Untitled (American soldier, St.-Saveur-le-Vicomte, Normandy)

during the Second World War

Collier’s, then Life: the “enemy alien” photographer

During the war Capa was sent on photographic assignments to various parts of the European theatre: he first worked for Collier’s Weekly but was fired and switched to Life. He was the only “enemy alien” photographer working for the Allies.

1943

Meets John Steinbeck in an Algiers hotel

In 1943, before the Allied invasion of Italy, Capa shared a room in an Algiers hotel with other war correspondents and met the writer John Steinbeck there.

1943 · Virkested

Sperlinga

February 1943

Meets Elaine Justin, “Pinky”

In February 1943 Capa met Elaine Justin; they fell in love and the relationship lasted until the end of the war. He called the red-headed Elaine “Pinky” and wrote about her in his war memoir Slightly Out of Focus.

1944

The only civilian photographer on Omaha Beach

On D-Day Capa, attached to the 16th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division (“Big Red One”), landed on Omaha Beach as the only civilian photographer. The photographic historian A. D. Coleman suggests that he travelled in the same landing craft as Colonel George A. Taylor and came ashore near Colleville-sur-Mer an hour and a half after the first wave.

1945

An affair with Ingrid Bergman

Some months later Capa became the lover of the actress Ingrid Bergman, who was touring Europe to entertain American soldiers.