WWII Photographic Exhibition May 5, 2026, at Holocaust Museum
Published on May 17, 2026
NAPLES, FL April 17, 2026 - The Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center shares a rare behind-the-scenes look at World War II in its upcoming exhibition - Caught on Film: The Wartime Photography of Ken Regele and the U.S. Army Signal Corps. This special exhibition showcases a unique selection of donated World War II photographs taken by the U.S. Army Signal Corp photographers. The photographs are part of the Museum’s Ken Regele Collection and document the war from the Allied D-Day invasion through to the liberation of concentration camps by United States Army divisions. The exhibition opens on Tuesday, May 5th and will be on display at the Museum through the summer.
The Ken Regele Collection is one of the Museum’s most comprehensive photographic collections about World War II’s Western Front. When the United States Army began operations in Europe, they recognized the need to document what was occurring from the air, the sea, and on the front lines. Ken Regele and his colleagues at the United States Army Signal Corps operated alongside GIs throughout Europe during the war. As a cameraman, Regele recorded hundreds upon hundreds of feet of film used by military officers to analyze battles and formulate operational decisions. He and his Jeep “Toots” traveled across Europe, documenting countless engagements. The Signal Corps photographic teams were often in considerable danger, operating in the middle of major conflicts armed only with a camera. These brave men created an incredible visual record of the war that is still consulted to this day. As the war in Europe was ending, Corps members accompanying U.S. GIs documented the discoveries of the Nazi concentration camps in Western Germany. The photographs and film footage taken became irrefutable evidence of the genocide now called the Holocaust. Theirs were the images that informed the world of these terrible sites, their victims, and emaciated survivors. The Museum is honored to share these powerful pieces with the Southwest Florida community.
The Story Behind the Donation of the Regele Photos
Museum Curator Cody Rademacher describes how the Ken Regele Collection came to the Museum. “When Regele was leaving Europe, it seems like one of his friends in the Signal Corps was able to prepare a few rolls of film for him. The images were taken across the Western Front and were likely prepared as part of reports and documentation of the war in Europe. The rolls of film were kept in a drawer until Regele until offered them to us. What you are seeing in the exhibit is just a sample of the collection and for which we are incredibly grateful.”
The public is invited to step back in history and see what Ken Regele and his comrades in the Signal Corps experienced, shot, and saved for future generations to view and understand.
Caught on Film: The Wartime Photography of Ken Regele and the U.S. Army Signal Corps will be on display through Summer 2026. For more information, visit hmcec.org.
About The Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center
Founded in 2001, The Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center teaches the lessons of the Holocaust to inspire action against hatred and to promote mutual respect. Through exhibits, educational programs, school partnerships, and community outreach, HMCEC provides accurate Holocaust history, preserves survivor stories, and empowers people of all ages to confront prejudice and strengthen understanding. Located in Naples, Florida, the nonprofit Museum welcomes thousands of visitors and students each year and remains committed to building a community grounded in truth, empathy, and courage.