Figure 1.--This German cabinet card has a festive motif. It shows two Berlin boys in athletic gear--white long-sleeved collarless shirts, white knee pants with suspenders, black long stockings, presumably dressed for gymnastics. The portrait is undated, but was probably taken sometime during the 1910s.

We do not know a great deal about gymnastics in Germany. We note that a famed German educator, Friedrich Ludwig Jahn--Turnvater Jahn (1778-1852), promoted gymastics in German schools during the 19th century. We beieve there were also athletic clubs which persued gymnastics. We do not know much about the clothing worn. We have found photographic portraits from the early 20th century with the boys wearing white athletic shirts, white knee pants, and black long stockings. We are not ure just how common this was, but we have noted several such photographs. Long stockings worn with stocking supporters seems a strange outfit for gymnastics, but apperently it was considered a sporty look. "Turnen" means "gymnastics") in German, but has a moren general meaning as well. A reader tells us, " 'Turnen' is for us a rather general term. The term 'Gymnastik/"Geräteturnen' is not very popular in general and in schools. 'The term 'Gymnastik' is more used for medical purposes, 'Krankengymnastik"/"Heilgymnastik'." "Turnvater Jahn" (Friedrich Ludwig Jahn) is considered to be the founder of all the activities in sports/gymnastics in Germany.

Created: 12:28 AM 2/12/2007
Last updated: 12:28 AM 2/12/2007