Figure 1.--Many boys wore school caps in the early 20th century. These boys in 1918 wear the basic style, but there were small differes in the bill, crown, and color of the cap band.

HBC has just begun to collect information on German boys' headwear. We note a variety of different headwear styles over time. Headwear was very common in the 19th and early 20th century, but since the mid-20th century has become less common. There are a range of factors besides fashion involved in the choice of heawear, including age, gender, and social-class. As with the French and English, there are a few headwear style especially associated with German boys. The most common is the alpine style often worn with Bavarian folk costumes like lederhosen outfits. Some German readers have mentioned a "Schirmmütze". We do note that sailor hats and caps were especially popular in Germany, as were sailor suits. Many German boys began scgool wearing either sailor hats and caps or peaked army style caps. We have also noted rather English-looking boaters. Various styles of flat caps were also popular. During the NAZI era boys wore their Hitler Youth caps with their uniforms. We have very limited information on German headwear at this time. We also do not know the German names for all of the different caps and hats. We note that the German word for cap was "mütze" and the name for many caps was formed as in English my simply adding a noun to it like "schülermütze" for school cap.

Chronology

HBC has just begun to collect information on German boys' headwear. We note a variety of different headwear styles over time. Headwear was very common in the 19th century. We do not yet have much information on 19th century headwear. We note younger boys wearing sailor hats. This appeared to have been a particulartly popular style. We have much more information on the 20th century. Headwear was still common in the early 20th century. We see younger boys wearing sailor hats. We also note awide vsariety of caps as well as berets. We notice boys wearing school caps, stocking caps and sailor caps. Some boys wore flat caps, but they were not a major style as in America. During the NAZI era sand into the 50s Schirmmütze became popular. School caps disappeared completely after World war II. There were also folk styles such as the Alpine cap. Since the mid-20th century, headwear has become less common in Germany. We still note stocking caps being worn during the Winter.

Factors

There are a range of factors besides fashion involved in the choice of headwear, including age, gender, and social-class.

Styles

As with the French and English, there are a few headwear style especially associated with German boys. The most common is the alpine style often worn with Bavarian folk costumes like lederhosen outfits. Some German readers have mentioned a "Schirmmütze". We do note that sailor hats and caps were especially popular in Germany, as were sailor suits. Many German boys began scgool wearing either sailor hats and caps or peaked army style caps. We have also noted rather English-looking boaters. Various styles of flat caps were also popular. During the NAZI era boys wore their Hitler Youth caps with their uniforms. We have very limited information on German headwear at this time. We also do not know the German names for all of the different caps and hats. We note that the German word for cap was "mütze" and the name for many caps was formed as in English my simply adding a noun to it like "schülermütze" for school cap.

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Created: March 5, 2002
Last updated: 9:17 PM 12/10/2007