YEVGENY KHALDEI

YEVGENY KHALDEI
(Donetsk/ Ukraine 1917–1997 Moscow)Raising a flag over the Reichstag.Gelatin silver print. Printed later, probably 1960s.Approx. 20.7 × 14.2 cm.The verso with stamped legend.Literature: E. Volland and H. Krimmer (ed.). Von Moskau nach Berlin. Bilder des russischen Fotografen Jewgeni Chaldej. Berlin, 1999 (ill. p. 65-67).

'Berlin 1945, Sowjetische Soldaten hissen die russische Fahne auf den Reichstagsgebäude' (legend).

'Early in the morning on May 2, 1945, I entered it (the Reichstag). I was surrounded by horrendous noise, Russians and Germans were all shouting in horrible confusion... A pleasant young soldier came up to me. I had a red flag in my hand. He said, 'Lieutenant, davai, let's hurry up and climb onto the roof with the flag'... We started out, but all the stairs were badly damaged. When we finally got up the Reichstag was on fire... We found a long pole. I spent lots of time trying out different compositions. I took one picture from the left, but that wasn't any good. I wanted Berlin to be clearly visible in the picture. Then I said, 'Boys, go and stand over there and raise the flag... then try over there'. There were three of them. One was from the Ukraine, the other from Machatshkala in Dagestan and the third was a Russian... I shot a whole roll of film, 36 shots' (Volland/Krimmer, p. 151).

The present version without the rising clouds of smoke, which were added to enhance the drama of the scene, and the retouching of the watch on the right wrist of the supporting soldier.
Slightly scratched and curved, faint bumps at the top, light bleed-through of the stamp. The verso with some spotting.