When we think of this great scientist, we often imagine him busy with intricate calculations or something like that. Not here, though. This photo has such a story behind it. We can see Albert Einstein, alongside his daughter Margaret Einstein, taking their oath for U.S. citizenship. Albert Einstein had to flee Germany after the regime changed and forced him and other Jews to seek a safer haven.
When the new German chancellor came into power in 1932, the future for Jews and any other minority was uncertain. Einstein predicted the worst and was saved. During the war, he assisted the American Navy and helped to evaluate new weapon systems.
Nikola Tesla in His Laboratory
You have probably seen this iconic photo. This scene captured here looks like something out of the movie “The Prestige.” Or rather, the movie seems to resemble Nikola Tesla’s Laboratory. What is interesting is that the scientist/inventor took this photo to demonstrate how safe alternating current is. Two hundred fifty thousand volts of alternating current, to be more precise!
Clearly, it was safe because Tesla had time to write, perhaps a bit of journaling or a crossword puzzle. Who knows? Tesla may have proved how reliable this type of electricity was, but sadly, we went with Edison’s invention. To this day, Tesla still stands for prestige and innovation.
August Landmesser
This photo has certainly been spotted before, but few people know the identity of the man refusing to do the salute. On June 13, 1936, this photograph was taken at a German navy training in Hamburg. The man in the picture refusing to salute is August Landmesser, who refused to participate in the national socialist rally that took place in pre-war Germany.
One of the reasons why Landmesser was unwilling to participate in the salute was that he was involved in a relationship with a Jewish woman, Irma Eckler. Sadly, for his transgressions, Landmesser was sent to prison, and he was later killed after being conscripted unwillingly into the German military.
The Boston Marathon 1967
Kathrine Switzer is an American television commentator and author, and she is also a marathon runner. She changed history in 1967 by becoming the first-ever female runner to complete a marathon as an official registered participant. This next photo has gone viral, especially since gender inequality has become a big discussion.
Trainer John Semple is caught on the camera trying to remove her and stop her from running, as up until then, women were forbidden to participate in any competitive sports. Fortunately, Switzer is supported by her boyfriend and running partner, Tom Miller. Switzer finished the marathon in just over 4 hours and became the first woman to have completed this marathon.
The Berlin Wall 1961
This photograph is a memento from earlier days in Berlin. When the city was still split in two, we see the grave consequences of this wall dividing the city. On May 9, 1961, we see a couple holding up two babies who live in West Berlin. On the other side of the wall are the babies’ grandparents living in East Berlin. While this photo shows a divided city, it also demonstrates unbreakable family ties.
The Berlin Wall stood tall for more than 30 years, keeping families and loved ones apart. In 1989, as the Iron Curtain was being ripped apart, the Berlin Wall came down with it, joining the East and West parts of the city back together again.