User submission

209.9K

Rare Color Photos Reveal Germany In 1900 Before It Was Destroyed By Wars

Sadly, a time machine is not available yet. However, if you’ve been wondering how life in Germany looked before WWI, don’t bother looking for uranium, just get the new photobook, “Germany Around 1900.” The historical pictures will take you there from the very first page!

The book contains 800 vintage photos and postcards that were produced around 1900. It gives a peaceful and nostalgic glimpse into the lives of the bourgeois German people before the terrors of the WWI, and the turn of the 20th century seemed full of promise.

Of course, color photography was not available back then. “These historical photos are all rare examples of the photochrom process, a printing technique that allowed black-and-white photographs to be reproduced in color,” writes the publisher Taschen. The book with all these beautiful photos inside costs €150 and comes in English, French, and German.

More info: taschen.com | amazon | facebook | twitter | instagram (h/t: mentalfloss)

Schwerin grand-ducal palace, Mecklenburg

old-color-photos-germany-around-1900-karin-lelonek-taschen-1

Wernigerode Town Hall

old-color-photos-germany-around-1900-karin-lelonek-taschen-5

Castle of Sigmaringen

The coast around Westerland

old-color-photos-germany-around-1900-karin-lelonek-taschen-2

Bedroom, Neuschwanstein Castle, south of Munich

old-color-photos-germany-around-1900-karin-lelonek-taschen-12

Heinstein Castle near Trechtingshausen / Butchers’ Guild Hall, Hildesheim

old-color-photos-germany-around-1900-karin-lelonek-taschen-15

Bastei Bridge

old-color-photos-germany-around-1900-karin-lelonek-taschen-7

Frederick Bridge and Berlin’s cathedral

old-color-photos-germany-around-1900-karin-lelonek-taschen-8

Traditional German kitchen

old-color-photos-germany-around-1900-karin-lelonek-taschen-9

210Kviews

Crazy in love with my sweet rescue pup https://www.instagram.com/rescueshepskybella/

Read less »

Crazy in love with my sweet rescue pup https://www.instagram.com/rescueshepskybella/

Read less »

What do you think ?

POST

DorisKlein 8 years ago

Some annotations: It's castle Rheistein, not Heinstein. Most of the buildings are still existing. Some of them belong to the world heritage now. Greetz from Germany. And yes, we still like digging big holes on the beach. ;-)

26points

IngridLeonti 8 years ago

Rheinstein Castle! The name comes from the Rhine River.

2points

Load More Replies...

DorisKlein 8 years ago

Sorry, made a typo: Rheinstein of course.

0points

KenriBasar 8 years ago

What are the holes for?

0points

HelgaBizouerne 8 years ago

Why the holes on the beach? Was wondering about that one :)

0points

MiloSchekkerman 8 years ago

Most of these sites have been reconstructed or restored, or wherent even bombed. Despite Prussia, which has been almost completely vanished.

8points

David J Gill 5 years ago

Yeah, if your gonna author some clickbait take the time to do a little research.

0points

Load More Replies...

JustynaGaczorek 8 years ago

When I saw the picture of Wernigerode I thought that was some current image. It looks exactly the same lovely now. Really worth visiting. P.S. Greetings for other students/exchange students of Hochschule Harz, who certainly recognised the image of the town hall. :)

0points

UnaKnown 8 years ago

I was surprised to see Neuschwanstein Castle on this list since I'm going there in June. I hope it's still there!

0points

LynnBell 8 years ago

I've been to Germany many times and absolutely love the old buildings and architecture. Would love to have a copy of this book, such stunning pictures!

5points

GaraGara 8 years ago

Before It Was Destroyed By Wars?????????????? DO YOU EVEN GOOGLE ?

2points

TheodoreHarvey 8 years ago

I want this Germany back, including the monarchies. The Federal Republic is an illegitimate abomination.

1point

ChaliqODonnell 8 years ago

Nice place till Adolph got a hold of it

1point

MarkITGeek 8 years ago

Hitler once said, give me 10 years and you won't recognize the place. He was right, much of it was in rubble, and not near soon enough for millions of his victims.

