Salzburg 1945

Μουσική...

Η μνήμη, σαν κόσκινο. Φιλτράρει εικόνες, ήχους, συναισθήματα. Το υποσυνείδητο, σκηνοθετεί.

Ένας εικοσιτετράχρονος Βιεννέζος έχει στήσει το τρίποδο με την φωτογραφική του μηχανή στον λόφο των Καπουτσίνων μοναχών, πίσω από το μοναστήρι. Salzburg 1945. Φθινόπωρο. Τα σύννεφα αγκαλιάζουν τους λόφους γύρω από την πόλη. Αν είσαι τυχερός και τα δεις έστω για μια στιγμή να χάνονται, θα αισθανθείς το λευκό τους άγγιγμα. Η πόλη, σαν από παραμύθι, δεν ξέρεις αν θα είναι ακόμα εκεί όταν διαλυθεί η ομίχλη.

Η κάμερα, εκτός ελέγχου, ζουμάρει ασταμάτητα. Η εικόνα είναι θολή. Αλλαγή σκηνικού. Salzburg 1945. Φθινόπωρο. Οι συμμαχικές δυνάμεις έχουν εγκατασταθεί στο ιστορικό κέντρο της πόλης. Αυτήν τη φορά, είναι όλα πραγματικά. Ένας Αμερικάνος στρατιώτης γράφει ένα γράμμα. Ένας άλλος διαβάζει εφημερίδα.

A letter a GI wrote home, November 1945

Dear Folks,

I don't have much to say except its really turning out to be a long war. It seems as if officers will be here forever, but surely our time will be coming soon. If I have to be over here I'd rather be in Germany than any other place because there when we want something we get it and here every one breaks their neck to make sure that the civilians are satisfied. Personally I don't care whether they have anything or not. If anything that I hate is some of these people to tell me how innocent they are of the war. I think much more of the one who admits that he was a Nazi and let it go at that. These Austrians if something happens to them or a little property is damaged more crying and gripping come off than anyone I have ever heard, simply because the army has to treat them as an ally. I don't know what I am but I'm strictly anti everything.

Two boys were killed ahead of us. Our wrecker is out day and night picking the wrecks up.

The division is supposed to come home in February so I should be with it, if I can't get there before then. As you well know, I'd give anything to come home, but as of right now I cannot so there is no need to cry about it.

Mother I sent you and Carolyn a little thing for Christmas. Some of the boys gave me some cigars to that was all I could get for Daddy. We are not allowed to buy any thing from the civilians.

Must go.
Love, Y. B.

"Rainbow Reveille", GI newspaper of the Rainbow Division, November, 1945.

"Hundred of pounds of food that otherwise could be utilized for feeding hungry Austrian transients, is being spoiled by GIs who unknowingly make the left over food on their plates unusable by scattering cigarette ashes over it and otherwise using their plates as ash trays. Mrs. Drubeck of the Red Cross Civilian War Relief agency asks that mess personnel co-operate by seeing that ash trays are provided on all mess hall tables, and that GIs refrain from denying some needy Austrians of food by making it unedible by careless smoking habits."

Η μνήμη, σαν κόσκινο. Φιλτράρει εικόνες, ήχους, συναισθήματα. Το υποσυνείδητο, σκηνοθετεί. Εγώ απλά καταγράφω. Κάποιος παρατηρεί την αντανάκλαση του χθες στο σήμερα..

Μουσική: Schubert (Serenata)
Φωτογραφία: Ernst Haas (Salzburg 1945)
Κείμενα: http://www.image-at.com/salzburg/index.shtml