Figure 1.-- This class portrait was taken in 1918, the final year of Imperial Germany. The school was in Cologne. The board indicated that this was class 2. I'm not sure, but I think this meant the second year of scecordary school. The boys would have been about 12 years old. Note the number of boys wearing sailor suits, a good indication that they were from middle class families. Click ob the image to see the rest of the class. |
We do not know a great deal about this school, except where it was locatred and when the class portait was taken. This class portrait was taken in 1918, the final year of Imperial Germany. Imperial Germany ended when the Kaiser abdigated and an armistace was reached with the Allies (November 1918). The school was in Cologne. We are not sure yet just what kind of school it was. Obviously from the background, it was a very substantial school. The board indicated that this was class 2. I'm not sure, but I think this meant the second year of scecordary school. The fact that all the children were boys also suggest that it may be a secondary school. The boys would have been about 12 years old. There are several interesting aspects of the clothing the boys are wearing in this photograph. We seen many older styles that were going out of fashion and newer styles thst were jusy aoppearing. Note the number of boys wearing sailor suits, a good indication that they were from middle class families. Also notice the suits. You see both the old type that buttoned at the collars and the new type with a V-front with lapels. We also see two boys wearing open-goe sandals. This was a little surprising as we have not noted German boys commonly wearing sandals, especially open-toe sandals. Also notice the open white collars without points. They were to be a major style during the 1920s-30s.
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