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for Lt. Gertrude A. Brazil Nursing Corps album - Switzerland | Germany | Republic of France, France | United States of America
Lt. Gertrude A. Brazil Nursing Corps album - Switzerland | Germany | Republic of France, France | United States of America
Creator
Unknown
Date1945
Mediumalbum 1: 466 photographs
album 2: 531 photographs
album 3: 660 photographs
album 4: 491 photographs
Dimensions30cm x 40cm (11.81 x 15.75 inches)
Credit LineAnonymous gift, 2020
Object number2021/266
ProvenanceThe fourth of four albums by Lt. Gertrude A. Brazil, a US Army nurse from San Francisco on active service during the invasion and occupation of Germany. With the 59th Evacuation Hospital, Brazil advanced through Worms, Grunstadt, Crailheim and Heidenheim to Eberbach where the war in Europe ended. She then visited Munich, Lake Constance and Berchtesgaden. Her many snapshots document both her tour of duty (especially portraits of fellow medical staff) and excursions and include photographs of Hitler's 'Eagles Nest' (private elevator, living room with panoramic window, kitchen). VJ Day was celebrated in Dinkelsbühl.
Of particular interest are photographs of extreme bomb damage, German food queues, Munich's Burgerbraukeller ('Hitler's beer garden where the Nazi Party originated'), wrecked ME262 jet fighters and a Northrop P-61 Black Widow at Nice airport.
At the end of the war Brazil went on leave to the Riviera and Switzerland (Basel, Bern). Ephemera includes maps, a German toothpick and a handwritten telegram dated 7 May 1945 announcing the unconditional German surrender. Brazil returned to the United States aboard the SS Argentina, sailing on 18 October 1945 from Le Harvre to New York (her Transport Corp Certificate of Embarkation is in A4905_3). This her last war album - which contains 491 photographs - concludes with a family reunion in California and then her continued service at the vast Mayo General Hospital in Galesburg, Illinois (now closed). Captions.
LocationNot currently on display
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