Figure 1.--Surprisingly we note quite a number of images of children photographed holding the animals, including potentially dangerous animals. We have seen quite a number of photographs of boys with lion cubs. The number suggests that this was much more common than in other countries. We wonder if German zoos might have used such photographs as a means of generating additional revenue. Here we see a Hitler Youth boy holding a lion cub in the Berlin Zoo during 1934. Click on the image for a fuller discussion of the scene here and the back of the card.

Germany before World War I had some of the best zoos in Europe. Our information is limited, but we do know that there were several important zoos in Germany. The best German zoo was the Berlin Zoo, but other major cities like Hamburg had important zoos. Apparentlyu Carl Hagenbeck was the first man in the world to start a Zoo. His zoo was in Hamburg and he opened it in 1848. It was called Hagenbeck's Tierpark. If I remember correctly there was also an important zoo in Munich. I'm less sure about the German zoos after the War. We do know that there were several important zoos after the War. The photographic record provides us many images of children visiting the zoos. Surprisingly we note quite a number of images of children photographed holding the animals, including potentially dangerous animals. We have seen quite a number of photographs of boys with lion cubs. The number suggests that this was much more common than in other countries. Here we see a DJ boy with a great lion cub (figure 1). We wonder if German zoos might have used such photographs as a means of generating additional revenue. Perhaps they had a deal with the photographer. We are guessing that this photograph was taken by a zoo photographer and not the boy's father. During World War II most of the major zoos as they were located in the larger cities were heavily damaged or destroyed by the Allied bombing. I am not sure about the present status of German zoos

Created: 5:30 AM 3/20/2006
Last updated: 6:05 PM 3/20/2006