Jon Clarke (Publisher & Editor)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.”
Have we not suffered enough during WWII ? Having survived it is now about time to stop this bloody news. I am fed up by being confronted with it time and time again. Is there never a time for peace ?
Another rubbish storyline – a few innocent war era photos and the man is transformed, totally without supporting evidence, into a NAZI
JDK: you are a liberal crybaby. It’s history and there are thousands upon thousands of people interested in it, particularly world war II history. Don’t kid yourself thinking you are living in a time of peace.
Michael is quite correct. I could not believe the leap made from “retired German neighbour living in Spain” to “Nazi”. Yet another scaremongering Nazi story.
As for “discovered in a Benalmadena bin” – it is actually classed as theft to take items from someones bin. Otto should take legal advice. The photos should have been given back to him, not shared with third parties. Quite disgraceful.
It doesn’t mention anywhere in the article that this Mr Mac actually appears in the photos himself. Is that the case? What proof do you have that these photos even belong to Mr Mac?
Before quoting things like this: “I still find it hard to believe that he was involved in some of the worst excesses of Hitler´s Germany” the least you could have done was to track down Mr Mac and allow him to comment. No mention of OP even trying.
I’m sorry, but the story above is an example of nothing more than shoddy journalism…
who cares?
We are attempting to locate a photo of SS Sturmbannfuhrer Eugen Steimle of the RHSA, in uniform. Already have 2 photos from his warcrimes trial. Thanks, Yalls, J