Boys in the early 20th century wore much the same sandal styles as in England and Germany. While not as common as in these countries, many German boys did wear them. They were all the closed-toe style. I believe, however that they were not considered to be sandals at the time, but strap shoes. They were mostly worn by boys from affluent families. Sandals declined in popularity during the 1930s. Note that while English and French photographs during the 1930s often show boys wearing sandals, German images of boys wearing sandals are much less common. It is especially rare to see Hitler Youth (HJ) boys wearing sandals. The NAZI leaders thought that sandals were not manly. The HJ modeled themselves on the Wehrmacht (the army), and soldiers wear boots. So the HJ boys wore sturdy shoes, too. For the most part only girls wore sandals or strap these days, although younger pre-school boys are sometimes seen in them. The NAZI disapproval of sandals meant that boys by school age rarely wore them. After War the economic situation was very difficult in Germany. Litle thought was given to children's fashions of any type. After the War sandals were again widely worn by German boys. German boys wore different styles than the British ones. From the 1950s to the early 70s nearly every German boy wore sandals, but the closed toe English style declined in popularity. Most of the sandals worn by German boys were open-toe sandals. A German contributor to HBC reports in the 1960s wearing knee socks with sandals as a boy and later as teenager in the 1970s wearing white sport socks. He preferred knee socks in red or blue or with pictures, for example, with football-emblem. He does not recall German boys wearing closed toe sandals in the 1960s or 70s. German boys in the early 1970s still commonly wore open toe sandals. By the mid-1970s, however, they declined in popularity. American-style sneakers became much more popular with German boys as with other European boys. From the mid-1970s on boys began to look on sandals as girlish. Some mothers liked the style, however, and insisted on their boys wearing them during the summer. Boys in sandals were often teased by the other boys who didnīt wear them. German boys in the 1990s rarely wear sandals. Even younger boys wore sneakers. Only during the summer holidays do some boys wear sandals. Sport sneakers appeared n the 1990s and some boys began wearing them with socks.

1900s-20s

Boys in the early 20th century wore much the same sandal styles as in England and Germany. While not as common as in these countries, many German boys did wear them. They were all the closed-toe style. I believe, however that they were not considered to be sandals at the time, but strap shoes. They were mostly worn by boys from affluent families. They seem to be worn more like shoes. We do not see them being worn as casual footwear for play.

The 1930s

Sandals declined in popularity during the 1930s. Note that while English and French photographs during the 1930s often show boys wearing sandals, German images of boys wearing sandals are much less common. It is especially rare to see Hitler Youth (HJ) boys wearing sandals. The NAZI leaders thought that sandals were not manly. The HJ modeled themselves on the Wehrmacht (the army), and soldiers wear boots. So the HJ boys wore sturdy shoes, too. For the most part only girls wore sandals or strap these days, although younger pre-school boys are sometimes seen in them. One German HBC contributor remembers reading about an alternative youth organisation (perhaps the Wanndervogel) which wore sandals. The organization, however, was absorbed by the HJ in 1933 when the couts and virtually all other alternative youth groups were supressed.

The 1940s

The NAZI disapproval of sandals meant that boys by school age rarely wore them. After War the economic situation was very difficult in Germany. Little thought was given to children's fashions of any type.

The 1950s

After the War sandals were again widely worn by German boys. German boys at first wore sandals like the English "T"-strap sansals. different styles than the British ones. From the 1950s to the early 70s many German boys wore sandals, but the closed toe English style declined in popularity. They were, however, still worn durng the 1950s. An examle is a Kingergarten boy about 1950. Another example is a German boy wearing "T"-strap sandals. Most of the sandals worn by German boys after the 1950s were open-toe sandals. A example here is a school boy, probably in the 1950s.

Figure 1.--Sandals become very popular for German boys by the 1970s. The style commonly worn was open-toe sandals. They are worn with both long and short pants.

The 1960s

A German contributor to HBC reports in the 1960s wearing knee socks with sandals as a boy and later as teenager in the 1970s wearing white sport socks. He preferred knee socks in red or blue or with pictures, for example, with football-emblem. He does not recall German boys wearing closed toe sandals in the 1960s or 70s. He also wore sandals without socks on hollydays, such as trips to Italy or for going to the pool. His mother pick the style of sandals for him, but would ask what color he preferred. Both he and his friends commonly wore short pants.

The 1970s

German boys in the early 1970s still commonly wore open toe sandals. By the mid-1970s, however, they declined in popularity. American-style sneakers became much more popular with German boys as with other European boys. From the mid-1970s on boys began to look on sandals as girlish. Some mothers liked the style, however, and insisted on their boys wearing them during the summer. Boys in sandals were often teased by the other boys who didnīt wear them.

The 1990s

German boys in the 1990s rarely wear sandals. Even younger boys wore sneakers. Only during the summer holidays do some boys wear sandals. Sport sneakers appeared n the 1990s and some boys began wearing them with socks.

Created: Decmber 2, 2003
Last updated: 12:21 AM 9/17/2005