These Rarely Seen Historic Photos Will Give You The Chills
History is full of iconic moments. However, the civilized world chooses to highlight the high points only, while relegating the not-so-merry or downright dark incidents to the deleted pages of history books. However, these incidents did happen, and they have or will leave an indelible mark on us. These rarely seen photos show the dark and cynical nature of history.
Mocking Death:
A Russian spy is seen laughing just before his execution in 1939 during the Winter War in Finland.
Image Credit | Rare Historical Photos
The Drug Lord And America:
Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria was a notorious and wealthy Colombian drug lord and an exclusive cocaine trafficker. He is seen posing for a picture outside of the White House in the early 1980’s.
Image Credit | Twisted Sifter
The Mystery Tank-Man:
We have seen the aerial photo of the lone unarmed protestor standing in front of a long line of tanks in Tiananmen square. The man stood silently and defiantly in front of the tanks which were sent out by the Chinese military. In this photo, you can see the same man from a very unlikely viewpoint. However, unfortunately we still can’t see his face.
Image Credit | Terril Jones
Queen Elizabeth During Her WWII service:
The Queen served during World War II and her service number was 230873. In February 1945, she signed up with the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service. She joined as an honorary Second Subaltern but must have impressed in her duties as a driver and mechanic, as she quickly rose to the rank of honorary Junior Commander within a short span of five months.
Image Credit | Caters News Agency
The Ravages Of A Nuclear Blast:
America tested dozens of atomic and nuclear weapons in the 1950s. The engineers erected cities and populated them with these mannequins to study how a weapon – when denoted in an urban region – will affect the population.
This poor and creepy looking mannequin silently suffered the horrors of an atomic bomb explosion.
Image Credit | Life
The Morbidly Tranquil Scene Of Death:
In 1947, a young and beautiful 23-year-old, Evelyn McHale, jumped from the observation deck of the Empire State Building and fell 1,050 feet onto a limousine which was parked below. Photography student Robert Wiles, who was passing by, heard the loud, explosive crash and took this photo soon afterwards. Even in her death, Evelyn looked calm and lovely.
Image Credit | Life Magazine
The Freedom Before The Oppression:
Prior to the rise of the oppressive and barbaric Taliban in Afghanistan, the country was gradually moving towards democracy. The Afghan constitution had begun to provide equal rights for women. In pre-Taliban days, Afghan women had unrestricted access to professional careers, university-level education. They could peruse shops selling non-traditional clothing, ride on public transportation, and had a right to move freely in public space. The women happily navigated these places freely and without supervision.
Image Credit | Mohammed Qayoumi
Ridiculing The Fuhrer:
When the allies won the World War II, the soldiers celebrated the fall of Hitler. Here soldiers can be seen making fun of Hitler on his what’s left of his balcony.
Image Credit | Tumblr
The Innocence Preceding The Terrorist:
Here’s a picture of world’s most-wanted terrorist and his family when they visited Sweden many years ago. Now the man is said to be buried deep into the ocean with 300-pound chains. Osama Bin Laden is second from right.
Image Credit | Petterssons
The Co-Conspirator:
Though the assassination of Lincoln was planned and carried out by the well-known stage actor John Wilkes Booth, he had many accomplices. Seen in this photo is Lewis Payne, a co-conspirator in the Lincoln assassination. He was detained prior to execution in 1865.
Image Credit | CHNM
The Survivors Of The Titanic:
The huge passenger cruise ship RMS Titanic sunk on its maiden voyage in 1912. The sinking of Titanic caused the deaths of more than 1,500 people. However, under two hours after Titanic foundered, the Cunard liner RMS Carpathia arrived on the scene of the sinking, where she brought aboard an estimated 705 survivors. Here these survivors can be seen clamoring onto the rescue boat.
Image Credit | The Chive
The Fight For Survival:
The picture shows chaos and panic among many South Vietnamese who were in the employment of the Americans. They are desperately trying to secure a seat on one of the last American helicopters shuttling between Saigon rooftops and U.S. navy ships off the coast of Vietnam ahead of the arrival of the communist North-Vietnamese troops. Here an American is seen punching and effectively throwing off a South Vietnamese man who was looking for a place on the helicopter evacuating the American embassy in Saigon in 1975.
Image Credit | Photos Of War
The Fuhrer As The Best Man?
One of Adolf Hitler’s closest associates and most devoted followers, Joseph Goebbel was known for his over-zealous orations and deep and virulent antisemitism, which led to him to strongly support the mass-extermination of the Jews when the Nazi leadership developed their “Final Solution”. The Fuhrer was the best man for his wedding. He can be seen walking behind the groom.
Image Credit | Tammy Poetry
These events have helped shape history and are as important as the feel-good incidents. These chilling photos are a grim reminder that there lies a not-so-nice past too.
Featured Image Credit | Photos Of War
