News

Paul Wyand (Cameraman)

Paul Wyand began his career as a motor mechanic at Brooklands, but was encouraged by his uncle Leslie Wyand , who worked for the American Pathe News, to combine this with taking news photographs to sell through the Sport and General Press Agency. paul wyand belsen
In May 1927 Leslie Wyand offered his nephew the job of assistant cameraman on the Pathe News at £4 a week, and Wyand took it, recalling that at this time ‘the élite among cameramen were those representing the American Newsreels.’

In April 1945 Wyand and Gray filmed the liberation of Belsen concentration camp for ‘ATROCITIES – THE EVIDENCE’ in British Movietone News No.830. Wyand recalled that ‘we made our way round the camp, photographing scenes which, it seemed, could not possibly be the responsibility of civilised man’: ‘On three or four occasions Martin and I had to break off work in order to vomit.’ For the same issue they also filmed Josef Kramer, the commandant of Belsen, in military prison. Wyand also filmed material for the war crimes trials.

In May 1945 Wyand was allowed to film General Montgomery’s victory speech for a British Movietone News exclusive in No.831A, ‘THE FIELD MARSHAL OFFERS THANKS.’

Belsen film: https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn1000217
Born March 1907, died 1968

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This archive has been established after my own relative, Reg Price, took part in the liberation and subsequent humanitarian effort of Bergen Belsen in April 1945. Reg produced this famous sign at Belsen. As part of the 113th DLI, Reg and his comrades were at Belsen for 5 weeks and left when the last hut was empty and ceremonially burnt down. This archive compiles all available resources to build a lasting tribute to all the men and women who helped - any unit, any nationality. If you have a relative, or any info, on the relief effort at Belsen, we’d love you to please get in touch. Email us: liberator@belsen.co.ukThank you Nick Price CreativesFacebookTwitter