Christopher B. Steiner, a professor at Connecticut College, assembled a fascinating collection of military portraits that reveal a different side of soldiers from the World Wars. These snapshots capture moments of levity, as soldiers strike goofy poses with fake military props.

Some images capture lighthearted silliness, while others reveal a blend of humor and seriousness. Far from the harsh realities of war, these portraits offer a glimpse into moments of camaraderie and the human spirit, as soldiers briefly escape the turmoil to share a smile.

Soldiers during the world War

Christopher B. Steiner’s collection includes portraits of soldiers from Germany, France, the United States, Belgium, and more, spanning from the beginning of World War I to the end of World War II.

In these photos, soldiers posed with everything from faux airplanes to tanks and vintage cars—props provided by photo studios to create memorable keepsakes. Originally, these portraits were souvenirs for servicemen to send to loved ones back home, capturing both their courage and a rare glimpse of playfulness against the backdrop of war.

World War I remains one of the deadliest conflicts in history, with a staggering toll on both military and civilian populations. By war's end, around 40 million people had either lost their lives or suffered injuries. Estimates put the death toll between 15 and 22 million, with roughly 23 million soldiers left wounded.

Civilians bore a heavy burden, too, with deaths ranging from 6 to 13 million. Among military losses, the Allies (Triple Entente) saw about 6 million lives lost, while the Central Powers suffered around 4 million casualties. The sheer scale of these numbers underscores the devastation left in the wake of this global conflict.

In World War I, diseases claimed an enormous toll, with at least 2 million soldiers dying from various illnesses, while around 6 million went missing, likely dead. Despite advancements in medical care, diseases like the deadly 1918 flu pandemic and harsh conditions in prisoner-of-war camps continued to be a significant threat, accounting for about one-third of the total military casualties.

Yet, World War I also marked a shift; approximately two-thirds of military deaths were directly from combat, which was a change from earlier wars where most fatalities were due to disease rather than battle injuries.

List of Goofy Photos