Figure 1.--This German boys wears long pants in a portrait probably taken in the early 1950s. From the material they look to be for winter wear. Although it is difficult to see, the satchell he has on tells us that he is on his way to school--but he needs his shoe laces tied. We have no idea what all those buttons are for. Image courtesy of Album1900.

Long pants were adopted by laborers and peaseants before gentelmen began wearing them in in the 1820s. Boys generally wore long pants until after mid-centuary when kneeapnts began increasing in popularity. While many German boys wore kneepants, short pants, and knickers many German boys also wore long pants. Several factors were involved bere, such as seasonality and social class. Some German boys in the first half of the 20th century wore short pants all year long, even during the winter. Mothers in cold weather might have boys wear long stockings with shorts--especially younger boys. Even when short pants were commonly worn by German boys, some mothers preferred long pants during the cold winter months. Even the Hitler Youth had a long pants winter uniform. There were no longpants Sout uniforms for winter at the time. Social class was a factor because working class boys often inherited worn clothes of their father or older brother. Thus they were more likely to dress in juvenile styled clothes because their parents could not afford to buy new children's clothes. After World War II (1939-45) especially in the 1950s, long pants began to be increasingly worn, esoecially in cold weather. erman boys by the 1960s were increasing wearing long pants even during the summer. This included even the younger boys.

Chronology

Long pants were adopted by laborers and peaseants before gentelmen began wearing them in the early 19th century. Long pants were becoming inmcreasingly common by the 1820s. Fashionable boys began wearing long pants as part of skeleton suits in the late 18th century, well before their fathers began wearing long pants. Boys generally wore long pants until after mid-centuary when knee pants began increasing in popularity. At first it was just the younger boys wearing knee pants and long pants were much more common. By the very late 19th century we even see teenagers wearing knee pants. While many German boys wore kneepants, short pants, and knickers many German boys also wore long pants. Several factors were involved bere, such as seasonality and social class. This basic situation continued into the early 20th century. There was a major change after World War I (1914-18). Short pants became increasingly popular. At first they were lon like knee pants, but gradually became shorter. They were worn by most boys and younger teenagers. Some German boys in the first half of the 20th century wore short pants all year long, even during the winter. Older boys wore knickers or long pants. The specific age at which boys changed varied from family to fdamily. And the process also caried. Some boys first got long pants foe winter wear. Others first got a long pants sit for formalmoccassions and continued to wear short pants for casual wear and school. After World War II (1939-45) especially in the 1950s, short pants were still very common, long pants began to be increasingly worn, esoecially in cold weather and at the end of the decade. German boys by the 1960s were increasing wearing long pants. Short pants began to be primarily casual, summer wear, especially by the end of the decade. This was the situation in the 1970s as long pants became increasingly common. Jeans were increasingly popular. We no longer see many Herman boys, except the very youngesr wearing short pants suits. By the end of the decade, German boys mosly wore long pans. Some boys even wore long pants in the summer.

Seasonality

Mothers in cold weather might have boys wear long stockings with shorts--especially younger boys. Even when short pants were commonly worn by German boys, some mothers preferred long pants during the cold winter months. Even the Hitler Youth had a long pants winter uniform. There were no long pants Scout uniforms for winter at the time.

Social Class

Social class was a factor because working class boys often inherited worn clothes of their father or older brother. Thus they were more likely to dress in juvenile styled clothes because their parents could not afford to buy new children's clothes.

Age

The age at which German boys wore long pants varied substantially on a chronological basis. There were a range of other afactors involved such as social class and seasonsality. There were also family conventions involved.

Types

We do not yet have much information on the different kinnds of long pants worn in Germany. One important type of long pants is jeans. They were not worn in Germany before World War II. We see them in the early 50s, but they do not seem to become popular until the late-50s. They were a major fashion item by the 1960s, especially with teenagers.

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Created: May 3, 2003
Last updated: 8:33 PM 1/14/2010