Figure 1.--The unidentified German children here in 1930 seem to be a oy and a girl. We havenot seen the hat on the left very commonly, but sailor caps were very common.

We have much more information 20th century headwear largely because the photographic record included so many snapshots. Boys often did not wear their capos and hats for studio portraits. Snapshots are more likely to show the headwear being worn as well as conventions and the extent to which boys actully wore headwear. Headwear was still common in the early 20th century. We see younger boys wearing sailor hats. We also note awide variety of caps. Caps became much more common for boys in the 20h century. We still see hats in the 1900s, but as early as the 1910s, caps are the predominte headwear. Sailor caps were cery popular, but were not the only style. We also notice berets. Berets are more associated with France of course, but we see many German boys wearing them. We notice boys wearing school caps, stocking caps and sailor caps. Some boys wore flat caps, but they were not a major style as in America. During the NAZI era and into the 50s Schirmmütze became popular. School caps disappeared completely after World War II. There were also folk styles such as the Alpine cap. Since the mid-20th century, headwear has become less common in Germany. We still note stocking caps being worn during the Winter. After World War II, especially by the 1960s we see fewer German boys wearing headwear. By the end of the century, we no longer see boys commonly wearing headwear. An exception here was the winter. Boys still often had winter caps.

The 1900s

Headwear was still common in the early 20th century. The decade were notable for the variety of headwear worn. We see younger boys wearing sailor hats. We also note awide variety of caps. Caps became much more common for boys in the 20th century. We still see hats in the 1900s, but we see a wide mix of headwear with boys wearing different styles of hats and caps. Away from home it seems quite common to wear headwear even when not wearing suits. We see a range of hats including wide-brimmed hats and boaters. There were also hsats with small turned-up brims. School caps were also popular. There were a variety of other cap styles like flat caps. Stovking caps were worn in cold weather. Social class, age, and gender all affected the types of headwear worn.

The 1910s

As early as the 1910s, we see caps are the predominte headwear. Sailor caps were cery popular, but were not the only style.

The 1920s

We notice German boys wearing berets in the 1920s. Berets are more associated with France of course, but we see many German boys wearing them. We are not sure abut the time line, but they do not seem very common earlier in the century. We notice boys wearing school caps, stocking caps and sailor caps. Some boys wore flat caps, but they were not a major style as in America.

The 1930s

During the NAZI era and into the 50s Schirmmütze became popular. They seem to have become populr in the late-30s, perhaps bedcause they were a Hitler Youth uniform style.

The 1940s

School caps disappeared completely after World War II. There were also folk styles such as the Alpine cap.

The 1960s

Since the mid-20th century, headwear has become less common in Germany. We still note stocking caps being worn during the Winter. After World War II, especially by the 1960s we see fewer German boys wearing headwear. By the end of the century, we no longer see boys commonly wearing headwear. An exception here was the winter. Boys still often had winter caps.

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Created: 2:35 AM 1/13/2010
Last updated: 2:35 AM 1/13/2010