Ownership of photographs taken before 1 January 1945

The only way in which copyright can exist for such photographs is where it has been revived.  

There are different rules which could affect who owns revived copyright.

Where the person who owned copyright when it expired was still alive on 1 January 1996, that person will own revived copyright. However, where that person died before 1 January 1996, it will generally be the photographer or his personal representative who owns any revived copyright.