St. Stephan's Gymnasium , 1915

Figure 1.--This portrait dated 1915 was taken of the graduating class of St. Stephan's Gymnasium (secondary school) in Augsburg, Germany. The boys would be about 17 or 18 years old. They are obviously dressed formally for the class photograph in dark suits with white shirts (mostly with detachable starched collars), neckties, and black lace-up high-top shoes.

Here is an interesting photo dated 1915 taken of the graduating class of St. Stephan's Gymnasium (secondary school) in Augsburg, Germany. The boys would be about 17 or 18 years old. They are obviously dressed formally for the class photograph in dark suits with white shirts (mostly with detachable starched collars), neckties, and black lace-up high-top shoes. Some of the boys already are wearing long trousers, but the majority seem to wear knee-pants suits with long black stockings. Notice the ornamental buttons at the knee of the boy who is reclining. The boys also wear caps, mostly flat caps.

Chronology

This school portrait is dated 1915. World War I began in 1914. I believe that at the times boys in school were not subject to conscription. This would mean that many of these boys would have inlisted or have been drafted when they fiunished school. I think exceptions were made for those going on to university, but I am not sure of this. One is reminded of the openinf scene of All Quiet on the Western Front with the boys in school anxious to ger into the War and their school master lecturing them on their patriotic duty to the Fatherland. We wonder what Professor Werner Egk here told his students.

School

The school is the St. Stephan's Gymnasium (secondary school) in Augsburg, Germany. We have no details about the school. Perhaps some of our German readers will be familar with the school. This would be an academically selective school as most German boys at the time did not go beyond primary school. The boys had to be academically able. I'm not sure if fees were also required. The name suggests that it may be a Catholic school.

Class

The photograph looks to show some if not all of the graduating class. taken of the 1915 graduating class.

Clothing

The boys would be about 17 or 18 years old. They are obviously dressed formally for the class photograph in dark suits with white shirts (mostly with detachable starched collars), neckties, and black lace-up high-top shoes. Some of the boys already are wearing long trousers, but the majority seem to wear knee-pants suits with long black stockings. Notice the ornamental buttons at the knee of the boy who is reclining. The boys also wear caps. Some look like flat caps, but it is difficult to make out. One boy on the left seems to have a cap with a visor which I believe in some sort of student cap. The boy with the lighter colored suit at the right appears to be wearing a more grown-up hat with a brim. The boys' teacher (Professor Werner Egk) stands behind them in the center wearing a double-breasted suit, but the picture has been unfortunately cropped so that we cannot see his head. This photograph is revealing as to the formal dress of older highschool boys in the Germany of 1915. It also shows that it was quite normal for boys as old as 18 or 19 to remain in knee pants at this point in history.

Created: April 7, 2004
Last updated: April 7, 2004