Viral Video Debunked: The Truth Behind the 3-Year-Old Chimney Sweep
A viral video claiming to show a three-year-old child working as a chimney sweep sparked outrage online. However, a detailed investigation reveals a different story. By analyzing the footage's details, the author traced it to the British Pathé archive, pinpointing the location as Berlin, circa 1929-1930, not 1933 as claimed. Matching the video to a 1929 magazine photograph identified the father and son. Further research showed that child chimney sweeping was illegal in Germany at the time, and the tools used in the video were outdated. The author concludes the video likely depicts a staged scene, not actual child labor. Subsequent investigation uncovered the child's name—Horst Bohnke—and details about his parents, revealing a richer backstory.