Figure 1.--This boy in 1934 wore a vest to school. Actually it looks more like a cross between a vest and sweater. The board says "in memory of my school time 1934" Unfortunately it does not identify the school. Notice the boys wears ankle socks with kneesocks. I do not think this sweater-vest is part of a matching suit. It seems to be an independent garment that could be worn with or without a jacket. A couple of things are interesting about the photograph.

This boy in 1934 wore a vest to school. Actually it looks more like a cross between a vest and sweater. The board says "in memory of my school time 1934" Unfortunately it does not identify the school. Notice the boys wears ankle socks with kneesocks. I do not think this sweater-vest is part of a matching suit. It seems to be an independent garment that could be worn with or without a jacket. A couple of things are interesting about the photograph.

The Boy

The boy here is unidentified. We know nothing about him. He looks to be about 13 years old. We would guess that he is a clever boy and he seemed to have earned a place in a gymnasium, an academically selective secondary school. His clothing suggest to us that he was a middle-class boy, but the family while not poor was of relatively modest means. We do not thin he was poor because his shoes look subtantial and his socks look new. We don't think, however, a really affluent family would send a boy to school in a vest like this.

Chronology

Here we do not have to gues about the date. The photograph was cleaely taken in 1934, although we do not know just when in the school year the photograph was taken.

Location

Unfortunately the board by the boy does not identify the school. So we do not know where in Germany the school is located. It looks like a substantial building which probably still exists. Perhaps one of our German readers will eventually identify it.

School

The board says "in memory of my school time 1934" The arched doorway behind this lad looks as though it might be the entrance to a "gymnasium" (the term for a German middle and high school), or perhaps even a church. But a substantial school is most likely, especially as this is is a school photograph.

Clothing

Several aspects of the boys clothing are interesting and worthy of mention. The sweater vest and hosiery are especially interesting.

Sweater vest

This boy in 1934 wore a vest to school. Actually it looks more like a cross between a vest and sweater. Notice the boys wears ankle socks with kneesocks. I do not think this sweater-vest is part of a matching suit. It seems to be an independent garment that could be worn with or without a jacket. This was a sweater-vest rather than a vest worn as part of a matching suit. It looks to have been hand knitted by his mother or grandmother. It seems to be an independent garment that could be worn with or without a jacket. A couple of things are interesting about the garment, however. First of all, it is tucked into the boy's short trousers rather than worn, as most sweaters are, over the beltline. I'm not sure why the boy has adopted this style. We note quite a number of German boys in the inter-war era (especially the 1930s) wearing belts over their sewaters, meaning of course the belt had no purpose. Perhaps it is because the sweater-vest is longer than he liked and because he wanted his belt to show. Or it could be that the shorts are somewhat roomy and he wanted a layer of sweater to come between the belt and his waist for a trimmer fit. The second point of interest is the double- breasted feature. I have seen very few double breasted sweaters. Most sweaters that button are cardigan-style and therefore single breasted. This sweater seems to imitate the style of suit vests (or waistcoats) that were tailored as part of three-piece suits. Suits with this double breasted kind of waistcoat were a bit more daring and attention-getting than the more common single breasted waistcoat.

Hosiery

The hosiery here is also worth comment. The boy is wearing knee-length ribbed socks, much favored by German men and boys for sport and hiking in the 1930s and 1940s. But the ankle socks which he wears over the knee socks with their tops durned down over the tops of his hightop shoes gives an additional our-doorsy or sporting effect to the boy's dress. This style of socks were occasionally worn not only over knee socks but also over long stockings. Notice for instance the ankle socks worn on top of long stockings by another German boy for outdoor activity--i.e., the riding of a bike. Boys obviously liked this sporty, outdoor look because it connoted ruggedness, masculinity, and athleticism.

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Created: 9:48 PM 1/23/2006
Last updated: 9:48 PM 1/23/2006