0points

Load More Replies...

JeaninePerez-Mengel 8 years ago

Beautiful

1point

PaolaAvila 8 years ago

I am in love with all this pictures, they are a true treasure!

1point

AvaMasumi 8 years ago

That kitchen, that bedroom! Looks like my dream house!

1point

Stewart Potter 7 years ago

I hope what's left of Germany survives its current national suicide.

0points

T Nick Knight 8 years ago

Worse it what happened to beutiful Poland

0points

Felipe Carvalho 8 years ago

as fotos parecem gravuras por conta da fotocromia

0points

Matthew Hahn 8 years ago

Color photography supplies and equipment were available to the general public after 1898.

0points

Dennis Seng 8 years ago

Wow. I mean it's obvious, but someone acknoledging those destructions caught me by surprise. I was quite curious for some before/after photos...I saw some of the town I live in, and for me the old photos look like something from a historical movie. It's actually hard to believe that the town I grew up in once looked so different. 80% of the buildings here are from the 50s and 60s.

0points

LennardJaich 8 years ago

Let me mention: Germany wasn't destroyed or attacked in WW1. It surrenderd because of the enormous depts, starvation and lacking Support of the People

0points

jevais 8 years ago

Germany is a truly beautiful country to visit. The people are most friendly and there is so much to see. They have wonderful forests, great lakes and wonderful sea ports. The food is good and you get your money's worth, regardless what everyone else thinks in Europe. I live in Switzerland and have always enjoyed my vacations in this country. Try it and you will also fall in love too.

0points

FelipeRocha 8 years ago

OMG the colors

0points

davidskreiner 8 years ago

Most of the stuff shown still exists. Anyway this reads like an advertisement that 9gag isn't getting paid for. Did Taschen buy "bloggers" to advertise for their over-hyped, expensive books?

0points

RainerRoomet 8 years ago

I am the alone to whom these pictures remind LOTR ?

0points

KenriBasar 8 years ago

Wow!

0points

LevPavlovski 8 years ago

Are these genuine colour-photographs? They seem 're-coloured' BW photos to me.

0points

davidskreiner 8 years ago

Read the post again.

0points

Load More Replies...

karenw. 8 years ago

beautiful

0points

melmagicspell 8 years ago

Really great. Highly appreciates someones time taken to post such things that visually link cultures. And so beautiful too. War may be unavoidable but it is so sad and destructive to destroy such things.

0points

WayneBeesley 8 years ago

All of these buildings still exist ....get on google images !

0points

Load More Replies...

MarjorieFabian 8 years ago

It would have been good to see the "before" and "after" the war photos to better understand the damage the sustained.

0points

WayneBeesley 8 years ago

None all these buildings still exist - google images !

0points

Load More Replies...

BillySnifter 8 years ago

'Beautiful hand-coloured images depicting early 20th Century Germany published'

0points

SaraJane 8 years ago

Wernigerode looks lovely....next holiday destination maybe, I must google it now ;)

0points

Ulli 8 years ago

Then you should take a look at todays Wernigerode: http://static.panora...al/64412255.jpg

1point

Load More Replies...

OmarElgazzar 8 years ago

How precise this technique is?

0points

DmitryAlexandrov 8 years ago

Whats that happening on the coast?

0points

J.PhilipvanHeijkoop 8 years ago

Lol, even back then Germans had this strange obsession with digging holes on the beach

0points

JorgeRuhl 8 years ago

Germans have their particular ways to enjoy Nature. Preparing a punch (eine Bowle) with white wine and fresh herbs collected in the forest is a delicious one.

1point

Load More Replies...

POST

DorisKlein 8 years ago

26points

IngridLeonti 8 years ago

Rheinstein Castle! The name comes from the Rhine River.

2points

Load More Replies...

DorisKlein 8 years ago

Sorry, made a typo: Rheinstein of course.

0points

KenriBasar 8 years ago

What are the holes for?

