• devouring the past

    Werfel's First Pair of New Shoes


    Sometimes life can surprise you.  This might just be my all time favorite photograph.  

    This photograph entitled “Werfel’s first pair of new shoes”, appeared in the 1946 issue of Life magazine. Werfel, a six-year-old Austrian orphan, has just received his first new pair of shoes as part of the post-war relief effort of the American Red Cross.



    4 comments:

    1. Also my all time favorite photograph. I would even go so far as to say that this image inspired countless people into careers in social work, childcare and just helping children in general.

      It would be nice to know what ever became of little Werfel. If he is alive today he would be 80/81.

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    2. This photo changed my entire life for the better. My regret is not ever to meet this little angel........

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    3. Little Werfel was reunited with his mother, brother and sister in Austria by 1947. The Red Cross Relief Worker Opel Hall of New York, visited them periodically. The photo was also the cover for the Courier, Red Cross magazine. Hope this helps to all of you who, like me, were wondering about the little kid on the photo.

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