Portraits of London At War by Toni Frissell – January 1942

“I became so frustrated with fashions that I wanted to prove to myself that I could do a real reporting job” - Toni Frissell

In January 1945, Toni Frissell (March 10, 1907 – April 17, 1988) was in London. World War 2 did not end officially until 2 September. Frissell, a former fashion photographer for Vogue magazine, was in England as the official photographer for the American Red Cross, the Women’s Army Corps and the Eighth Army Air Force. “The worst part of war, in my opinion, is what happens to the survivors,” she wrote.

In 1971, Frissell donated her photographs (270,000 black-and-white negatives, 42,000 color transparencies, and 25,000 enlargement prints, as well as proof sheets) to the Library of Congress.

 

Toni Frissell London 1944 bombs World War 2

Woman kneeling next to bed of child, in an underground tunnel during the bombing of London during World War II – January 1945

Toni Frissell London 1944 bombs World War 2

Toni Frissell London 1944 bombs World War 2

Corporal Louis B. Swingle standing in front of a wall map, between two ladders, in the United States 8th Air Force headquarters operations room, possibly outside London, England during World War II

Toni Frissell London 1944 bombs World War 2

Toni Frissell London 1944 bombs World War 2

Toni Frissell London 1944 bombs World War 2

Photograph shows military officers seated in chairs in front of a map on a wall in the United States 8th Air Force headquarters operations room, possibly outside London, England during World War II.

Toni Frissell London 1944 bombs World War 2 Toni Frissell London 1944 bombs World War 2

Toni Frissell London 1944 bombs World War 2

Battersea incident, England, January 1945–two men load a wagon with their possessions, among ruins

 

Toni Frissell London 1944 bombs World War 2 Toni Frissell London 1944 bombs World War 2

Toni Frissell London 1944 bombs World War 2

People and wreckage of buildings after a bombing raid of London during World War II – Jan 1945

Toni Frissell London 1944 bombs World War 2

Toni Frissell and some children

 

Would you like to support Flashbak?

Please consider making a donation to our site. We don't want to rely on ads to bring you the best of visual culture. You can also support us by signing up to our Mailing List. And you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For great art and culture delivered to your door, visit our shop.