Figure 1.-- Here we see a home scene of an unidentified German family. They look to be a comfortable middle-class family. The photograph was taken during 1943 in the midst of World War II. There is no hint of the War in the image, except that the drapes are drawn, perhaps part of the blackout. And there are no older boys present. Older boys would have been in the military. The followung year, the Volksstrum was created and the older boy and father were probably conscripted, all males from 16-60 years of age.

Here we see a home scene of an unidentified German family. They look to be a comfortable middle-class family. The photograph was taken during 1943 in the midst of World War II. This was the year that everything changed for Germany and the war began to come home for the German people. There is no hint of the War in the image, except that the drapes are drawn, perhaps part of the blackout. And there are no older boys present. Older boys would have been in the military. The followung year, the Volksstrum was created and the older boy and father were probably conscripted, all males from 16-60 years of age. The family certainly seems to have a large number of children which probably means that they are Catholic. The apparently middle-class parents are seated surrounded by their numerous brood. The older boys seem to be wearing knicker suits with jackets and tie, the very long knickers blousing just above the ankles. The next to youngest child is a boy of about 5-years who wears a short-trousers one-piece suit with a self-belt, a very dark (is it black?) necktie and heavy woolen long stockings that appear to be dark brown. The stockings are obviously supported by a Strapsleibchen (bodice and supporters). An even younger child, probably just slightly older than a year old, is wear a white outfit. The girl has a suspender skirt with a plaid design and woolen long stockings. The oldest son, standing in the rear, may be wearing long trousers, although his suit jacket looks very similar to those his brothers with knickers are wearing. The boys seem to be rather young to be wearing knickers suits. Normally we see older boys wearing them. Presumably the photograph was taken during the winter. We don't know where in Germany this photo was taken. They look like a city family. One wonders why some of the boys are not weating their Hitler Jugend uniforms. This was common in family photographs at the time, either because of the famility politics or because the boys were proud of them. Or it could be that mother just wanted them dressed up. The photo is labeled as German, but we wonder whether it might have been taken in Switzerland.

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Created: 11:54 PM 11/11/2004
Last updated: 11:54 PM 11/11/2004