Figure 1.--German boys still commonly wore short pants and knee socks in the early-1950s. This brother and sister were photigraohed in 1952. Tge boy wears plain knee socks, probably grey.

We do not yet have detailed information on the chonology of knee socks in Germany, but have begun to develop some basic information. We can only make some assessments using the images we have archived. It is a little hard to tell much about the 19th century because boys either wore long pants or long-length knee pants. And our 19th century rchive is still limited. We do see some heavy knee socks because we see a few portraits of boys wearing Lederhosen. Short pants became widely worn in the 20th century and thus we have much more information. We note mostly long stockings and three-quarter length socks being worn in the early-20th century. We see knee socks in the 1910s and they were very common after World War I, although boys wore knee pants or very long-length short pants. Both knee socks and long stockings were worn in the inter-War era. Long stockings were especially common in the Winter. Here age was a factor and to a lesser extent formality. White knee socks might be worn for formality. Both kneesocks and long stockings were worn throughout the year, although long stockings were more common in the colder weather. Long stockings were generally repalaced with knee socks after World War II, but long stockings were still worn in the late-40s ad early 50s. Patterened knee sicks were very popular after the War in the late-1940s and 50s. Knee socks were more popular with older boys, but they might wear knickers rather than shorts during the winter. Most German boys after the early-50s wore knee socks by the 1950s, even in the Winter. And we begin to see a lot of boys wearing ankle siocks. Knee socks began to decline notably with boys in the 1960s, especially when teenagers began wearing long pants and jeans more. Knee socks by the 1980s were no longer commonly worn by boys, except with folk outfits where short pants or knee-length lederhosen are worn.

The 19th Century

It is a little hard to tell much about the 19th century because boys either wore long pants or long-length knee pants. And our 19th century rchive is still limited. We do not have much information on the early-19th century, but because long pants were mostly worn until after mid-century, it is unlikely that knee socks were worn to any extent. We do see some heavy knee socks because we see a few portraits of boys wearing Lederhosen.

The 20th Century

Short pants became widely worn in the 20th century and thus we have much more information. We note mostly long stockings and three-quarter length socks being worn in the early-20th century. We see knee socks in the 1910s and they were very common after World War I, although boys wore knee pants or very long-length short pants. Both knee socks and long stockings were worn in the inter-War era. Long stockings were especially common in the Winter. Here age was a factor and to a lesser extent formality. White knee socks might be worn for formality. Both kneesocks and long stockings were worn throughout the year, although long stockings were more common in the colder weather. Long stockings were generally repalaced with kneesocks after World War II, but long stockings were still worn in the late-40s ad early 50s. Patterened knee sicks were very popular after the War in the late-1940s and 50s. Kneesocks were more popular with older boys, but they might wear knickers rather than shorts during the winter. Most German boys after the early-50s wore knee socks by the 1950s, even in the Winter. And we begin to see a lot of boys wearing ankle siocks. Knee socks began to decline notably with boys in the 1960s, esppecially with teenagers beginning to wear long pants and jeans more. Knee socks by the 1980s were no longer commonly worn by boys, except with folk outfits where short pants or knee-length lederhosen are worn.