Amazing Colour Photos of Warsaw after World War II, in August 1947

During World War II 84% of Warsaw was destroyed. Dramatic snaps in colour show the centre of the city, including Śródmieście, Old Town and meaningful empty space after the Jewish Ghetto. The photos were taken by New York photographer Henry N. Cobb during his stay in Warsaw, Poland in the summer 1947.

“In the summer of 1947 I was a member of a small group of American design professionals, led by the architect Hermann H. Field, who traveled to England, Czechoslovakia, and Poland to study the progress of postwar reconstruction. In Poland we visited Warsaw, Krakow, Katowice, Wroclaw, and Szczecin. Although I cannot recall the precise length of our stay in the capital city, I do remember clearly that we extended our visit for several days beyond its planned duration in order to meet at greater length with planners in the Office for the Reconstruction of the Capital (BOS), whose work we found deeply inspiring. The architects Helena and Szymon Syrkus were our hosts in Warsaw, and we spent a memorable Sunday with them at their small farmhouse outside the city on the bank of the Vistula. Photographs taken on that occasion are included at the end of this album.” – Henry N. Cobb, September 2011.

Astonishingly post-war Warsaw streets are becoming closer. Girl’s brown dress and a pomegranate car passing by bring life to these views. Below is a collection of amazing colour photos of Warsaw in August 1947 were taken by Henry with a 35 mm camera utilizing Kodachrome film.