Figure 1.-- These German boys are studying toether in a boarding institution. While the facility is unidentified, we believe it is an orphanage and not a school. The boys are studying around a table. They probably went to the local state school. We do know the photograph was taken in 1929, but not the location. The boys do not wear uniforms. This was not common in German schools or orphanages. The oldest boy (about 12 or 13 years old) wears a sailor suit. All the boys wear short trousers with long stockings. They are obviously a dark color, but we are unsure about the color. We know that this was a boarding facility, probably an orphanage, because we have another photo showing the boys in their dormitory getting dressed. The boys' clothes seem quite typical for Germany in 1929. Click the image for more information about the orphanage.

In connection with World War I, one often thinks of Belgian and French orphanages. The last years of the War and the years immediately following World War I were terribly difficult in Germany. Large numbers of German civilains died of starvation. (This was one factor in undermining civilian morale in World War I and a reason that the NAZIs attempted to avoid rationing in the early years of World War II, efforts which led to the plundering of occupied countries.) Unlike World War I efforts to feed Belgium, because of the War there was little interest in humanitarian assistance to Germany, even after the War. Many fathers were killed in the War and mothers had trouble feeding their children. Unemployment was rife and fathers that did return could not find jobs. Thus large numbers of children were put in orphanages at least temprarilty because their parents could not feed them. One boy who spent 1916-18 in an orphanage with his brother recalls the meager food. His family was not allowed to supplement the food or even give a few coins. Such donations had to be turned over to the orphange. He did not mention the clothing at the orphanage. Germany by 1917 was expereincing severe food shortages. We note a German orphanage, probably during the NAZI era. After the War, the difficult economic condituins probably caused more parents, especially single-parent families to put children in orphanages. The orphanages were boarding facilitites, but they did not have schools. The children went to the local state school. We do not have much information about conditions in the orphanages.

Created: 10:19 PM 5/31/2008
Last updated: 10:19 PM 5/31/2008