Figure 1.--This German card was made and used in Germany during 1921, right after World War I. Note the sailor suits which were still very popular in Germany and the boys' shaved heads. I'm not sure what the greeting says.

HBC has little information on the German postcard industry at this time. Germany had an important industry and until World War I (1914-18), German companies supplied large numbers of cards to America. HBC does not at this time have details on the Gernman post cards exported to the United States, but HBC does not believe they tended to be the ones with children. Some of the early German cards are easy to spot because before and immediately after World War I the Germans produced cards where the boys had shaved heads. While not unknown in other countries, it was much more common in Germany. Boys in sailor suits were also very common in the German cards. The German postcard industry does not seem to have been as large as the French industry althiugh it was sizeable. We suspect that the German cards were not as apealing as the French cards in many export markets. We note that while we find many French cards postally used in other countries, this is less common for the German cards. We also note that while there are many Germany cards available from the early 20th century before World War I and immediately afterwards during the 1920s, we find few from the 1930s, especially after the NAZI seizure of power in 1933.

German Post Card Industry

HBC has little information on the German postcard industry at this time. Germany had an important industry and until World War I (1914-18), German companies supplied large numbers of cards to America. HBC does not at this time have details on the Gernman post cards exported to the United States, but HBC does not believe they tended to be the ones with children. The German postcard industry does not seem to have been as large as the French industry althiugh it was sizeable. We suspect that the German cards were not as apealing as the French cards in many export markets, at lest the cards with adorable children in fancy clothes. We note that while we find many French cards postally used in other countries, this is less common for the German cards.

Hair Styles

Some of the early German cards are easy to spot because before and immediately after World War I the Germans produced cards where the boys had shaved heads. While not unknown in other countries, it was much more common in Germany. By the mid 1920s we begin to see fewer images of boys with shaved heads. Boys with long hair are realtively rare, but we have noted younger boys with Dutch boy bangs, as this style is called in America. I'm not sure what the Germans called it.

Clothing

Boys in sailor suits were also very common in the German cards.

Chronology

We also note that while there are many Germany cards available from the early 20th century before World War I and immediately afterwards during the 1920s. These cards except perhaps for the shaved heads or not unlike the cards produced in France and other European countries. Boys are, for example, commonly photographed with baskets and garland of flowers, like the French boys. We find few German cards, however, from the 1930s, especially after the NAZI seizure of power in 1933. We suspect that the themes changed from sweet children in fancy clothes to Hotlet Youth with hardened bodies and steely expressions. Certainly no self respecing Hitler Youth boy would be pictured with a basket of flowers are such garments as strap shoes.

Companies

We have vedry limited information on German postcard companies at this time. The card here as the logo of a circle with HTL inside it. As the T is in a larger font, presumably the company name was THL. Thus we know this company was operating in 1921.

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Created: November 2, 2001
Last updated: November 2, 2001