Photographic notice – A call for assistance in locating hiding Nazi war criminals. France, May 1944

At the top of the notice appears the printed heading:

“8e Région Militaire

Service de Presse et Propagande

Voilà ce qu’ils appellent faire la guerre

Aidez-nous à retrouver les criminels”

“8th Military Region

Press and Propaganda Service

This is what they call ‘waging war’

Help us find the criminals”

The notice presents a sequence of 11 graphic photographs depicting what is described as the "massacre of young Frenchmen" in the Saône area of the Burgundy region (Côte-d’Or), where many French resistance cells operated during the war. The images include scenes of murdered civilians in open fields, young men who were executed, captured French detainees, identification of corpses, and emotionally charged photographs from massacre sites and public gatherings. To the left, a further call to action reads: “L’autorité militaire recherche tous renseignements sur les crimes de guerre commis dans la région. Présentez-vous ou écrivez au Colonel (…)”

“The military authority is seeking all information regarding war crimes committed in the area. Present yourself or write to the Colonel (…) and your local branch.”

In Burgundy (Côte-d’Or), numerous French resistance cells were active. During that period, the Germans carried out reprisal actions and executions of civilians and young people. After the liberation in 1944, the French authorities issued public boards and notices calling for the identification of Nazi collaborators and war criminals. This photograph is part of that effort - a campaign to swiftly locate those responsible for these horrific war crimes.

18 × 13 cm. Very good condition.