Who are the people in the photos?

Search the Mittelmann Photo Archive Leipzig online!

The Mittelmann family’s photography studio in Leipzig was visited by a wide variety of people on various occasions. Whether young or old, Jewish or not, self-assured or formal: the photos offer a striking glimpse into the society of a German city. Most of the surviving photographs date from 1925 to 1938—a period when Jewish life in Leipzig was first flourishing and, from 1933 onward, increasingly threatened, persecuted, and destroyed. They depict people during the German Empire, the Weimar Republic, and the Nazi era. These images serve as a mirror of Germany’s past.

In addition, it is believed that starting in 1933, around 100 men from Leipzig had their photos taken at this studio, proudly posing as NSDAP members or sympathizers; this fact should also be critically highlighted. The Mittelmann family had to leave the photo collection behind when they fled in 1938–39. As a result, only a few photos have been identified to date.

The preserved glass plates and film negatives can be searched digitally in the Mittelmann Online Photo Archive. About 80 percent of them are portraits, often labeled only with a last name and undated, and many without any information at all. The database contains more than 2,200 images, plus the labeled photo envelopes. Behind every picture lies a story—help us bring it back.

Help us give the people in these photographs their stories back!

Studioporträt einer älteren Frau mit Perlenkette im Halbprofil
Zwei Studioaufnahmen eines jungen Mannes im Anzug, einmal ohne und einmal mit Saxophon
Two studio photographs of a young woman wearing a crew-neck jumper
Two studio photos of a man wearing a tweed coat and a tie
Two studio photographs of a young woman wearing a large bow, one taken in three-quarter profile and one from the front
Studio photograph of a smiling woman wearing a headscarf, holding a toddler
Studio portrait of an elderly woman wearing a dark button-up blouse
Studio portrait of a girl in a checked dress with a white collar
A side portrait of a young man wearing a hat and holding a pipe, seen in profile
Two studio photographs of a woman — one showing her from behind wearing a fur collar, the other showing her wearing an elegant hat
Two studio photographs of a young woman and a girl
Two studio photographs of a young woman, one taken from the front and one in profile
Two studio photographs of a teenager wearing a suit and tie

How does it work?

Tips for Using the Database

  • Use the search field to enter keywords such as last name (e.g., Dunkelmann, Seidel, Niederland, Goldschmidt), gender (female, male), and age (20, 40, 80)

  • Try different spellings. Sometimes names have been passed down incorrectly.

  • To search for the beginning of a word, use an asterisk (*); for example, “Kauf*” matches “Kaufmann” and “Kauffmann”.

    To combine multiple terms, use the following format: “Schulz* OR Berg*”; “Gruppe* NOT Familie*”.

  • Do you recognize any of the people in the photo, or do you have additional information about their fates? Upon request, you can also receive copies of the photos for family members, educational purposes, or publication. Please use the contact form here to submit your request.
Search the Mittelmann Online Photo Archive now