That's exactly what I said Phil. And yes, I'd guess so somebody could insert the stamp to make it look 'official'. "The famous Schmitt sextuplets and their varying size step-ladders were a familiar sight during the inspection of Maginot line damage": Looks like the cast of Big Brother Adam
The restoration explains the digital blending traces then, and propaganda & publishing being what it is I'd be unsurprised at earlier manipulation. What really puzzles me is why they'd go to the difficulty of moving the debris on the floor, there might be a variety of reasons for shuffling officers about, to make space for text for one, but that debris' new position does nothing for the composition or story of the shot that I can see. Maybe just somebody practicing with the old needle-pointed scissors.
Hi, Just showed a friend this thread and his thoughts are both pictures may have been altered at some time his suggestion is the officer who has moved in my picture may not have been in any of the pictures originally .He is of the opinion that the officer seems to hover in the first picture and compared to the men on his immediate left he was either very small or the scale is wrong .Like it has been pointed out he has exactly the same expression on his face in the second picture so that does seem wrong! But are they both? Regards Verrieres
Perhaps another reason they moved the Officer behind was to give the impression the turret was bigger than it actually was. I used to collect Curnard/White Star Liner Postcards from the early 20th Century (I was young! ) and this was often done to make the liners appear bigger. Fascinating though!
And whatever is hanging off the belt of the lad on the left - background - [radio or bayonet?] is lost in the next image. But, I have no doubt they will find the 5 Mark coin that was lost in the toss.
