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I remember my class work, activies and outfits resonably well, of course the secondary years better than the earlier years. I began Kindergarten at age 4 in 1939. Coincidentally this was also when World War II began. I was dressed in a warm black or navy-blue training suit ( Trainingsanzug ) in Winter. Note the cap called a devil's cap ( Teufelsmüze ). I also had a handkerchief and some sweets in a little leather bag. I began primary school /Volksschule school at 6 1/2 years old in the Fall 1941 (figure 1). I wore several different outfits, but always with my leather book satchel ( Ranzen ). Primary school was mostly reading, writing, calculating, singing, painting, religion, and some sport. I don't recall much in the way of activities. With age 10 about 8 percent (in my case fall 1945) of the students were selected out for a more academic program. They went on to an Oberschule or to a Gymnasium (secondary school). Mother took me out of school in the Winter of 1944/1945 as conditions were becoming so dangerous. I did not return to school until the War was over. In Fall 1945 I entered a Gymnasium (secondary school). In addition to simple courses the academic activities now included literature, algebra, geometry, geography, biology, physics, chemistry, and not to forget, at least one foreign language there were a range of activities. Since the 1950s there were some changes in the German school system.
I began Kindergarten at age 4 in 1939. Coincidentally this was also when World War II began which of course I knew nothing about that at such a young age. As I was so young, I don't recall a great dealabout Kindegarten or my friends there. I do have some family snapshots. So I know how I was dressed. I wore a warm black or navy-blue training suit ( Trainingsanzug ) in Winter. There was a warm cap called a devil's cap ( Teufelsmüze ). I had a handkerchief and some sweets which I brought to school in a little leather case. At the end of Kindergarten in the summer our small class had our portrait taken. For some reason there were mostly girls. We boys wore h-bar short pants and knee socks, except in the winter. Some of us had Leferhosen. The girls all wore dresses. Some had aprons or pinafores.
I began primary school /Volksschule school at 6 1/2 years old in the Fall 1941 (figure 1). I began in a Suttgart Volksschule, but after being evacuated (1943) attended a village school. I lived with relatives and was separated from my mother. I wore several different outfits, but always with my leather book satchel ( Ranzen ). Primary school was mostly simple work. I don't recall much in the way of activities. At the end, in forth grade of primary school, older boys who had already joined the Jungvolk (junior Hitler Youth division) did organize some additional activities. They were obligatory, I remember to take part for about four events in afternoons. Mother came and got me just before Christmas 1944. The schools were closed in the village where morther worked.
During war time in Volksschule there were no special activities outside the classroom work. The older pupils (10 years of age) probably organised activities with the Hitlerjugend Jungvolk.
I am wearing my Baskenmütze (beret) as a cap. We didn't think of it as a French style at the time. Also note my stick. This is not a true „walking stick“. It is just a stick fallen down from a tree. May be that I found it when returning from school and not giving it away for the photo. [HBC note: German boys must have been better behaved than American boys. Sending American boys to school with walking sticks would have resulted in multiple combats and resulting wounds from playground sword fights.] In 1941 I think a 6-year old pupil was not a danger in school even in the U.S. – times have changed, it‘s a pity -! My school picture shows me with my leather book satchel ( Ranzen ). We all had them they were a real symbol of now being a German school children. We carried everything we needed in our satchels. In elementary school it contained a school-slate with some slate pencils in a wooden box, the first reading book called „Fibel“, and a small duster for cleaning the school-slate (as it was wet usually hanging aboard of the satchel on its side on a longer cord). I am wearing my best jacket. These satchels are very characteristic of German schoolboys. We had very different shoulder straps than the ones the girls had. We had these satchels until age 14. That was when most of us finished school not going to a secondary school, i.e., the Oberschule or the Gymnasium . It was no more common to wear the specific school caps as you may find it in pictures from the early decades in the 20th century.
Mother collected me from the village where I was staying with relativesjust before Christmas 1944. There was no transport available. She had to walk all the way, We walked back together. Fortunately it was not yet real cold. Schools all over Germany were closing as the Soviets and Allies prepared the final push into Germany. Conditions were becoming so dangerous that the schools closed or mothers began keeping the children home. So I did not return to school until the War was over. Mother gave me school assugnments to keep me busy. At age 10 about 8 percent of the students were selected out for a more academic program. They went on to Gymnasium (secondary school). I waone of those selected. After we returned to Stuttgart I began secondary school at a Oberschule when the schools were reopend, but soon the school was changed to a gymnasium.
My son was born in 1968. He attended Grundschule and Gymnasium (1974-87).
In the Grundschule there were no special activities. Privately, he went to the children music education and started to learn a musical instrument (Cello).
In Gymnasium during all the years he played in the school orchestra. When he was 15 years old he started and continued
computer programming. In the last 3 years there were so called projects offered, 1-2 weeks at the end of the school year full time in many fields. He worked in projects for biology and mathematics. Privately he continued to take private instrumental lessons for his Cello. And he entered a private sports club for playing tennis. Also, during winter holidays, he went for skiing in Switzerland. In Summer he was sent to Great Britain twice for improving English and to the French speaking Switzerland (to relatives) for improving his French. When he was 12 years old, he spent 2 months in the United States.
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Created: February 25, 2004
Last updated: 10:54 PM 2/29/2016
