Figure 1.--This boys wears a tunic with a lace collar. We are not sure about the date, probably about 1910. We are positive this is a German boy, but as it came from a German source it probably was.

HBC has noted boys in the early 19th century wearing tunic outfits in England and France. We have very little information on the extent to which this style was also worn in Germany. We notice tunics throughout the 19th century in France and American boys wore them at least by the mid-19th century. We do not begin to notice many German boys wearing them until the turn of the 20th century, buy this may because our information on German styles during the 19th century is still very limited. We have a few images from the mid- 9th century. It is likely that the tunic style in Germany was comparable to other countries in Western Euroope. Some of the images are difficult to assess. We do not believe, however, that girls commonly wore tunics. We have noted World War I images, but we do not think that tunics were commonly worn by German boys after the War. One of the many fashion cahnges that followed World War I.

The 19th Century

We note boys wearing tunics in the early 19th century. It seems to appear at that time. We do not note them in the 18th century. HBC has noted boys in the early 19th century wearing tunic outfits in England and France. We have very little information on the extent to which this style was also worn in Germany. We notice tunics throughout the 19th century in France and American boys wore them at least by the mid-19th century. We do not begin to notice many German boys wearing them until the turn of the 20th century, buy this may because our information on German styles during the 19th century is still very limited. We do have some images from the mid-19th century. It is likely that the tunic style in Germany was comparable to other countries in Western Euroope. Some of the images are difficult to assess. We do not believe, however, that German girls commonly wore tunics.

The 20th Century

The tunic became a very popular garment at the turn-of-the 20th century. We see many Germany boys wearing them, although the photographic record suggests that tunics were much more popular in some other countries, especially America. We note the children in the royal family wearing them. We see quite a number of boys in the photograohic record wearing them. They seem to have been worn primarily by boys from affluent amilies. We don't see working-class boys wearing them. Many of the boys we see wearing them wore them with knee pants. We have noted World War I images, but we do not think that tunics were commonly worn by German boys after the War. This was one of the many fashion cahnges that followed World War I. We do see them appearing again, briefly in the 1950s. We re not sure how prevalent they were in the 50s. Wecsee them more in fashion magazines and catalogs than the photographic record.