Ralph H. Major, MD (1884-1970) was an American doctor from Kansas City, Missouri teaching medicine at the University of Munich in the 1930s. His children, Ralph Jr. (b. 1920) and John (b. 1924), attended a boarding school in Marquartstein, Germany during the time. His wife Margaret (b. 1891) and daughter Virginia (b. 1926) visited them in Europe in the summers of 1933, 1934 and 1937. Major captured several reels of 16mm film of Albania and Yugoslavia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Belgium, and England.
“MUNICH” “LUDWIGSTRASSE.” People walk along Ludwigstrasse in Munich, some turn to look at the camera. “ODEONSPLATZ.” Funeral wreaths on the stairs of Feldherrnhalle. Nazi soldiers walk down the stairs on the left. Children, pigeons in the Odeonsplatz. “HOFGARTEN” Munich, Germany, white chairs and covered tables in the pavilion. “OKTOBERFEST” Procession of men on horseback, marching band. They are dressed in traditional costume. Spectators and children on the sides. Men in military uniform march. “WAR MEMORIAL” The World War I memorial in front of the Old Army Museum in Munich. Tomb covered in flowers and funerary wreaths. One is adorned with a Nazi flag and “London” banner. Sculpture in relief on the side of the monument. Pedestrians. “REICHSWEHR” Military marching band, all wearing helmets. Men follow on bicycles. “SCHOOLGIRL” Girl with bookbag walks away from the camera on the sidewalk. She smiles, continues down the street.
Munich streets; war memorial; Reichswehr