Vintage Original B&W Photo, the Damages caused to the Soviet Union World War II – 1945

The USSR State Commission first estimated the damage in September 1945, and it came out to be 679 billion rubles (about $6.9 trillion at today’s exchange rates). On top of that, the USSR’s defense and development expenses came to an additional 1890 billion rubles. 30 million of the 39.3 million projected human casualties in the USSR are civilians, according to Rosstat. Reporters also note that the Soviet Union made a significant contribution to the triumph, destroying seven out of the eight troops in Hitler’s army on the Eastern Front.

• Size: 600x420mm
• Year: 1945
• Official Stamp

The photograph remains in good condition, demonstrating resilience despite its age. Pinholes on every corner, despite these minor issues, the photograph retains significant historical value, offering insights into the era and events it captures.

The photographer associated with Agence Novosti Presse is Vsevolod Sergeyevich Tarasevich (1919–1998). He was a renowned master of Soviet journalism known for his contributions to photography. Tarasevich began his career as a student photographer and later became a photo correspondent during World War II. In the 1960s, he joined the newly-founded Novosti Press Agency (APN) and received recognition, including the World Press Photo Prize in 1963. He continued his career in photojournalism, becoming the dean of the Photojournalism Department at the Institute of Journalism in Moscow. Tarasevich’s work remains celebrated in the field of photography.