IMAGO International History, British troops take Hamburg, 80th anniversary on 3rd May

May 3, 2025

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Displaced Persons and Refugees in Germany The Displaced Persons camp within the grounds of Hamburg Zoo was build by the Blohm & Voss company during WWII to house the forced labourers that worked in their factory. The camp was taken over by the British on 5 May 1945 and quickly given over as an arrivals centre for displaced persons. On arrival displaced persons were organised into groups of 50 for processing through the reception centre. They were dusted with anti-louse powder and given a registration card (D.P.3) bearing such details as their name, nationality and place of residence. All were then allotted a bed in one of the accommodation huts. In times of overflow a large former air raid shelter was used as overspill night accommodation. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-996 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
Displaced Persons and Refugees in Germany The Displaced Persons camp within the grounds of Hamburg Zoo was build by the Blohm & Voss company during WWII to house the forced labourers that worked in their factory. The camp was taken over by the British on 5 May 1945 and quickly given over as an arrivals centre for displaced persons. On arrival displaced persons were organised into groups of 50 for processing through the reception centre. They were dusted with anti-louse powder and given a registration card (D.P.3) bearing such details as their name, nationality and place of residence. All were then allotted a bed in one of the accommodation huts. In times of overflow a large former air raid shelter was used as overspill night accommodation. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-995 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
Displaced Persons and Refugees in Germany The Displaced Persons camp within the grounds of Hamburg Zoo was build by the Blohm & Voss company during WWII to house the forced labourers that worked in their factory. The camp was taken over by the British on 5 May 1945 and quickly given over as an arrivals centre for displaced persons. On arrival displaced persons were organised into groups of 50 for processing through the reception centre. They were dusted with anti-louse powder and given a registration card (D.P.3) bearing such details as their name, nationality and place of residence. All were then allotted a bed in one of the accommodation huts. In times of overflow a large former air raid shelter was used as overspill night accommodation. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-994 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
Displaced Persons and Refugees in Germany The Displaced Persons camp within the grounds of Hamburg Zoo was build by the Blohm & Voss company during WWII to house the forced labourers that worked in their factory. The camp was taken over by the British on 5 May 1945 and quickly given over as an arrivals centre for displaced persons. On arrival displaced persons were organised into groups of 50 for processing through the reception centre. They were dusted with anti-louse powder and given a registration card (D.P.3) bearing such details as their name, nationality and place of residence. All were then allotted a bed in one of the accommodation huts. In times of overflow a large former air raid shelter was used as overspill night accommodation. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-993 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
Displaced Persons and Refugees in Germany The Displaced Persons camp within the grounds of Hamburg Zoo was build by the Blohm & Voss company during WWII to house the forced labourers that worked in their factory. The camp was taken over by the British on 5 May 1945 and quickly given over as an arrivals centre for displaced persons. On arrival displaced persons were organised into groups of 50 for processing through the reception centre. They were dusted with anti-louse powder and given a registration card (D.P.3) bearing such details as their name, nationality and place of residence. All were then allotted a bed in one of the accommodation huts. In times of overflow a large former air raid shelter was used as overspill night accommodation. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-992 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 A Cromwell and Challenger tank of 8th Hussars, 7th Armoured Division, surrounded by German civilians outside Dammthor railway station in Hamburg, 5 May 1945. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-4432 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 Incomplete German U-boats abandoned at the Blohm and Voss shipyard in Hamburg, 4 May 1945. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-4424 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 Scene of destruction in the Blohm-Voss shipyard, Hamburg, Germany. The remains of German midget submarines lie in the foreground. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-4423 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 A Sherman Firefly of 7th Armoured Division in Hamburg, 4 May 1945The Hamburg war memorial (officially the monument for the fallen of both world wars) by the city hall with the original inscription from 1931 honoring the soldiers killed in the First World War: Vierzigtausend Söhne der Stadt ließen ihr Leben für euch, 1914 1918 (forty thousand sons of this city lost their lives for you). Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-4421 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 A Cromwell tank crew of C Squadron, 5th Royal Tank Regiment in Hamburg, 4 May 1945. The man sitting on the tank is a former Russian POW who had been fighting alongside the crew. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-4420 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 Universal carriers of 1 5th Queen s Regiment, 7th Armoured Division in Hamburg. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-4413 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 Universal carriers of 7th Armoured Division in Hamburg, 3 May 1945. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-4412 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 Cromwell tanks of 7th Armoured Division in Hamburg, 3 May 1945. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-4411 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 A Cromwell tank of ˜A™ Squadron, 1st RTR, 7th Armoured Division, in position by the Elbbro?cke (Elbe Bridge) in Hamburg, 3 May 1945. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-4410 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 A Cromwell tank of 7th Armoured Division (the Desert Rats) on the Bremen-Hamburg autobahn, 20 April 1945. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-4360 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 A camouflaged Sherman Firefly of the Irish Guards and infantry guard a section of the Bremen-Hamburg autobahn, 20 April 1945. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-4357 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
A Polish family registering at No.17 Displaced Persons Assembly Centre in Hamburg Zoological Gardens, 18 May 1945. The Displaced Persons camp within the grounds of Hamburg Zoo was build by the Blohm & Voss company during WWII to house the forced labourers that worked in their factory. The camp was taken over by the British on 5 May 1945 and quickly given over as an arrivals centre for displaced persons. On arrival displaced persons were organised into groups of 50 for processing through the reception centre. They were dusted with anti-louse powder and given a registration card (D.P.3) bearing such details as their name, nationality and place of residence. All were then allotted a bed in one of the accommodation huts. In times of overflow a Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-145 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 Cromwell tanks of 7th Armoured Division pass over a bridge in Hamburg, 4 May 1945. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-1379 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
Germany Under Allied Occupation 1945 At Hamburg s British Army Post Office German postal clerks sort general election voting mail for the Army of Occupation. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-1149 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
Germany Under Allied Occupation 1945 At Hamburg Army Post Office British troops stamp and sort general election voting mail for the Army of Occupation. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-1148 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
Germany Under Allied Occupation 1945 Suspected Nazis fill in a questionnaire about their political activities in a detention centre near Hamburg run by the British Army. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-1147 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1942-1945. Oblique aerial view of severely damaged docks in the Steinwerder district of Hamburg, looking south-west from over the Rive Elbe. The whole area has been devastated as a result of repeated attacks by aircraft of Bomber Command and the USAAF. Copyright: xpiemagsx airministryww2pie13032022-1050 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
Germany Under Allied Occupation German troops using horse-drawn transport make their way towards the British forces in Hamburg to surrender. Copyright: xpiemagsx airministryww2pie13032022-1006 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
Germany Under Allied Occupation German troops using horse-drawn transport make their way towards the British forces in Hamburg to surrender. Copyright: xpiemagsx airministryww2pie13032022-1004 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!

