Figure 1.-- Here we see two brothers, probably in Bavaria, wearing Lederhosen. The pgotograph is undated, but we would guess was probably taken in the late 1940s or early 50s.

With the popularity of Wandervogl and Scouting in the early 20th century we believe that lederhosen became increasingly popular for boys in the early 20th century. They may have been initially worn by older boys of Wandervogel and Scout age. These youth movement may have helped spread lederhosen beyond Bavaria and Alpine areas. HBC does note images of younger boys wearing lederhosen by the 1910s. Many commercial postcard appear with boys wearing lederhosen, suggesting that they were being worn by boys at this time. Photographs after World War I (1914-18) show that boys in southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland were commonly wearing lederhosen. Immediately after World War II, lederhosen were no longer readiably available in Austria and Germany. There was a clothing shortage as the industrial base of Germany had been destoyed. Leather was in especially short supply, notice the number of boys going barefoot in this period. Conditions did not begin to improve signifianly until 1948. Lederhosen once available continued to be worn, but by the 1960s and even more so in the 70s older boys wanted to wear jeans for casual wear. Lederhosen were widely worn by younger boys and even worn to some extent in France. After the 1980s lederhosen have become less commonly worn, but some Scouts still wear them. They are now not very popular in Europe, but they are still worn in some parts in Germany by some boys--mostly Scouts. Unfortunately the chronology here is difficult to build because so many photographs are undated.

The 1900s

With the popularity of Wandervogl and Scouting in the early 20th century we believe that lederhosen became increasingly popular for boys in the early 20th century. They may have been initially worn by older boys of Wandervogel and Scout age.

The 1910s

These youth movement may have helped spread lederhosen beyond Bavaria and Alpine areas. HBC does note images of younger boys wearing lederhosen by the 1910s. Many commercial postcard appear with boys wearing lederhosen, suggesting that they were being worn by boys at this time.

The 1920s

Photographs after World War I (1914-18) show that boys in southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland were commonly wearing lederhosen.

The 1930s

Here's a photograph of a German brothers wearing Lederhosen during the 1930s. They were photographed with Hitler. He liked Lederhosen, but in the 1920s was convinced that they did not project the proper image.

The 1940s

Lederhosen became increasingly difficult to obtain in the early 1940s, esprcially as the War turned against Germany. A lot of military equipment ws made from leather. In addition, the Wehrmacht despite its motorized image, still extensively used horses. This required a lot of leather tackle. Thus the production of Lederhosen must have fallen. We still see some boys wearing them, in part because the existing Lederhosen were practically indestructable. We note a younger rural boy wearing them in 1943. Immediately after World War II, lederhosen were no longer readiably available in Austria and Germany. There was a clothing shortage as the industrial base of Germany had been destoyed. Leather was in especially short supply, notice the number of boys going barefoot in this period. Conditions did not begin to improve signifianly until 1948.

The 1950s

Lederhosen seem to have been very popular in the 1950s. I think a factor here is that with the German economic post-War miracle and rising prosperity, more families could afford Lederhosen. Boys of all ages wore them. We see numerous photographs of Austrian and German boys wearing Lederhosen throughout the 1950s. A good eaxample is three German brothers in the early 1950s. We also note a photograph of Austrian boys wearing Lederhosen from the 1950s. Lederhosen seem more popular in Austria than Germany, but of course Austria is a much smaller country. We see a German boy with Lederhosen and long stockings in 1957. Ankle socks were brecoming more common in the 50s and we also see msny boys wearing Lederhosen with ankle socks. Here is another image from the German Hosiery Museum showing patterened long stockings worn with Ledehosen--also from the 1950s.

The 1960s

Lederhosen once available continued to be worn, but by the 1960s and even more so in the 70s older boys wanted to wear jeans for casual wear. Here we see a German boy wearing Lederhosen with in 1962.

The 1970s

Lederhosen were widely worn by younger boys. They countinued to be primarily worn in Austria and Germany, but we see them being advertized in French catalogs. A good example from the 1970s is a German boy wearing Lederhosen with a plaid shirt and sandals. Here we see another German boy modeling Lederhosen for a 1970s catalog. Note the red checked shirt.

The 1980s

Here we see a photograph from a German folk festival in Bavaria during the 1980s. Here we see a younger German boy wearing Lederhosen with green tights during the 1980s. Here is another photograph of a German boy wearing Lederhosen with tights during the 1980s.

The 1990s

After the 1980s lederhosen have become less commonly worn, but some Scouts still wear them. They are now not very popular in Europe, but they are still worn in some parts in Germany by some boys--mostly Scouts. Here we see a photograph of a German boy wearing shiny black or dark green Lederhosen in 1995. We note a German boy wearing knee-breeches style Ledershosen with tights in the 1990s.

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Created: 6:32 PM 10/20/2005
Last updated: 11:52 PM 6/17/2007