Überflüssige Menschen

Überflüssige Menschen (Superfluous People) is a significant photographic and literary work published in 1981 by Philipp Reclam jun. in Leipzig. The book features large-format black-and-white photographs by Walter Ballhause, who captured poignant scenes of everyday life during the Great Depression between 1930 and 1933. These images are complemented by poems and texts written by Johannes R. Becher. The work serves as a social documentary of the era, highlighting the plight of the unemployed and the marginalized in Germany during the transition from the Weimar Republic to the Nazi period. It is noted for its evocative portrayal of 'superfluous' individuals and remains a key publication in German social documentary photography.