Figure 1.-- Here we see two German boys, presumably brothers, in 1934. We thought that the choice of high-top shoes and Oxfords was primarily a family matter. But here we see boys in the same family wearing both types of shoes. Note the older boy is wearing the high-top shoes.

We see German boys wearing a wide range of different footwear types in the 1930s. The sturdy high-top shoes for boys continued to be worn in the 1930s, although mostly by pre-teen boys. Low cut Oxfords were becoming more common. We thought that the choice of high-top shoes and Oxfords was primarily a family matter. But here we see boys in the same family wearing both types of shoes (figure 1). We do not see any German boys wearing sneakers in the 30s. We do see many children, both boys and girls, wearing both sandals and strap shoes. There were many types and styles of these shoes worn. We see some boys wearing what look like canvas shoes designed liked strap shoes. This appears to have been a casul shoe type. We are not sure about construction details or what they were called. We also see younger boys and girls wearing many styles of closed-toe sandals and strap shoes. There appear to have been both dress and play styles. We see both one and two-bar styles. We also see boots being worn, but they were not very common. We rarely see German children going barefoot in the 1930s.

Shoes

We see German boys wearing a wide range of different footwear types including shoes in the 1930s. The sturdy high-top shoes for boys commonly worn in the early-20th centuty continued to be worn in the 1930s, although mostly by pre-teen boys. We believe that some parents thought the high-top shoes were more healthy because they provided a child more support. Low-cut Oxfords gradually grew in popularity and we see more children wearing the low-cut shoes in the 30s. We thought that the choice of high-top shoes and Oxfords was primarily a family matter. But here we see boys in the same family wearing both types of shoes (figure 1). We see boys wearing strap shoes. This seems to have been a fashion preference. We are not sure that fresh air was seen as healthy, especially as they were often worn with long stockings. . We do not see any German boys wearing canvas sneakers in the 30s. Sneakers had become popular in America, but we do not see them being widely wotn in Europe. We see some boys wearing what look like canvas shoes designed liked strap shoes. This appears to have been a casul shoe type. We are not sure about construction details or what they were called. We rarely see children wearing woodn shoes, but do not believe that they complelete disappeared.

Sandals

We also see boys and girls wearing many styles of closed-toe sandals and strap shoes. They most popular for younger boys, but there was some variation here. We do see many children, both boys and girls, wearing both sandals and strap shoes. There were many types and styles worn. It is a little complicated differentiating between sandals and strap shoes. We generally see sandals as a casul style often worn for play and a strap shoe a more formal style. Strap shoes generally were made with a single bar in the inter-war era. Sandals like strap shoes were closed toe designs in the 30s, but often had more than a single bar and connecting strap. There appear to have been both dress and play styles. We see both one and two-bar styles. Sandals were worn seasonally and were seen as more comfortable in warm weather. Presumably this was also seen as healthier. And unlike strap shoes, sandals were not worn with long stockings.

Boots

We also see boots being worn, but they were not very common. >br>

Barefeet

We rarely see German children going barefoot in the 1930s.

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Created: 1:14 AM 7/17/2007
Last updated: 4:21 AM 10/10/2011