Figure 1.--This German boys in the 1920s is off to school in the morning. Notice his school cap. Also notice his portfolio rather than the over the shoulders satchel. I think that may mean he is about 11 years old and has finished Volksschule. The leather case in front I think is for his lunch. Also notice his belt. Itis worn over his sweater, meaning that it had no practical ourpose.

We note many photographs of German children on their way to and from school. The images show us how German children dressed for school over time as well as what they brought with them to school. Parents seeem to have mostly photographed their younger children. Of course the first day photograophs were especially common as this was seen as such an important step in a child's life. Here we have formal portraits and not always the children setting off to school. As Germans did not for the most part have school uniforms, except caps. Here many secondary schools had destinctive military-stled peaked caps. These family school snap shots are a good reflection of not only schoolwear over time, but overall children's fashions. There were also of course season differences. The outfits refected not only age and the type of school, but chronological trends and social-class differences. We can alo see the difference in the outfits worn at primary and secondary schools. Particularly notable are the school satchels the younger childrn took to school. There were also lunch satches, but not all the children had these. Most German children walked to school. Some of the older boys in cities may have taken trams to their secondary schools.

Chronology

We note many photographs of German children on their way to and from school. The images show us how German children dressed for school over time as well as what they brought with them to school. Parents seeem to have mostly photographed their younger children. Of course the first day photograophs were especially common as this was seen as such an important step in a child's life. Here we have formal portraits and not always the children setting off to school. As Germans did not for the most part have school uniforms, except caps. These family school snap shots are a good reflection of not only schoolwear over time, but overall children's fashions. We do not have much 19th century information. Many boys seemed to have worn suits to school. Leather school satchels were very common. We do, however, know a great deal about the 20th century. Suits were still common in the early 20th century. We see German children commonly going to school in knee pants and later short pants. Some older boys wore knickers. Only the older secondary school students wore long pants. School wear begins to become more informal after World War I, especially by the 1930s. Both knee socks and long stockings were very common. Here seasonality was a factor. In the post-World War II era, long pants became more common. We note that by the 1970s that German schoolwear was no longer destib=nctive, but increasingly the children wore the pan-European styles that became common throughout Europe.

Seasonal Differences

There were also of course season differences. German is situated in northern Europe and the weather can get very cold. The children had to be ell bundled up for the winter.

Social Class

The outfits refected not only age and the type of school, but chronological trends and social-class differences.

School Level

We can alo see the difference in the outfits worn at primary and secondary schools. Particularly notable are the school satchels the younger childrn took to school. Here many secondary schools had estinctive military-stled peaked caps.

Lunch

There were also lunch satches, but not all the children had these. I'm not sure, but the children without these lunch cases may have gone home for lunch.

Transport

Most German children walked to school. A few children may have had bicycles, but they do not seem to have very common. Some of the older boys in cities may have taken trams to their secondary schools.

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Created: 5:06 AM 3/4/2008
Last updated: 7:50 PM 8/31/2008