Riddle of Nazi photos

October 16, 2009  •  Features  •  7 Comments

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A RARE and personal collection of photos from around the time of the Third Reich has been discovered in a Benalmadena bin.

The mystery horde, which is believed to be the collection of a former Nazi, was found by a neighbour of the German pensioner when he moved home.

The intriguing collection of black and white shots – many showing weddings, social gatherings, as well as pictures of Nazi soldiers eating pizza – provide a fascinating insight into family life under Nazi Germany.

At the same time, the collection also apparently shows photos of some of the horrors of the regime.

Some photos allegedly show Jews being led away to their deaths, while others purport to show their luggage strewn around beside an empty train station after their departure for concentration camps.

The collection – dating back to 1933 – was found by a British neighbour of the German called Otto Mack, who lived in Urbanisation Torremuelle, in Benalmadena.

According to the neighbour, who asked not to be named, Mac – who is now in his late 80s or early 90s – is likely to be living in Calahonda.

The neighbour got in contact with the Olive Press after reading our series of features on the Nazis who lived in Spain after the Second World War.

“He grew up in Nazi German and was in the Hitler Youth in 1933,” said the neighbour. “He later on became a soldier, but of what rank I have no idea.

“He certainly spent a fair bit of time playing as a musician in marching bands as these pictures show,” he added.

“I have no idea what his war record entailed, or how come he ended up in Spain.

I think he may have been a photographer.

“I am very keen to try and find out more about him but don’t know where to start.”

The Olive Press is now investigating the interesting collection and has made contact with the Imperial War Museum in London and the Simon Weisenthal centre in Jerusalem.

“It’s difficult to believe that he could stand by idly and take these pictures knowing the fate of those rounded-up Jewish people.”

The photographs, which number 150 in total, show a very interesting journey around Nazi Germany over two decades.

As well as countless snapshots of soldiers, there are photos of various nature spots, family life and infrastructure changes around the time.

“Having met Otto, I would never have thought he could have been a heartless Nazi,” concluded the neighbour.

“It’s difficult to believe that he could stand by idly and take these pictures knowing the fate of those rounded-up Jewish people.

“I still find it hard to believe that he was involved in some of the worst excesses of Hitler´s Germany.”

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