The Woman in My Uniform

Book excerpt: At once an examination of gender ideology in the Third Reich, a history of women in uniform as photographic theme, and an analysis of the functions of wartime photography, The Woman in My Uniform compiles original Third Reich photos of German women wearing men's military uniforms--often their husband's, boyfriend's, or family member's--nearly all never before published. Photography, especially portraiture, reveals the people and cultures they portray in immediate, intimate ways: these photos show a personal, often-amusing practice in one of the most oppressive regimes in human history. Prefacing the photos with a history of depictions of women in uniform, as well as an overview of the growth in popularity of photography in Germany both before and during the war, DiPalma's meticulous research offers context and insight into these original photographs.