Locally referred to as tchangues, or “big legs,” the five-foot wooden stilts were strapped to a person’s legs and supplemented with a long staff which a shepherd used to direct his flock and as a support for resting. Perched comfortably atop this tripod configuration, a shepherd was afforded an elevated view to keep track of his sheep and watch for wolves. The people of Landes were trained in stilt walking from a young age, and were capable of astonishing dexterity and balance, easily running, hopping, and even bending down to pluck flowers....

In the rapidly evolving landscape of education, where traditions and customs are shaped by the ebb and flow of time, the first day of school holds a special place. From the early 1900s to the turn of the millennium, each generation has witnessed the excitement, nerves, and anticipation that mark this momentous occasion. Now, through a remarkable collection of photographs, we have a unique opportunity to delve into the past and catch a glimpse of how the first day of school unfolded over the course of the last century....

In 1923, at the most fevered moment of the German hyperinflation, the exchange rate between the dollar and the Mark was one trillion Marks to one dollar, and a wheelbarrow full of money would not even buy a newspaper. Most Germans were taken by surprise by the financial tornado. The currency had lost meaning. The hyperinflation in the Weimar Republic was a three-year period of hyperinflation in Germany (the Weimar Republic) between June 1921 and January 1924....

These colorful snapshots serve as portals to a city pulsating with life, painting a captivating picture of a metropolis on the cusp of change. A bustling Fifth Avenue teems with stylish pedestrians, donning the fashions of yesteryears. Vintage automobiles navigate the streets, their polished surfaces reflecting the vibrant signs and architecture that defined the cityscape. Street vendors peddle their wares, children engage in impromptu games, and workers labor with a determined purpose....

Moscow in the 1930s was a city that was undergoing significant change and development. The Soviet government was pursuing an ambitious industrialization campaign aimed at catching up with the industrialized nations of the West. This was accompanied by a series of economic plans, including the first five-year plan, which focused on increasing the output of heavy industry such as steel and coal. This period in Moscow’s history is often referred to as the Stalinist era, as it was marked by the brutal dictatorship of Joseph Stalin and his efforts to transform the Soviet Union into a modern industrialized state....

Within the Allied countries, women of all ages proved to be invaluable in the fight for victory. Rosie the Riveter, a fictional American character, became the most enduring image of women’s involvement in World War II. American women entered the workforce in unprecedented numbers during the war, as widespread male enlistment left gaping holes in the industrial labor force. Between 1940 and 1945, the female percentage of the U.S. workforce increased from 27 percent to nearly 37 percent, and by 1945 nearly one out of every four married women worked outside the home....

Farmers who had lost their land and homes to foreclosure as a result of the Dust Bowl made up a large part of the idle workforce. “Hoovervilles” (named after Herbert Hoover, the American president many blamed for the Great Depression) and shantytowns sprung up all across America, areas in which people gathered and constructed makeshift homes out of boxes, packing crates, abandoned cars, and scraps of wood. Between 1929 and 1932, incomes, on average, were reduced by 40%....

After World War II, he fled to Argentina using a fraudulently obtained laissez-passer issued by the International Red Cross. He lived in Argentina under a false identity, working a succession of different jobs until 1960. He was captured by Mossad operatives in Argentina and taken to Israel to face trial in an Israeli court on 15 criminal charges, including crimes against humanity and war crimes. The Mossad was able to get an EL-AL to Buenos Aires to extricate Eichmann from Argentina....

Among their many ingenious inventions, the humble snow goggles stand out as a fascinating example of human adaptability and innovation. These specialized eyewear, worn for centuries by the Inuit and Yupik, have not only protected their eyes from the blinding glare of snow but also offer a window into the rich cultural heritage of these remarkable communities. The Arctic region, with its icy tundra and vast stretches of snow, presented significant challenges to Alaska’s indigenous people....

The city was incorporated on May 1, 1854, from portions of Egg Harbor Township and Galloway Township. It is located on Absecon Island and borders Absecon, Brigantine, Egg Harbor Township, Galloway Township, Pleasantville, Ventnor City, and the Atlantic Ocean. Atlantic City’s proximity to major population centers, coupled with convenient, inexpensive train access, allowed thousands to flee hot cities and enjoy summer pleasures at the cool seashore. The city grew rapidly and offered lodging, dining, entertainment, and amusements for all ages, tastes, and incomes....

