Figure 1.--The portrait of this German boy doing his First Communion is undated. One German source suggests that it was done in the 1940s. probanly about 1947.

We have little informastion on First Communions during the 1940s. Certainly World War II had some impact, both on the Church and First Communions, but we are not sure at this time as to the details. The NAZIs had begun to undermine religion. Wheter the lack of First Communion photographs reflects NAZI anti-religion policies or simply War-time shortages, we do not know. After the War the Soviets continued the campaign against religion in their Eastern German occupation zone. Germans in West Germany were free to persue their religion.

First Communion (1940)

This is a class of first communion boys, photographed in their formal wear for the ceremony, at a Catholic church in Oberpleis, Westphalia (the North Rhine region of Germany). The priest and teacher of the boys stand in the background. The photo was taken in 1940 near the beginning of World War II. The boys, about 9 years old, are wearing the traditional dark suits with short trousers and black long stockings held up with garter waists or Strapsleichen (the usual form of which was a sleeveless bodice with four elastic hose supporters attached). The boys wear white shirts with open collars in most cases, but several boys are wearing short-trouser sailor suits which served as an alternative to the short-trouser suits that the other boys wear. The boys seem to be part of a Catholic denominationa; school. Except in rural areas, most German dchools at the time were single gender schools. There are no girls in the group. After the War, the long stockings gradually gave way to either long-trouser suits or short-trouser suits with white knee socks, but in 1940 the black long stockings were still a common feature of the first communion uniform in most Catholic regions of Germany.

First Communion (1941)

Here we see a First Communion event at a Catholic school during World War II. We think the school is in Bavaria. The boys are rather simply dressed, white shirts and dark short pants. The girls wear white dresses, but not the fancy junior bridal dressess that girls often wear for First Communion. Perhaps the War meant that First Communion outfits were more basic than usual. The War in 1941, however, had not yet begun to impinge significantly on the home front. Only after the disaster before Moscow at the end of the year (December 1941) did German begin to experience military reverses requiring mosre sacrifices by German civilians.

First Communion (1944)

Here we see a German boy in his First Communion suit duruing World War II. At least we think it is a First Communion suit. The boy looks a little old to be doing his First Communion. Perhaps the age was more varied at the time or the War had delayed the ceremony fr some reason. The tall candle was strongly assoiciated with First Communions in Germany, but we do see boys with candles in Konfirmation portraits as well. This boy is unidentified. He looks to be about 12-13 years old. He wears an elegant double-breasted short pants suit. He has awhite shirt which is buttoned to he collar, but worn without a necktie. With his suit he has white knee socks and well polished black shoes. We suspect his mother was a very fashionable lady. The eems to have a sprig of greenery in his coat pocket. The photograph looks to have been taken just outside the church grounds. I'm not sure why. You would think the church would have been a better background.

First Communion (1946)

This unidentified German boy from Wolfsratshausen did in his First Communion just after World War II in 1946. He is with his grandfather, probably because his father was killed in the War or in a Russian or Allied POW camp. (Most German soldiers did not survive Soviet POW camps and those that did not return to Germany until the 1950s. Most soliers in Allied camps were released in 1945 or 46, unless accused of war crimes.) His grandfather seems to be a rather prominant person. He is very formally dressed in a top hat. The boy wears a short pants suit with an open collar shirt, white knee socks and black strap shoes. Both are holding their gloves. Grandfather has grey gloves and the boy has white loves.

First Communion (about 1947)

We have not been able to find many First Communion portraits taken in Germany during World War II (1939-45). I am not entirely sure why this is. The photograph here looks to have been taken after the War (figure 1). It is not dated, but was probably taken about 1947. The boys looks to be wearing a kind of mix between aa Nirfolk jacket n Eton collarless jacket. A German reader tells us that the photgraph was probably taken about 1947. The boy holds a tall candle. Unfortunately we have no information about the boy or where the portrait was taken.

First Communion Class (1948)

Here we see a church First Communion class dressed up for the ceremony. They look about 7-8 yers old. The boys are all dressed in dark short trouser suits. Most wear black long stockings which were consuidered the most foemal stype if hisiery. At least two of the boys wear white knee socks. The girls are in traditionally white junior wedding dresses, probably with white long stockings. Despite the difficult cinditions of the post-War period, tgheir parents have all seen thar they are done up for the occasion. The is obviously a Roman Catholic group. Note the priest in his cassock and beretta sitting in their midst.

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Created: 5:28 AM 5/31/2005
Last edited: 6:47 PM 2/12/2011