Figure 1.--Here we aee and unidentified school portrait. We would gues that this is a class in the the first or second year of a secondary school. The children wear many common styles from the early 1930s. While the image is undate, we are fairly sure that it is an image from the Weimar era because on of the boys looks to be wearing a Scout uniform. Click on the image for a fuller discussion.

Here we see and unidentified school portrait. We would gues that this is a class in the the first or second year of a secondary school. We are not sure why there are two teachers here. Perhaps there were two classes at this grade level. The children wear many common styles from the early 1930s. While the image is undate, we are fairly sure that it is an image from the early 30s, although we can not be positive. We see boys wearing just about ever garment and style that was popular in the 1930s except for caps and coats which they are not wearing. We note many interesting aspects of this school portrait. Hopefully our German readers will have even more insights.

The School

Here we see and unidentified school portrait. The school is unidentified. We believe it is a secondary school. Both the age of the children and the substantial foundation in the background suggest a secondary school to us. It is true that boys this age who were not in academic advanced programs were in primary schools. The way the boys are dressed suggest middle-class families to us which would mean that they are probably in a secondary school. Most working-class children did not attend secindary school. There were differentkinds of secondary schools in Germany at the time. There were both Gymnasien/Oberschulen and Realschule/Hauptschule. There is no way of knowing which type of shhool this was.

Location

We think that this school was probably located in northern Germany. There is no way to be sure of course, but one small detail catches our eye. We only see one boy wearing an h-bar halter. This was a very common style, often worn with Lederhosen in southern Germany, especually Bavaria. It was less common in northern Germany. Leaderhosen and haltars werestill very regionl in the early 1930s. Here the boy's halter is almost covered up, but a flower design can be mase out. This means that it was likely a proper leather halter, the kind worn with Lederhosen, and not h-bar shorts.

Age

The children here look about 11 years old. This is the age that children were separated with the more academically clever going to a secondary school. The less academically clever stayed in primary schools for a few more years. Theoretically this division was made on academic nility, but social class was a major factor, in part because of the parents and the extent they guided and assisted the children. Finances were another factor. There were fees associated with secondary schools and many working class families could use the wages a youth could earn. Thus most middle-class children attended secondary school while working-class children did not advance beyounf primary school.

Class

We would gues that this is a class in the the first or second year of a secondary school. We are not sure why there are two teachers here. Perhaps there were two classes at this grade level. We have, however, seen many single class portraits that had this many children. We do not note many photographs of small classes. So it could be one class. Perhaps the second teacher is the headmaster. I'm not quite sure here.

Chronology

The children wear many common styles from the early 1930s. While the image is undated, we are fairly sure that it is an image from the Weimar era. Two of the boys wear youth uniforms--but we are not at all sure that that are Hitler Youth uniforms. A reader writes, "I think that you are correct that this photo is from the 1930s--both because of the length of the short pants and because most of the long stockings are beige or brown, although one boy apparently wears black long stockings. The light colors were more popular in the 1930s. Although dating it as to just when in the 30s is moe tricky. I'd say it definitely was the early or mid-30s." Another reader writes, "I think you are right as to the timing of this picture. I take that primarely from the looks of the teachers. The kid's clothing could have also been from the '40s. It is intersteing to see that some kids wore stockings and one of the kids rolled them down."

Garmemts

We see boys wearing just about ever garment and style that was popular in the 1930s except for caps and coats which they are not wearing. Here only a few boys are wearing suits which were more commn in the 1920s. A few boys wore suits or suit-like jackets, both with and without ties. As was very common in the 1920s, a few boys wear sailor suits. They are all traditionally styled suits. Several boys wear sweaters. We notice many different patterns and styles. Some boys wear ties with their sweaters, but open collars are more common, although we see few Schiller collars. This was a major style in the 1920s. All of these boys seem to be wearing short pants, although we can't be sure about the boys in the back rows. Only a few boys wear suspenders or at least wear them so they can be seen. One boy wears a h-bar halter. The boys wear both long stockings and kneesocks. They are all solid colors. We do not note any patterns. Nor do we see any boys wearing ankle socks. One boy has rolled doen his kneesocks. The boys here wear mostly low-cut oxfords. We also notice quite a number of boys wearing what look like soft strap shoes which seemed to have been worn rather like American boys wore sneakers. One boy wears a youth group uniform, we think a Scout uniform.

Youth Groups

Two boys wear youth group uniforms. We are unsure, however, just what group is involved. We thought they might be Scouts. A reader writes, "As to the Scout Uniform: I am not certain that this was a scout uniform. It was tradition to wear a scarf and not a lanyard with the scout uniform. Maybe it was a for-runner of the Hitler Youth." They could be Hitler Youth (HJ) uniforms, but notably neither boy wears a neckerchief with his youth group shirt. There were many different youth groups active in the early 1930s and the HJ was mot yet very large. I think wearing HJ uniforms to school before Hitler seized power would have been discouraged if not prohibited, but I m not entirely sure about that. Perhaps this is why the boys are wearing their youth organizatin shirts without the neckerchiefs which were more identified with the organization than the shirt.

Hair Styles

Note that none of the boys here have cropped hair, a style still fairly common in the 1920s. The boys here have hair that can be combed, although often cut very short on the sides--rather like A British short back and sides. Some of the boys have hair cut in bangs, but mostly not sharp bangs. Most have hair that is combed back in front in rther modern styles.

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Created: 1:47 AM 8/2/2006
Last updated: 12:30 AM 8/3/2006