Warsaw, 1939
I discovered the 1939 Warsaw telephone directory some time ago, which is an insanely useful resource for getting a feel for life in that time and place. Thank you, LOC! Here are some of my favorite ads from the back, which give you an idea of the vibrant, modern life of the city. In November 1945, 80% of Warsaw was literally rubble. One million residents were gone - displaced or dead. For a sense of scale, that would be like Dallas, Texas being systematically demolished and abandoned.
