Chase Hobbs

Here, I have selected what I believe to be the most powerful photo witnessed on the list of the
40 most powerful photos. We see Himmler, Hitlers right-hand man, inspecting a concentration camp, in
which in an imprisoned Jew is deliberately and defiantly standing up against Himmler. This was rare,
especially from a Jew in a camp who were so often simply shot and burned. While analyzing the photo,
however, we can delve deeper into the emotions between the two parties. Himmler is overcome with a
look of pure arrogance and disgust, as are his surrounding Nazi officers. The officers, however, look as if
theyve seen this behavior before, whether it be from that particular prisoner remains unknown. I say
this because Himmler looks as if hes stopped in his tracks, surprised by such blatant disrespect. On the
other side of the fence, I see one prisoner who has a fighting, soldier mentality, as indicated by his
aggressive stance and military hat. He looks to me as if he wants nothing more than to kill Himmler for
what hes done to so many. Also, behind him, we can see the other prisoners, clearly overcome with
apprehension as they watch and await the prisoners inevitable punishment. If you look closer, you can
see the prisoner and Himmler locked in an absolute death stare, neither flinching, but both showing
disgust for each other.
Personally, I find this photo to be so powerful because of the emotional response it evokes
within me. My grandmother is Hungarian Jew, and frequently tells me the story about how there were
23 children apart of our family living in Hungary and only one survived, all twenty-two others were
exterminated in the death camps. So naturally, when I see resistance like this to such an atrocious
figure, my natural reaction is to want to stand by his side and protest with him (the prisoner). Aside from
my emotions, however, this photo makes me wonder several things, including how Himmler reacted to
the dissenter, along with whether or not the dissenter ever exacted revenge on the Nazis after he
escaped (the caption says he escaped several times).
This photo matters to me because not only is it semi-personal, at least to my grandmother, but
it also depicts what must never be forgotten. This is important. It shows that no matter the
circumstances, there will always be someone who will fight back, so from an oppressors point of view,

Chase Hobbs
this should frighten them deeply. And from an oppressed persons point of view, things like this should
and will give them hope in times of despair, making the preservation of this moment very important. It
goes along with the old, true saying that those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it giving
photos like this, and many others associated with the Holocaust, importance beyond reason.