History is full of bleak moments. And while it’s perfectly natural to be patriotic about your home country, there are probably a few moments from your nation’s history that you’re not particularly proud of. Whether it’s because of the government’s actions, the people’s actions, or another nation’s actions on your soil, I’m sure you have some unfortunate stories to tell.
Sometimes, there’s even photographic evidence of the events. People from all over the world have been sharing the most dystopian images from their nations’ history on Reddit, so we’ve compiled a list of them below. This may not be the most uplifting read, but we hope it teaches you something new about the past.
#21 Uruguay
Today, in Uruguay, it's the 31th Marcha del Silencio (March of Silence) for those forcibly dissapeared in the last dictatorship.
The picture below was taken at the Palacio Legislativo (our Congress) the day of the coup d'etat, 27th june, 1973. The shape of the Palacio Legislativo, familiar to any Uruguayan, in the background. You can see a tankette right in front of the building, very clear sign of the dark day: the military are taking over and closing the Legislative power. A bloody dictatorship has officially begun. But closer to the camera, you can see a man walking his dog, like any other day.
The picture below was taken at the Palacio Legislativo (our Congress) the day of the coup d'etat, 27th june, 1973. The shape of the Palacio Legislativo, familiar to any Uruguayan, in the background. You can see a tankette right in front of the building, very clear sign of the dark day: the military are taking over and closing the Legislative power. A bloody dictatorship has officially begun. But closer to the camera, you can see a man walking his dog, like any other day.
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21points
#22 United States Of America
This is Pittsburgh, midday, in 1944. Pittsburgh was called "Hell with the lid off' once.
qriousqestioner:
I think there's so much smog from industrial pollution that it's like it's dark out. (I searched for the city and the forties and these images came up with references to smog.
You would think a country who'd survived this would be less eager to burn the world down for some rich white dudes, but where's the money in that?
qriousqestioner:
I think there's so much smog from industrial pollution that it's like it's dark out. (I searched for the city and the forties and these images came up with references to smog.
You would think a country who'd survived this would be less eager to burn the world down for some rich white dudes, but where's the money in that?
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21points
#24 Russia
Leningrad..
KuningasTynny77:
Germans chose not to storm the city, sieged it instead. Nearly three years before the big Soviet offensive in the late war made it to the city.
Three years combined with harsh winters. Starvation to the point of eating the zoo animals, and in many cases, the dead. Libraries full of books burned for warmth. You get the idea. It was rough. And all of that while also being periodically shelled by the Germans outside the city.
KuningasTynny77:
Germans chose not to storm the city, sieged it instead. Nearly three years before the big Soviet offensive in the late war made it to the city.
Three years combined with harsh winters. Starvation to the point of eating the zoo animals, and in many cases, the dead. Libraries full of books burned for warmth. You get the idea. It was rough. And all of that while also being periodically shelled by the Germans outside the city.
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20points
#25 Marshall Islands
The Marshall Islands were heavily impacted by nuclear testing conducted by the United States between 1946 and 1958. During this period, 67 nuclear bombs were detonated, mainly at Bikini Atoll and Enewetak Atoll. The testing caused widespread environmental destruction, forced displacement of local communities, and long-term health problems due to radiation exposure.
20points
#26 Brazil
Serra Pelada, crowed with miners in 80s gold rush.
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19points
#27 Finland
Probably not the most dystopian, but definitely up there. Finnish children photographed before being sent to Sweden to be temporarily fostered by Swedish families while their parents stayed to fight for their country. Some 80 000 children were sent away during ww2, 72 000 of them to Sweden. The piece of paper around their neck had their name, number of luggage, and address so that one day they could be given back to their parents. For a multitude of horrible reasons, over 15 000 of them never did return but instead stayed with their new families. Many of them came back to an economically broken country and bombed or burned homes, with no memory of their native language or parents. My still living great grandma was sent away not once but twice and never speaks of it.
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19points
#28 El Salvador
One of the acceprable "collateral damage" victims of the current dictatorship. A guy mistakenly captured by the police because he looked to them like a gang member.
18points
#29 New Zealand
After the earthquake in Christchurch, a large part of the city had to be abandoned.
16points
#30 Germany
The aftermath of the allied bombing of a civilian area that was collateral damage because it was too close to the harbour where submarines were being built.
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15points
#31 Austria
Lassing mining disaster, 1998
The illegal expansion of a talq mine led to a massive collapse. Ten people died during a rescue effort of one miner that could later be rescued. The ten bodies are still burried in the mine to this day.
The illegal expansion of a talq mine led to a massive collapse. Ten people died during a rescue effort of one miner that could later be rescued. The ten bodies are still burried in the mine to this day.
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15points
#32 Sweden
Not the most dystopian but they're moving a city (or parts of a city) in the north of Sweden so that the mining operation underneath can expand.
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13points
#33 Chile
1973. The Chilean army bombs their own house of government.
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13points
#34 Argentina
Francisco SALAMONE was an architect who performed many brutalist-monuments and different buildings created for government institutions such as this municipal cemetery.
There are many small municipalities all over Buenos Aires Province in Argentina where you can find part of his work: government, cementeries, churches, slaughter houses, etc but always in small-medium cities who were kinda keep as a secret for many decades. Nowadays there are even architectural tours visiting those sites.
This is a very 30-40s view of a dystopian future erected on ciment, marble and huge dimensions.
There are many small municipalities all over Buenos Aires Province in Argentina where you can find part of his work: government, cementeries, churches, slaughter houses, etc but always in small-medium cities who were kinda keep as a secret for many decades. Nowadays there are even architectural tours visiting those sites.
This is a very 30-40s view of a dystopian future erected on ciment, marble and huge dimensions.
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8points
