Berlin Unknown. May 1945

Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center presents the exhibition «Berlin Unknown. May 1945», dedicated to the 75th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945. More than 80 works of the war photographers Ilya Arons and Valery Ginsburg will be presented to the public for the first time. General sponsor of the exhibition – VTB Bank Group. 

Safety of our guests is always our priority.  Due to the current situation we decided to develop an online platform: the main exhibition and all the accompanying activities will be available on a website designed for the occasion. A comprehensive educational program will be taking place on the website and social media of the Museum along with curatorial video-visits. Once the situation changes, Museum will reopen the permanent exposition and the exhibition «Berlin Unknown. May 1945» to the visitors. 

You can enter the online exhibition here (RUS only): may9.jewish-museum.ru

In spring 1945 war photographers and cinematographers entered Berlin together with the Soviet Army. After all the upheavals of the war that they have gone through, they captured the chronicles of the Victory. Unique photos of Berlin will be on display – the Reichstag building, the Brandenburg Gate, the Karlshorst quarter where the Instrument of Surrender was signed as well as the photo reports of the Military Council sessions. The exhibition will also include the documentary footage from the Russian State Film and Photo Archive in Krasnogorsk. 

Ilya Arons (1910—1983) volunteered for the Moscow People’s Militia as part of the teaching staff and students of the Gerasimov Russian State University of Cinematography, saw active service, was decorated with the Order of Wartime Red Banner, made it to Berlin. His photos show Georgy Zhukov and Konstantin Rokossovsky, marshals, Roman Karmen, cinematographer, and Konstantin Simonov, poet, linkage on the Elbe and photos of Berlin streets in spring 1945.

Valery Ginsburg (1925—1998), eminent cinematographer, volunteered for frontline duty, was wounded in action and came back to Moscow. In 1945 was sent to Berlin to represent the Gerasimov Russian State University of Cinematography and to review the archives of the Berlin Film Studio. This is when he made photos of Berlin in ruins unprecedented by their artistry and power. 

Materials for the exhibition courtesy of successors from private archives of Ilya Aronson and Valery Ginsburg.

Curated by Elena Yakovich and Liya Chechik

General sponsor: