Visualizing Farewell: A Jewish Soldier’s Return to Postwar Germany through Private Photography

This article explores the experience of German-Jewish refugees who joined the U.S. Army and returned to Germany wearing uniforms through an examination of their private photographs. Focusing on two case studies of images taken by soldiers in 1945–6, the study uncovers their complex dynamics of identity and belonging as they confronted their traumatic past. These photographs reveal a profound detachment from sites of Jewish trauma, enabling the soldiers to bid farewell to their old Heimat on their own terms. By shedding light on their struggles, the analysis provides insights into the process of identity formation and memory negotiation.