0points

HelgaBizouerne 8 years ago

Why the holes on the beach? Was wondering about that one :)

0points

MiloSchekkerman 8 years ago

Most of these sites have been reconstructed or restored, or wherent even bombed. Despite Prussia, which has been almost completely vanished.

8points

David J Gill 5 years ago

Yeah, if your gonna author some clickbait take the time to do a little research.

0points

Load More Replies...

JustynaGaczorek 8 years ago

0points

UnaKnown 8 years ago

I was surprised to see Neuschwanstein Castle on this list since I'm going there in June. I hope it's still there!

0points

LynnBell 8 years ago

I've been to Germany many times and absolutely love the old buildings and architecture. Would love to have a copy of this book, such stunning pictures!

5points

GaraGara 8 years ago

Before It Was Destroyed By Wars?????????????? DO YOU EVEN GOOGLE ?

2points

TheodoreHarvey 8 years ago

I want this Germany back, including the monarchies. The Federal Republic is an illegitimate abomination.

1point

ChaliqODonnell 8 years ago

Nice place till Adolph got a hold of it

1point

MarkITGeek 8 years ago

Hitler once said, give me 10 years and you won't recognize the place. He was right, much of it was in rubble, and not near soon enough for millions of his victims.

0points

Load More Replies...

JeaninePerez-Mengel 8 years ago

Beautiful

1point

PaolaAvila 8 years ago

I am in love with all this pictures, they are a true treasure!

1point

AvaMasumi 8 years ago

That kitchen, that bedroom! Looks like my dream house!

1point

Stewart Potter 7 years ago

I hope what's left of Germany survives its current national suicide.

0points

T Nick Knight 8 years ago

Worse it what happened to beutiful Poland

0points

Felipe Carvalho 8 years ago

as fotos parecem gravuras por conta da fotocromia

0points

Matthew Hahn 8 years ago

Color photography supplies and equipment were available to the general public after 1898.

0points

Dennis Seng 8 years ago

0points

LennardJaich 8 years ago

Let me mention: Germany wasn't destroyed or attacked in WW1. It surrenderd because of the enormous depts, starvation and lacking Support of the People

0points

jevais 8 years ago

0points

FelipeRocha 8 years ago

OMG the colors

0points

davidskreiner 8 years ago

Most of the stuff shown still exists. Anyway this reads like an advertisement that 9gag isn't getting paid for. Did Taschen buy "bloggers" to advertise for their over-hyped, expensive books?

0points

RainerRoomet 8 years ago

I am the alone to whom these pictures remind LOTR ?

0points

KenriBasar 8 years ago

Wow!

0points

LevPavlovski 8 years ago

Are these genuine colour-photographs? They seem 're-coloured' BW photos to me.

0points

davidskreiner 8 years ago

Read the post again.

0points

Load More Replies...

karenw. 8 years ago

beautiful

0points

melmagicspell 8 years ago

0points

WayneBeesley 8 years ago

All of these buildings still exist ....get on google images !

0points

Load More Replies...

MarjorieFabian 8 years ago

It would have been good to see the "before" and "after" the war photos to better understand the damage the sustained.

0points

WayneBeesley 8 years ago

None all these buildings still exist - google images !

0points

Load More Replies...

BillySnifter 8 years ago

'Beautiful hand-coloured images depicting early 20th Century Germany published'

0points

SaraJane 8 years ago

Wernigerode looks lovely....next holiday destination maybe, I must google it now ;)

0points

Ulli 8 years ago

Then you should take a look at todays Wernigerode: http://static.panora...al/64412255.jpg

1point

Load More Replies...

OmarElgazzar 8 years ago

How precise this technique is?

0points

DmitryAlexandrov 8 years ago

Whats that happening on the coast?

0points

J.PhilipvanHeijkoop 8 years ago

Lol, even back then Germans had this strange obsession with digging holes on the beach

0points

JorgeRuhl 8 years ago

Germans have their particular ways to enjoy Nature. Preparing a punch (eine Bowle) with white wine and fresh herbs collected in the forest is a delicious one.

1point

Load More Replies...