: © Valery Faminsky, Arthur Bondar’s private collection. Berlin, May 1945.

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