Nazi Occupied Poland, 1939

In the late 1930s and early 1940s, a German photographer and ardent Nazi named Hugo Jaeger enjoyed unprecedented access to the Third Reich’s upper echelon, traveling with Adolf Hitler to massive rallies and photographing him at intimate parties and in quieter, private moments. The photos made such an impression on the Führer that Hitler famously declared, upon first seeing Jaeger’s work: “The future belongs to color photography.”

The photos were all taken in 1939 at Kutno, Poland, soon after the Jewish ghetto had been established.

Photos from an expose by Hugo Jaeger, featured at LIFE.