In May 1945 the war was over, Hitler had committed suicide, the Allies controlled Europe and a few month later the Nuremberg Trials began.
Europe was divided into West and East. In September of 1945, the young photographer Werner Bischof mounted his bicycle in Zurich and began his first European trip. First stop: Southern Germany. In October he drove by car to France, Belgium, and Holland.
In February of 1946 he made his first big tour of Germany. In the summer he made for Italy, and, in the autumn, Greece. In the following year he visited Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Romania; the next year he returned to the East, and then made for Finland, Norway, and Sweden.
Werner Bischof wanted to see once and for all what lay beyond his country’s safe little borders. Wanted to be a part of it. Wanted to bear witness.