RichardQ Loc: Colorado

Nice on the French Riviera had a rough time during WWII. The French army, under the fascist Vichy government, was replaced by the Germans in 1940, while a flood of Jewish and other refugees poured through in an attempt to flee to North Africa, and eventually the Italian army came in under an agreement with Hitler. In 1944 the Germans came back when the Italian army collapsed, and the Allies bombed Nice (1,000 dead or wounded, 5,600 homeless), followed by famine. Nice was finally liberated by American paratroopers on Aug. 30, 1944. When I visited the city two years later it was slowly starting to come back, but I saw very few motor vehicles. The Nazis were notorious for confiscating private vehicles, even back in Germany in the early years of the war. So it was not unusual to see horses being used as dray animals. I couldn't resist this shot, given the backlighting of the wheels, but I wish I could offer a better print with more detail of the horse and driver for the UHH audience. All of my photos from the French Riviera are being scanned from 68-year-old 2-1/4" contact prints so there's no digital PP. Sorry about that. Those negatives are still boxed up from a move four years ago.

Turbo Loc: Raleigh, NC

Thank you for the memories !

carlysue Loc: Columbus

No need for apology, RichardQ. There is so much story in this image and your narrative certainly sheds info on it. It was well seen and the devastation had to be heart wrenching even for the foreign photographer.

Accelerator

Thanks much Richard another great step back to what some of us would doubtless never see if not for such fine work. Much appreciated.

RAK Loc: Concord Ca

Thank You Master. The foreknowledge is relpeate

sailorsmom Loc: Souderton, PA

Wonderful photo, Richard! My first thought when I looked at it was "Poor horse!". That's a heavy load he's pulling!

jchristian Loc: Baker, OR

Todays youth need to experience this life for a while to better understand what life is really about. Super capture. Have fun scanning. I'm trying scan some of my old pictures but as old as yours. Keep posting them with the stories that go with them. Wonderful piece of history and photography.

RichardQ Loc: Colorado

You're welcome, Turbo. Did you mean memories of the French Riviera, or of WW II? Or of horse-drawn carts?

RichardQ Loc: Colorado

Thank you, Accelerator. I guess there aren't many photographs being published about this period i the history of the French Riviera. I doubt that the Tourism Board would encourage it.

RichardQ Loc: Colorado

I don't know about the "Master", RAK, but thanks for your comment.

RichardQ Loc: Colorado

Thank you, Carlysue. The devastation AND the deprivation, in combination, were numbing to anybody with a heart. Especially because one couldn't do anything about it except record it for the future when people have forgotten it.

RichardQ Loc: Colorado

Thank you, Sailorsmom. At least the horse's owner had an easier time finding feed for the horse, compared to the virtual impossibility at that time to find gasoline for a truck engine.

RichardQ Loc: Colorado

Thanks, Jim, for the comments. I agree that it's important for today's youth to learn how to recognize and respect the value of honest work and useful contributions to society. But I'm afraid a substantial proportion of today's adults are equally in need of learning the same precepts.

Turbo Loc: Raleigh, NC

Actually all of the above ! I was born and raised not too far from that place !

Merci, mon ami.

RichardQ Loc: Colorado

Sil vous plait, Monsieur Turbo!
My God, are we continental!