Figure 1.--These German boys from modest circumstances about 1920 wear long pants. Note how patched the one boy's pants are. HBC believes that most Germen boys this age, especially boys raised in more fluent circumstance would have worn short pants. In this case the boy appears to wear his father's old pants, rather than boy' s clothes purchased for him.

HBC is not entirely sure about the social connotations associated with short and long pants in Germany. There were destinct social-class conotations in America and other countries. There appear to have been social conotations in Germany. Avaialble images in the early 20th century show that many younger boys from working-class families wore long pants--often tattered and worn. HBC has also noted some images of German boys from wealthy families. The yonger boys tended to wear short pants, but older boys sometimes wore nicely tailored long pants suits. This topic reqwuire some further research. Hopefully our German readers will offer us some guidaance here.

Working Class: Early 20th Century

Avaialble images in the early 20th century show that many younger boys from working-class families wore long pants--often tattered and worn. HBC is not sure just what is involved here. In America, working class boys and even many middle class boys did not want to wear short pants because they were seen as little boys clothes. This does not appear to have been what was involved in Germany. HBC believes that it was more of an economic matter in Germany. These parents of these boys may not have been able to afford boys clothes and made do with hand-me-downs anf perhaps second-hand clothing.

Some working-class boys had heavily patched clothing. A HBC reader notes that the older boy appears to be wearing something like a covering with patches over his pants or shorts. It appears to me to be similar to leggings. Was this possibly work clothes? HBC is not sure. We tend to think that the clothes are simply parched, but it does look like the legs from one pair of pants are sewn on to a darker pair of pants.

Affluent Families: Inter-War Years

HBC has also noted some images of German boys from wealthy families. The yonger boys tended to wear short pants, but older boys sometimes wore nicely tailored long pants suits. HBC has noted some accounts from the inter-war period where teenage boys in secondary school noted boys from affluent families wearing long pants suits. Again we are not entirely sure what factors are involved here.

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Created: June 11, 2001
Last updated: June 11, 2001