A red tablecloth, stitched together by a friend in Moscow, served as the makeshift prop for the most recognizable image captured by Yevgeny Khaldei. While advancing through Europe with the Soviet military, he orchestrated the staging of a flag-raising atop the Reichstag, using a Leica III camera to document a symbolic assertion of power during the closing stages of conflict.
Early Life and Entry into Photography
Born in 1916 in Donetsk, Khaldei developed an interest in imagery early in his youth, constructing a rudimentary camera using his grandmother's spectacles. His formative years were marked by significant violence; during a 1918 pogrom, his mother was killed and he sustained serious injuries. By the age of 19, in October 1936, he began his long-term tenure as a professional photographer with the Soviet press agency TASS.
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Serving as a war correspondent, Khaldei held the rank of navy lieutenant, which provided necessary mobility to document front-line operations. He traveled extensively, recording the liberation of Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary, as well as the capture of Vienna and the fall of Berlin. His portfolio documented not only tactical military movements but also the aftermath of atrocities, including the massacre at Kerch.
Staged Realism and Iconic Imagery
Khaldei frequently employed staging techniques to heighten the impact of his work, arguing that artificial composition better communicated the magnitude of historical events. For his most famous image, he recruited three soldiers—Aleksei Kovalev, Abdulkhakim Ismailov, and Leonid Gorychev—to hoist the flag after the building had been captured. He later expanded his professional range to include portraits of political figures such as Joseph Stalin, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Boris Yeltsin.
Professional Transition and Later Years
Following his 1948 departure from TASS, Khaldei transitioned into freelance work before securing a position at Pravda in 1959. He remained at the newspaper until his retirement in 1970. Although he received numerous awards throughout his career, including the Order of the Red Star and medals for the defense of the Caucasus and the Soviet Transarctic, international recognition for his archives only grew significantly during the 1990s. He died in Moscow in 1997.
Fast facts
- Born: 1916, Donetsk
- Died: 1997, Moscow
- Primary Employer: TASS
- Notable Work: Raising a flag over the Reichstag
- Equipment Used: Leica III camera with 35mm f3.5 lens
- Burial Place: Kuntsevo Cemetery
- Notable Awards: Order of the Red Star
- Languages: Russian
Questions readers ask
Was the Reichstag flag photograph an authentic action shot?
No, it was a re-enactment staged by Khaldei on 2 May 1945 after the building had been secured, utilizing soldiers he encountered at the site.
Why did Khaldei leave TASS in 1948?
He was let go during a staff downsizing following a 1947 performance evaluation that criticized his professional growth and cultural level.
Achievements
- Medal "For the Victory over Japan"
- Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945"
- Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd class
- Order of the Red Star
- Medal "For the Defence of Sevastopol"
- Notable work: Raising a flag over the Reichstag