Celebrities like Dolly Parton, Priscilla Presley, and Brigitte Bardot rocked those larger-than-life hairstyles, making them look effortlessly fabulous. But let’s face it, not everyone nailed the trend. Some attempts at those 1960s hairdos might be best left in the past. To achieve those towering styles, people drenched their hair in hairspray, turning bedtime into a nightmare. Despite the struggles, these extravagant hairstyles became a huge deal, symbolizing a rebellious and daring spirit of the times....

Despite the extremely limited nature of the victory, the recapture of Lauban was presented as a great success by German propaganda, with Joseph Goebbels visiting the town on 9 March to give a speech on the battle. The counter-attack operation at Lauban has generally been considered the last German victory of World War II. As Germany suffered more casualties, more teenagers volunteered and were accepted, initially as reserve troops but then as regulars....

The Office of Strategic Services (OSS), an early version of the CIA set up during World War II, asked Eddie Senz, a New York make-up artist, to produce the altered portraits after D-Day on 6 June 1944. Despite fears that Hitler would attempt to flee Germany, the portraits were never needed. However, photos of Senz’s re-imaginings of Hitler were circulated to Allied Commanders during the War but were not seen by the public until the German magazine, Der Spiegel, discovered and published them in the 1990s....

The LSSAH provided in the Nazi period for government officials, security personnel, and government buildings. It was located in the “Barracks Royal Prussian Cadet School” former military academy in Berlin Lichterfelde West, where the training of recruit took place. The LSSAH represented the pinnacle of Hitler’s Aryan ideal. Strict recruitment regulations meant that only those deemed sufficiently Aryan—as well as being physically fit and National Socialists—would be admitted. The LSSAH provided the honor guard at many of the Nuremberg Rallies, and in 1935 took part in the reoccupation of the Saarland....

The SS was different from the Wehrmacht (regular army) in several respects. Perhaps the most obvious was its fanatical loyalty to Hitler and to Nazi racial and political values. SS officers and soldiers swore an oath of loyalty to Hitler, promising “absolute allegiance”; the SS motto was Meine Ehre Heisst Treue (My honor is Loyalty). This is the blood oath engraved on their dress daggers and on their uniform belt buckles....

She first came to Paris in 1905 and found fame as a performer of exotic Asian-inspired dances. She soon began touring all over Europe, telling the story of how she was born in a sacred Indian temple and taught ancient dances by a priestess who gave her the name Mata Hari, meaning “eye of the day” in Malay. In reality, Mata Hari was born in a small town in northern Holland in 1876, and her real name was Margaretha Geertruida Zelle....

Established by newly arrived Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, this impromptu ghetto market blossomed into a bustling Sunday-only affair that laid the groundwork for Chicago’s flea market culture. The city officially recognized Maxwell Street Market in 1912, and by the time it ceased operations, the market spanned approximately nine square blocks. Centered at the intersection of Maxwell and Halsted Streets, it extended from Roosevelt Road to 16th Street. Despite the presence of numerous reputable stationary department stores in the vicinity, the open-air market remained its most notable feature....

From intimate portraits of people in their apartments to documentary-style pictures of the activities that filled the streets, his photographs record an older generation’s experiences of Chinatown, just as it was undergoing a transformation from an influx of immigrants and young families seeking fresh futures. In order to get a feel for the community, Glick took long walks around Chinatown and approached a variety of people by simply asking if he could take their portrait....

Yet, amidst the grandeur and formalities, a lesser-known figure emerged – Archduke Ludwig Viktor, Emperor Franz Joseph’s younger brother, who defied the societal norms of his time by embracing his homosexuality openly. Born on May 15, 1842, in the opulent palace of Schönbrunn, Vienna, Ludwig Viktor was the beloved youngest son of Archduke Franz Karl and Archduchess Sophie. Raised within the prestigious House of Habsburg, he received an education befitting a prince....

It’s the perfect image that reflects the American Pain of the moment, the quick need for seamless succession, and yet, and yet, in that relatively desperate moment, attention is still given to the gloss and optics of how the whole thing is presented. For the inauguration, twenty-seven people squeezed into the sixteen-foot square stateroom of Air Force One for the proceedings. Adding to the discomfort was the lack of air conditioning as the aircraft had been disconnected from the external power supply, in order to take off promptly....