De gevechten van Neuve-Chapelle (9-13 maart 1915) in Vlaanderen waren een groot succes voor het Engelse leger (...) Krijgsgevangenen, gelukkig buiten gevaar te zijn, doorloopen een dorpje in Engeland 1915

This photograph by Sémaphore depicts German prisoners of war in an English village after the battle of Neuve-Chapelle in March 1915. It reflects the First World War's reshaping of social and political landscapes, where notions of national identity were heightened, and propaganda played a crucial role in shaping public sentiment. The image captures a sense of both victory and dehumanization. The long line of prisoners, guarded by British soldiers, underscores the power dynamics at play. Are the prisoners in fact 'fortunate to be out of danger' as the title suggests, or does this belies a more complex emotional reality? The photograph invites us to consider the dehumanizing aspects of war, experienced on both sides, as well as question the narratives of heroism and victory.