Figure 1.--The portrait here is undated, but we believe was taken in the 1940s. Motice that there is no cloth and sponge handing on his book satchel. |
|
The 1940s included both World War II and the very difficult post-World War II era when a devested Germany was occupied by the Soviet Union and the western Allies.
The Germans were not at first deprived by the War. NAZI policies of exploiting occupied countries meant that food was not a first short in Germany. Sugar was another question. Again the Royal Navy blockade cut Germany off from imported sugar. We have very few Zuckertute portraits during the 40s. We have found a few portraits during the very early 40s, but after the War turned against Germny they bcome rare. This reflects the difficult conditions, especially beginning in 1943. Of course candy was only one of the items that children looked for in their Zuckertuten, but there were other items such as small toys and school supplies.
We are not entirely sure how the Zukertute custom fared during the War. One might think it was still common during the first years of the War.
A German reader writes, "For what reason I don't know, I didn't get one in 1941 when I began school. May be that during the war it was not possible to get one in a shop. My mother was not good in hand-crafting."
Later as the War went against Germany, we assume that they were not common. Many schools in cities were emptied as the children were evacuated to the countryside.
Younger German children grew up with very few sweets and no chocolate at all. This is one reason why the American flyer, the Chocolate Uncle, made such an impression on the Berlin children during the Berlin Airlift.
A german reader writes, "We all were very poor and my mother during WWI and us children during and after World War II. But there was always a Zuckertuete. sometimes home made and with things from family and friends." [Marrion]
Marrion, Elizabet E-mail message, Octobr 6, 2012.
Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Main Chronology Page]
[The 1880s]
[The 1890s]
[The 1900s]
[The 1910s]
[The 1920s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1950s]
[The 1960s]
[The 1970s]
[The 1980s]
Related Style Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Main first day school]
[Main country page]
[Long pants suits]
[Short pants suits]
[Socks]
[Eton suits]
[Jacket and trousers]
[Blazer
[School sandals]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing School Uniform Pages
[Return to the Main German 20th century school gift cone chronology page]
[Return to the Main German school gift cone chronology page]
[Return to the Main NAZI schoolwear page]
[Australia]
[England]
[France]
[Germany]
[Italy]
[Japan]
[New Zealand]
[Scotland]
[United States]
Navigate the HBC School Section:
[About Us]
[Activities]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Debate]
[Economics]
[Garment]
[Gender]
[Hair]
[History]
[Home trends]
[Literary characters]
[School types]
[Significance]
[Transport and travel
[Uniform regulations]
[Year level]
[Other topics]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Return to the Historic Boys' School Home]
