Zwischen den Zeiten: Exploring Austria's Post-War Transition through 1945 Photographs

This web exhibition presents a collection of 100 photographs documenting the transition phase in Austria during spring and summer of 1945. It contrasts images of war and destruction with those symbolizing the dawn of democracy and a return to normalcy.

This online exhibition, "Zwischen den Zeiten: Frühling und Sommer 1945 in Fotos" (Between the Times: Spring and Summer 1945 in Photos), delves into the critical period of Austria's transition following the end of World War II. It showcases 100 carefully selected photographs, contributed by professionals and amateurs alike, that capture the complex realities of this era. The exhibition juxtaposes images of immediate post-war devastation, the urgent needs of reconstruction, and the pervasive presence of Allied forces, with those that convey a sense of hope, democratic resurgence, and the re-establishment of normal life. The photographs were originally intended for various purposes, including military propaganda, press publications, and private documentation, with some appearing publicly for the first time. The exhibition acknowledges that these images are not neutral, reflecting perspectives shaped by the Austrian desire to illustrate their victim status amidst the war's destruction, the Allies' portrayal of their own contributions, and the general fascination with war as an extreme event. Sections like "Der Krieg vor dem Fenster" (The War Outside the Window), "Narben als Motiv" (Scars as Motif), "Heldische Posen" (Heroic Poses), "Neues Österreich – Welches Österreich?" (New Austria – Which Austria?), "Vor dem Kalten Krieg" (Before the Cold War), and "Auskommen" (Getting By) explore themes of daily life, destruction, symbolic representation of damage, heroic narratives, political reorientation, and the pervasive scarcity experienced by the population.