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oldbattleaxe

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Ok forum. back to the experts. This looks like a WW11 photo that looks like at the end of the war. There are several well known names on here that I just cannot identify. I should be able to but I know with this forums help I will find out. Also where would this have been taken? Thanks again
 

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According the U.S. Department of State Archive - Visits to the U.S. by Foreign Heads of State and Government--1940-1944

April 6-10, 1941 Prime Minister Sikorski Poland (Government-in-exile) To establish political contacts. Also visited New York City, Palm Beach (Florida), and Chicago.

March 23-30, 1942 Prime Minister Sikorski Poland (Government-in- exile) Met with U.S. officials; also visited New York City.

December 2-3, 1942 Prime Minister Sikorski Poland (government-in-exile) At invitation of the President. Afterwards visited New York City. Departed for Mexico December 26.

January 1-5, 1943 Prime Minister Sikorski Poland (government-in- exile) Also visited New York City. Departed U.S. January 10.
 

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If in fact that is a Soviet officer, it would likely be earlier than 1945, because in 1945 our relationship with Russia had soured somewhat. Remember Churchhill's remarks that we should fight Russia immediately or we would have to fight them later.
 

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Jambone may be onto something with it being the 1941 trip. Here is a photo from April 1941 visit to Chicago and he looks to be wearing the same light colored coat and the other men in this photo may match up..? I'm not sure. But in the 1943 photos with La Guardia he has a dark coat.

eta actually looking at the 1941 photo I just posted I think it is from the same event as the OP's photo! You can see the WELCOME sign below the flag.
 

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This photo was in the Milwaukee Journal 4/21/1941 above the one I posted. It shows the rally in Soldier Field.

And also a couple more from the event (Chicago Daily Times)
 

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That's impressive how all of you pulled the clues together on this picture. Well done !
Soldier Field ... cool. That sure looks like the spot. Amazing.

Sunday, April 13th, 1941 was Easter ... 50,000 people gathered in Old Soldier Field.

Sunday, April 20th, 1941 ... 40,000 gathered for a Polish Rally featuring speeches by Sikorski and other dignitaries
(They are watching the parade from the north end. The old field was so long that this northern end was marked off and used as parking in later years.

Bill Kelly raced here through the late 40's and early 50's. He had weird bumpers.

Soldier Field.webp
 

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OMFG!!!!!! That is UN-believable!!!!!!

So all of my research is total sh!t!!! Story of my life!!!!!!!

Soldier field!?!?!?

I just can't believe it! No wonder I couldn't find an NYC location - because it wasn't there!!!!

I am THRILLED beyond words that we have a location!

LOVE... ABSOLUTELY LOVE this forum!

Bramblefind (as usual) is a Goddess!
 

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Outstanding work, Bramblefind and everybody else!

This is really cool - the Polish Prime Minister is in exile and the USA hasn't entered the war yet (officially).
 

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No kidding! Im still impressed by the amount of medals on the one guy to the right
 

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I also am impressed. You guys are remarkable. It took a team like this. That is why I love Treasurenet. We now have the exact place this famous photo was taken. Totally remarkable. Now we need to find out who that highly decorated fellow is? You guys are on the roll. Thanks Bill
 

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Here's a list of some of the people that met with General Sikorski, or accompanied him, on his visits to the USA in April 1941. I gathered this info from old newspaper articles. Perhaps some of them appear in the photos.

Chicago: Jan Ciechanowski (Polish Ambassador to the U.S.), Stanley Mikolajczyk (President of Polish Parliament), Sylvian Strakacz (minister plenipotentiary), Major Victor Cazalet (British parliamentary member and liaison), Rear Admiral John Downes, General Charles H. Bonesteel, Lewis Bernays (British consul general), Dr. Karol Ripa (Polish consul general), Chauncy McCormick, Gov. Dwight Green, Donald F. McPherson (head of Chicago Council on Foreign Relations), Ignace Jan Paderewski (pianist, president of the National Council of Poland), F.X. Swietlik (president of Polish-American Council, dean of Marquette University law school), Dr. Jan Papanek (representative of the Czecho-Slovak government in exile in Great Britain), Archbishop Samuel A. Stritch (Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago), Casmir Midowicz (vice president of Polish-American council)

Washington D.C.: President Roosevelt, Lord Halifax, Cordell Hull (Secretary of State), Henry Stimson (Secretary of War), Harry Hopkins (in command of the Lend-Lease program)

Fort Meade: Colonel Kitkiewicz (deputy Chief of Staff of Polish forces in exile), Captain Zamoyski (General's aide), Lieutenant Colonel J.S. Winslow (US Army General Staff Corps), Colonel Gilbert M. Allen (Fort Meade post commander)
 

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So I took a stab at trying to identify some of the people in the photo. I'm only sure about 2 of them and the rest are possible matches - consider this a starting point and don't rag on me if I got some wrong.

idents.webp
 

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Thanks Jambone, I will be doing some looking at these names for sure.
 

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