Figure 1.--This photograph is undated. We believe it was probably taken in the early 1930s. It looks rather like a school class, but the buiolding behind the children does not look like a school. We see here some of the garments that declined in popularity during the NAZI era, including sailor suits and sandals.

HBC at this time has only limited information on the garments worn by German boys during the NAZI era meaming much of the 1930s and the first half of the 1940s (1933-45). Fashion of course beginning in 1939 were affected by the War. Boys wore mostly plain shirts. Light colors were common, rarely did boys wear bright-colored shirts. Collared shirts were still the primary shirt type. Long sleeved shirts were common. Many boys buttoned their collar buttons for a formal affect. We note boys even at school or at play with buttoned collars. Sailor suits declined in popularity during the 1930s. While still common in the 1920s, they become much less common in the 1930s, except for very young boys. Most German boys wore short pants. This was especially the case in the Summer when older boys might even wear shorts. Yonger boys might wear suspender shorts. Boys began wearing shorter shorts in the 1930s, usually with kneesocks. Boys began wearing black shorts even when not involved in Hitler Youth activities. Older boys might wear knickers in the 1930s, but long pants became more common in the 1940s. Lederhosen became increasingly common, but were still primarily a regfional garment. They were particulsarly popular in southern Germany (Bavaria) and Austria which after 1938 was annexed by Germany. Knickers and longpants were also worn seasonally. Boys mostly wore kneesocks. We also se many boys wearing long stockings. Younger boys might wear long stockings with short pants during the winter. Dressy kneesocks might be white. We note some boys rolling their kneesocks down to their ankles.

Headwear

We have little information on popular headwear in Germany during the 1930s. We do see some bnoys and girls wrearing berets as well as sailor caps. Older boys might wear flat caps. After the War began in 1939 we see quite a number of boys wearing Schirmmütze. It was worn as a Winter cap by the Hitler Youth and unlike other uniform items continued to be popular after the War.

Neckwear

Neckwear does not seem to have been very popular for boys during the NAZI era. We see a lot of photographs of boys with open collars or buttoned collars without ties. The onde exceotgion, of course, was the black Hitler Youth scarve. We do note younger bows wearing string ties with little balls attached.

Shirts

Boys wore mostly plain shirts. Light colors were common, rarely did boys wear bright-colored shirts. Collared shirts were still the primary shirt type. Long sleeved shirts were common. Many boys buttoned their collar buttons for a formal affect. We note boys even at school or at play with buttoned collars.

Pants

Most German boys wore short pants. This was especially the case in the Summer when older boys might even wear shorts. Yonger boys might wear suspender shorts. Boys began wearing shorter shorts in the 1930s, usually with kneesocks. Boys began wearing black shorts even when not involved in Hitler Youth activities. Older boys might wear knickers in the 1930s, but long pants became more common in the 1940s. Knickers and longpants were also worn seasonally by younger boys.

Sailor Suits

Sailor suits declined in popularity during the 1930s. While still common in the 1920s, they become much less common in the 1930s, except for very young boys.

Lederhosen

Lederhosen became increasingly common, but were still primarily a regfional garment. They were particulsarly popular in southern Germany (Bavaria) and Austria which after 1938 was annexed by Germany.

Hosiery

Boys mostly wore kneesocks. We also se many boys wearing long stockings. Younger boys might wear long stockings with short pants during the winter. Dressy kneesocks might be white. We note some boys rolling their kneesocks down to their ankles.

Footwear

Oxford style shoes became increasingly common. Boot-like shoes, however, were still quite common. Sandals are seen in the 1920s and early 30s, but were increasingly less common by the late 1930s among older boys. They were rarely worrn except by very little boys.

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Created: 1:41 AM 11/13/2004
Last updated: 1:41 AM 11/13/2004