> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://hyperallergic.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Germans Posing with Polar Bears in Vintage Photos - URL: https://hyperallergic.com/germans-posing-with-polar-bears-in-vintage-photos/ - Published: 2015-07-29T14:17:12.000Z - Updated: 2025-11-24T15:47:04.000Z - Description: Try not to crack a smile at the sight of a polar bear crashing human picnics, photo-bombing social soirées, and seemingly just trying to fit in. - Author: Laura C. Mallonee - Tags: Art, found objects, Les Rencontres d'Arles, Photo Essays, Photography, World War II, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 07:08 (2014, 2015, part 2) ![TEDDY_15](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/07/teddy_15.jpg) An image from Jean-Marie Donat’s collection (all images courtesy Jean-Marie Donat) Try *not* to crack a smile at the sight of a polar bear crashing human picnics, photo-bombing social soirées, and seemingly just trying to fit in. That’s the challenge when perusing [*TeddyBär*](http://www.innocences.net/product/teddybar?ref=hyperallergic.com)*,* a new photo book featuring dozens of bizarre photographs taken in Germany between the 1920s and ’60s featuring improbable cameos by a man in a bear costume and collected by French editor Jean-Marie Donat. Unfortunately, the history behind the bear costume in many of the images is darker than you’d expect. It was created by the German stuffed animal company [Steiff](https://www.steiff.com/en/?ref=hyperallergic.com) as a mascot for [Fanta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanta?ref=hyperallergic.com#History), the carbonated soda invented in Germany during World War II to make up for the shortage of Coca-Cola. Look a bit closer and you’ll see Nazi insignia and swastikas on the uniforms of soldiers linking arms with the bear and the dress of a smiling girl leaning in for a hug. The polar bear comes to symbolize the German desire to pretend things were normal — to enjoy a fizzy drink, pose for a silly photo with a furry friend — and ignore the fact that grizzly death was swirling all around. ![TEDDY_02](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/07/teddy_02.jpg) An image from Jean-Marie Donat’s collection ![TEDDY_08](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/07/teddy_08.jpg) An image from Jean-Marie Donat’s collection ![TEDDY_13](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/07/teddy_13.jpg) An image from Jean-Marie Donat’s collection ![TEDDY_18](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/07/teddy_18.jpg) An image from Jeann-Marie Donat’s collection ![TEDDY_23](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/07/teddy_23.jpg) An image from Jean-Marie Donat’s collection ![TEDDY_29](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/07/teddy_29.jpg) An image from Jean-Marie Donat’s collection ![TEDDY_35](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/07/teddy_35.jpg) An image from Jean-Marie Donat’s collection ![TEDDY_38](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/07/teddy_38.jpg) An image from Jeann-Marie Donat’s collection ![TEDDY_39](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/07/teddy_39.jpg) An image from Jean-Marie Donat’s collection ![TEDDY_45](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/07/teddy_45.jpg) An image from Jean-Marie Donat’s collection ![TEDDY_49](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/07/teddy_49.jpg) An image from Jean-Marie Donat’s collection ![TEDDY_52](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/07/teddy_52.jpg) An image from Jean-Marie Donat’s collection ![TEDDY_55](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/07/teddy_55.jpg) An image from Jean-Marie Donat’s collection ![TEDDY_64](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2015/07/teddy_64.jpg) An image from Jean-Marie Donat’s collection *Jean-Marie Donat’s* TeddyBär *series is currently on view at* [*Les Rencontres de la Photographie at Arles 2015*](http://www.rencontres-arles.com/C.aspx?VP3=CMS3&VF=ARLAR1%5F213%5FVForm&FRM=Frame%3AARLAR1%5F241&ref=hyperallergic.com)*, through September 20.*