Images in this collection

The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 A Cromwell and Challenger tank of 8th Hussars, 7th Armoured Division, surrounded by German civilians outside Dammthor railway station in Hamburg, 5 May 1945. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-4432 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!

The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 Incomplete German U-boats abandoned at the Blohm and Voss shipyard in Hamburg, 4 May 1945. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-4424 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!

The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 Scene of destruction in the Blohm-Voss shipyard, Hamburg, Germany. The remains of German midget submarines lie in the foreground. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-4423 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!

The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 Universal carriers of 1 5th Queen s Regiment, 7th Armoured Division in Hamburg. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-4413 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!

The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 Universal carriers of 7th Armoured Division in Hamburg, 3 May 1945. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-4412 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!

The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 Cromwell tanks of 7th Armoured Division in Hamburg, 3 May 1945. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-4411 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!

The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 A Cromwell tank of ˜A™ Squadron, 1st RTR, 7th Armoured Division, in position by the Elbbro?cke (Elbe Bridge) in Hamburg, 3 May 1945. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-4410 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!

The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 A Cromwell tank of 7th Armoured Division (the Desert Rats) on the Bremen-Hamburg autobahn, 20 April 1945. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-4360 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!

The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 A camouflaged Sherman Firefly of the Irish Guards and infantry guard a section of the Bremen-Hamburg autobahn, 20 April 1945. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-4357 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!

The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 Cromwell tanks of 7th Armoured Division pass over a bridge in Hamburg, 4 May 1945. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-1379 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!

Germany Under Allied Occupation 1945 At Hamburg s British Army Post Office German postal clerks sort general election voting mail for the Army of Occupation. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-1149 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!

Germany Under Allied Occupation 1945 At Hamburg Army Post Office British troops stamp and sort general election voting mail for the Army of Occupation. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-1148 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!

Germany Under Allied Occupation 1945 Suspected Nazis fill in a questionnaire about their political activities in a detention centre near Hamburg run by the British Army. Copyright: xpiemagsx warofficeww2pie5222-1147 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!

Germany Under Allied Occupation German troops using horse-drawn transport make their way towards the British forces in Hamburg to surrender. Copyright: xpiemagsx airministryww2pie13032022-1006 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!

Germany Under Allied Occupation German troops using horse-drawn transport make their way towards the British forces in Hamburg to surrender. Copyright: xpiemagsx airministryww2pie13032022-1004 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!