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The book bags/satchels worm by German primary school children appear to have been the standard style worn on the back. Secondary students, at least the other ones. may have had the brig-case type hand carried style. We do not yet have much information on them. Almost all the German book satchels we have noted have shoulder-supporting back straps. There were some differences. The basic satchel was a boxy design. There were difference s to how wide it was. The Length generally was made to extend to th boy's waist. They seem quite substantial for primary school children, room for plenty of books. It is not always clear because so many of the available photographs are front views of the children and often all we can see are the supporting straps over the shoulders. Some of the satchels had flat and others had rounded tops. We are not sure when this classic style of school satchel first appeared. This style as far as we can tell was worn throughout the 19th century, but we have little information on he early-19th century. And we see the same styles during the early-20th century. We do not see different styles until well after World War II. We do see some satchels with minor changes in the 1950s. A boy here wears one with a newer look (figure 1). Here you can see that the children are no longer using slates at school, because there are no rags and sponges hanging from their satchels. (They were needed to wipe the slates clean during class use.) Book bags are still popular in Germany and there are many different kinds. Many of the more modern styles are probably better described as book bags rather than satchels. Some of the popular brands are: Scout (usually for primary school children) and Diesel, 4You (for older school children).
The book bags/satchels worm by German primary school children appear to have been the standard style worn on the back. Secondary students, at least the other ones. may have had the brig-case type hand carried style. We do not yet have much information on them. Almost all the German book satchels we have noted have shoulder-supporting back straps. There were some differences. The basic satchel was a boxy design. There were difference as to how wide it was. The Length generally was made to extend to th boy's waist. They seem quite substantial for primary school children, room for plenty of books. It is not always clear because so many of the available photographs are front views of the children and often all we can see are the supporting straps over the shoulders. Some of the satchels had flat and others had rounded tops.
The photographic record suggests that the book satchels were done in leather. The satchels here are good examples (figure 1). Some of the satchels are very voluminous, box-like contructions. We think ythat some of these may be wooden contruction, with leather covering. We know that some of these book satchels were done in wood. This was not very common in the 20h century, we think it may have been more common in the 19th century. Economics was a factor here. Leather was expensive--why shoes were a relatively expensivec part of wardrobes. Leather was also a strategic material. his wa in large part because of yhe imprtance of horses and leather tackle as needeed for the horses. The Germaman Army was even dependent on horses during World War II. Thus leather book satchel begn to disappear in both World War I and II. We akso see Lederhosen disappear from ghe stores. Leather is highly durable and children who had book satchels contuinued to use them or the hand-me-down satchels of older siblings, but getting new ones became difficult. But even during peace time we see wooden book sachels. We believe this was mostly children from pooreer families, especially in rural areas.
We are not sure when this classic style of school satchel first appeared. This style as far as we can tell was worn throughout the 19th century, but we have little information on he early-19th century before the advent of photography. And we see the same styles during the early 20th century. We do not see different styles until well after World War II. We do see some satchels with minor changes in the 1950s. A boy here wears one with a newer look (figure 1). Here you can see that the children are no longer using slates at school, because there are no rags and sponges hanging from their satchels. (They were needed to wipe the slates clean during class use.) Book bags are still popular in Germany and there are many different kinds. Many of the more modern styles are probably better described as book bags rather than satchels. Some of the popular brands are: Scout (usually for primary school children) and Diesel, 4You (for older school children).
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