German Fire Brigades: Youth Auxillery Uniforms

Figure 1.--We are not sure about this photograph, but we would guess that it is some kind of German military school. We would guess the photograph was taken about 1915. Notice the hatchets on the belts. Also the boys have flowers on their tunics.

The uniforms for these fire brigades were styled on the basis of the professional fore brigades in the city. There was not one national style, but there were rough similarities. Usually there were differences for the youth auxilleries to differentite them from the adult members. We have seen photographs with two or three different styles of uniform, thos may have been various levels of membership, in part relected by age. The boys here wear distinctive helmets (figure 1). They look similar to the spiked military helmets, bit there are differences. The uniform consisted of a jacket and long trousers. The tunics have high collars, epaulettes, and what look like brass buttons. These boys wear white trousers. I'm not sure how common these white pants were. Boys this age probably normally wore kneepants. We suspect there fore brigade uniforms were probably their first long pants. They have belts worn over the jackets. Many but not all of the boys have hachets on their belts.

Inspiration

The uniforms for these fire brigades were styled on the basis of the professional fore brigades in the city. There was not one national style, but there were rough similarities.

Youth Diferentiation

Usually there were differences for the youth auxilleries to differentite them from the adult members. We have seen photographs with two or three different styles of uniform, thos may have been various levels of membership, in part relected by age.

Garments

We have only limited information on the different uniform items. The uniform consisted ofdestinctive helmets, a jacket and long trousers.

Helmets

The boys here wear distinctive helmets (figure 1). They look similar to the spiked military helmets, bit there are differences. A German reader writes, "The helmet looks much more like a firefighter helmet as a military helmet. The tops of the German military helmets looked different."

Tunics

The tunics have high collars, epaulettes, and what look like brass buttons. These boys have flowers on their tunics. I'm not sure what that refresented. I'm also not sure what colors these tunics would have been.

These boys wear white trousers. I'm not sure how common these white pants were. Boys this age probably normally wore kneepants. We suspect there fore brigade uniforms were probably their first long pants.

Belts

The boys here have waist belts worn over the jackets. Many but not all of the boys have hachets on their belts. Notice the boy at the left has a chest strap which looks to support a sword or something at his side (figure 1).

Created: April 19, 2004
Last updated: April 19, 2004