Figure 1.--These boys are clearly German. A photograph collector dates this snapshot of two Berlin brothers to the the 1930s. HBC believes that it is more likely the early 50s. These little guys look properly scrubbed up and smartly dressed,including shiney shoes for a wonderful family photo. Image courtesy of the RS collection.

These boys are unidentified, but are obviously brothers. They are also clearly German. The image has a photographic stamp on the reverse induicating Berlin, but even without this there would be no doubt that they wee German or Austrian. A photograph collector dates this snapshot of two Berlin brothers to the the 1930s. HBC believes that it is more likely the early 50s. Perhaps our German readers will have some comments. The picture illustrates many popular post-World War II German boys' fashions. Especially the new leather shoes suggest to us that the boys came from a prosperous, but certainly not wealthy middle-class family in a recovering Germany.

Identity

These boys are unidentified, but are obviusly brothers. The fact that these boys are dressed as closely identical as possible is very strong evidence that they are brothers. One boy looks to be abour 10 or 11 years old. His younger brother looks to be about 6-7 years old. The older boy may have been born during the World War II.

Nationality

The boys are also clearly German. The image has a photographic stamp on the reverse indicating Berlin, but even without this there would be no doubt that they wee German or Austrian. The background suggests that they lived in a rather rural suburb of Berlin.

Scene

I thought at first that the boys may have been photographed in new school clothes, but the background suggests that probably March is more likeky.

Chronology

A photograph collector dates this snapshot of two Berlin brothers to the the 1930s. HBC believes that it is more likely the early 50s. Perhaps our German readers will have some comments. I say this becayse I do not note German boys wearing patterened kneesocks to ank extent during the 1930s or eraly 1940s, except perhaps with knickers. Immediately after the War, conditions were very difficult. Children leather shoes in particular were hard to find and few had the money. Only in 1948 did the economy begin to pick up. Thus the most likely time for these clothes is the 1950s. We have seen many images of German boys wearing colorful plaid shirts and patterened kneesocks during this period. One reader writes, "I agree with you as to the time the photograph was taken, it does look like the 1950s, possibly early 1960s, but no earlier."

Clothing

The picture illustrates many popular post-World War II German boys' fashions.

Shirts

The boys wear colorful plaid shirts, popular in Germany during the 1950s and eraly 60s, especially with lederhosen. Based on available color imagery, the plaid probably had a red tint to it. Note both boys have buttoned their collar buttons. It's a pitty the photograph is a black and white print as the clothes the boys are wearing seem quite colourful.

Lederhosen halter

At first glance both boys appear to be wearing lederhosen, but if you look closely, you'll see that although they do have the braces typical of lederhosen, complete with the carved image in the front cross strap. I'm not sure how the halter was attached to the pants, I think by buttons on the inside of the oants waistband. German boys commonly wore suspender shorts through the 1940s and 50s. A major factor here was that mothers bought large sizes so a boy could wear them for serveral years and the suspenders were needed to hold up the trousers of youngr boys. Here leather leaderhosen halters are being used instead material suspenders.

Short pants

Despite the lederhosen halter, the short pants are actually some type of non-leather material. I can't tell if it's cordoroy, but it has that kind of look, or at least a heavy type material, like wool. A reader writes, "It is diffiuclt to ascertain what material the shorts are made from. As you say they have the look of being corduroys. I put the brightness of my monitor up full and I couldn't discern any wales in the material. They seem firm enough for flannel or perhaps a serge fabric. they look quite smart and the shorts do put me in mind of the corduroy ones I used to wear, they have the same look about them even to their length." A readere writes, "Could it be that the higher cost of lederhosen (at least in today's world) made it more costly to outfit both boys in the family, so to help, the parents substituted a more economical version of non leather short pants." HBC would not make that assumption. Especially the new leather shoes suggest to us that the boys came from a prosperous, but certainly not wealthy middle-class family in a recovering Germany. Another reader writes, "I've just had a proper look at this page on the HBC web site and if you look carefully at the hem of the shorts the boy on the left is wearing, you will see what look to be turn ups (cuffs)."

Kneesocks

The boys wear similar, but not identical patterened kneesocks.

Identical Stytling

Clearly mom liked to dress the boys identically. Even their hair is combed identically. In gact these brothers are dressed as identically as possible. Only the knee socks have a slightly different pattern. Looks like mom and dad wanted the patterned look. The shirts and knee socks are well co-ordinated.

Hair Style

Notice that both boys have right parts in their hair styles. Left parts were much more common. I'm not sure, but this suggests that mutter was still combing their hair.

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Created: September 4, 2003
Last updated: September 5, 2003