When we read books about history it’s hard to identify with their stories living in the present day. To bring some realism into history, Dutch historian Jo Hedwig Teeuwisse, has tried to convey historical WW2 Photos into present day by combining them with present day photos shot in the exact same location.

Jo Hedwig Teeuwisse found some WW2 Photos at a flee market and she came up with this great idea. Spending hours trying to find the same locations as in the photographs, she went to the places and took present day shots. The Ghost Photos of WW2 Blended Into Present Day Photos has an almost spooky feel to them and shows just how quickly our world has changed. She states:

“I try to make people realize that story is all around us,”

Checkout these astonishing 26 Ghost Photos of WW2 Blended Into Present Day Photos…

Jack Beckett, the founder and editor of warhistoryonline.com, has worked with historians, artists and photographers to create past and present photo montages, seen on ghostsofhistory.co.uk.

2. German soldiers surrendering, France, 1944.

Jo Hedwig Teeuwisse / Ghosts of History / Via ghostsofhistory.co.uk

France, 1944, Rue des Fossés Plissons à Domfront (Orne).

3. Trévières Street Octave Mirbeau, France.

Jo Hedwig Teeuwisse / Ghosts of History / Via ghostsofhistory.co.uk

‘A group of civilians and GI’s in front of the notary office of Trévières Street Octave Mirabeau. The entrance is decorated with French and allied flags.’ – Jo Hedwig Teeuwisse.

4. Rue Armand Levéel à Cherbourg, France.

Jo Hedwig Teeuwisse / Ghosts of History / Via ghostsofhistory.co.uk

5. Cherbourg, France.

Jo Hedwig Teeuwisse / Ghosts of History / Via ghostsofhistory.co.uk

‘American troops in the center of Cherbourg pass under a balcony with English, American and French flags.’ – Jo Hedwig Teeuwisse.

6. German soldiers surrendering, France, 1944.

Jo Hedwig Teeuwisse / Ghosts of History / Via ghostsofhistory.co.uk

France, 1944, Rue des Fossés Plissons à Domfront (Orne).

7. B-24 plane getting ready for war.

Adam Surrey / Ghosts of History / Via ghostsofhistory.co.uk

8. ‘Wait For Me, Daddy’, taken in New Westminster, Canada, in 1940.

Adam Surrey / Ghosts of History / Claude Dettloff / Vancouver Daily Province / Via ghostsofhistory.co.uk

‘Wait For Me, Daddy, was taken by Claude Dettloff, a photographer for the Vancouver Daily Province. The photograph became one of the most famous images in Canadian history.’ – Adam Surrey.

9. ‘Innocence’, taken near the Castle of Hoensbroek, The Netherlands.

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Adam Surrey / Ghosts of History / Via ghostsofhistory.co.uk

‘Innocence: Hoensbroek. The picture was taken near the Castle of Hoensbroek, where these children were cared by Catholic nuns. Before the troops had to move on towards Germany (which is 12 miles from Hoensbroek) They dressed the kids up in traditional Dutch clothing and let them perform for their liberators.’ – Adam Surrey.

10. ‘Lightning at Sunset’: P-38 Lockheed Lightning.

Adam Surrey / Ghosts of History / Via ghostsofhistory.co.uk

‘P-38 Lockheed Lightning sits majestically on the tarmac at sunset, 1944/2014.’ – Adam Surrey.

11. ‘The Long Walk’: Rudders Rangers march along Weymouth seafront, towards the harbour, June 1944.

Adam Surrey / Ghosts of History / Via ghostsofhistory.co.uk

‘I finally managed to get the now shot for this one. It was worth the wait. Check the interaction between the 3rd guy and the policeman.’ – Adam Surrey.

12. Caen Station, 1944 – 2014.

Adam Surrey / Ghosts of History / Via ghostsofhistory.co.uk

‘Contemplation: a German soldier, watched by a Canadian, contemplates his fate.’ – Adam Surrey.

13. Portland, Dorset, 1944/2013.

Adam Surrey / Ghosts of History / Via ghostsofhistory.co.uk

US vehicles being loaded in Portland, Dorset, destined for the D-Day landings.

14. Burton Bradstock, Dorset.

Adam Surrey / Ghosts of History / Via ghostsofhistory.co.uk

‘Soldiers of the US 1st Division taking time to sample English beer, Burton Bradstock, Dorset’ – Adam Surrey.

15. Weymouth, Dorset.

Adam Surrey / Ghosts of History / Via ghostsofhistory.co.uk

‘US engineers in Weymouth, Dorset just prior to D-Day’ – Adam Surrey.

16. Berlin 1945/2010.

Russian Sergey Larenkov / Ghosts of History / Via ghostsofhistory.co.uk

17.

Russian Sergey Larenkov / Ghosts of History / Via ghostsofhistory.co.uk

18.

Russian Sergey Larenkov / Ghosts of History / Via ghostsofhistory.co.uk

19.

Russian Sergey Larenkov / Ghosts of History / Via ghostsofhistory.co.uk

20. Arc de Triomphe, Paris, June 1940.

Russian Sergey Larenkov / Ghosts of History / Via ghostsofhistory.co.uk

21. Les Braves Omaha beach, Normandy, France.

Russian Sergey Larenkov / Ghosts of History / Via ghostsofhistory.co.uk

22. The Eiffel Tower, Paris, 1940.

Russian Sergey Larenkov / Ghosts of History / Via ghostsofhistory.co.uk

‘Upon the Nazi occupation of Paris in 1940, Adolf Hitler posed in front of the Eiffel Tower with his favorite sculptor Arno Breker. Before the Nazi occupation, the lift cables were cut by the French so that Adolf Hitler would have to climb the steps to the summit of the Eiffel. The parts to repair them were allegedly impossible to obtain because of the war. Hitler stayed on the ground.’ – Russian Sergey Larenkov.

23.

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Russian Sergey Larenkov / Ghosts of History / Via ghostsofhistory.co.uk

‘Adolf Hitler walking in front of the Eiffel Tower – a great propaganda shot. Some German soldiers had to climb to the top to hoist the swastika, but the flag was so large it blew away just a few hours later, and it was replaced by a smaller one. A Frenchman scaled the tower during the German occupation to hang the French flag. In August 1944, when the Allies were nearing Paris, Hitler ordered General Dietrich von Choltitz, the military governor of Paris, to demolish the tower along with the rest of the city.’ – Russian Sergey Larenkov.

24. D-day, Normandy, 1944.

Russian Sergey Larenkov / Ghosts of History / Via ghostsofhistory.co.uk

25. Vienna, 1945/2010.

Russian Sergey Larenkov / Ghosts of History / Via ghostsofhistory.co.uk

‘A Soviet captain sketches of the statue of Pallas Athena.’ – Russian Sergey Larenkov.

26. Dom Cathedral, Cologne, March 1945.

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Jo Hedwig Teeuwisse / Ghosts of History
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