Figure 1.--German boys wore many different types of hosiery in the 1950s, but by the 1960s, ankle socks were increasingly popular. This snapshot looks to have been taken about 1960s. Note the stripe and pattern styles.

Many Germany boys in the early 20th cebtury wore long stockings or three-quarter socks. Ankle socks were not common. Ankle socks began to be seen in the 1930s. After World War II they gradually became the dominant hosiery worn by German boys, replacing knee socks and long stockings. Hosiery was still quite diverse in the 1950s, but ankle socks had become quite common. Knee socks were still common in the 1950s, but by the 1960s they were becoming less common--especially with older boys. Here our assessment is complicated because more German boys were wearing long trousers and not just in the cold winter wather. It is more difficult to see what type of hosiery boys in long pants are wearing using the photographic record. By the 1970s, Germans were commonly wearing ankle socks with both long and short pants. Striped ankle socks appear to have been popular. There were patterns as well. Colors are more difficult to assess. We note quite a number of images of boys wearing ankle socks with kneesocks or in some cases long stockings. This seems especually common for boys in youth groups. We also see a few boys going to school with double socks. A good example is an unidentified school boy in 1934. We also notice girls wearing ankle socks. We are less sure, hoeever, about trends for girls at this time.

Chronology

Many Germany boys in the early 20th cebtury wore long stockings or three-quarter socks. Ankle socks were not common. Mostly younger boys wore snkle socks in the 1920s. Ankle socks began to be more commonly seen in the 1930s, mostly during the summer. After World War II, ankle socks gradually became the dominant hosiery worn by German boys, replacing knee socks and long stockings. Hosiery was still quite diverse in the 1950s, but ankle socks had become quite common. Knee socks were still common in the 1950s, but we see wquite a few boys weating abkle socks, especiaslly during the summer. We note colorful ankle soks with patterns. Quite a few boys wore long stockings, especiually at the beginning of the decde. Some conservtive mothers insisted on them during the winter. Other mothers began to choose long pants for winter wear. Ankle socks by the 1960s they were becoming less common--especially with older boys. We think both fashion and the German Economic Miracle were involved. Many German families were beginning to move into homes with central hearing. We still see quite a few boys wearing knee socks in the 1960s, especially during the beginning of the decade and the summer months. Most German boys by the 1970s were wearing ankle soicks. Knee sovks by the 1980s were rarely seen.

Complications

Here our assessment is complicated because more German boys were wearing long trousers and not just in the cold winter wather. Our archive of German catalogs which are another source of informsation is very limited. It is more difficult to see what type of hosiery boys in long pants are wearing using the photographic record.

Seasonality

Types of Pants

The choice of hosiery was partially affected by the type ofpants worn. Germans were mostly wore ankle socks with both long and short pants. We note quite a number of images of boys wearing ankle socks with short pants and also long pants. Here both age, seasinality, and chronology were factors. Of course the tyoe of hosiery is often not apparent when the boys are wearing long pants. We do not see boys commonly wearing ankle socks with knee pants or knickers. German boys commonly wore short psnts during the 1920s-50s. We only see boys commonly wearing ankle socks in the 1950s, but we also see long stockings and knee socks. By the 1960s we no longer see long stockings and knee socks bdcome less common. Here a factor was thst we see many more boys wearing long pants, especially during the winter. This gradual shift to long pants, even by younger boys, was quite pronounced by the 70s when shorts became increasingly casual summer wear. Most boys wore long pants with ankle socks. And we see fewer boys wearing knee socks, even with shirts. This of course was at least in part because shorts were only being worn during the summer.

Conventions

Age

Patterns and Colors

We see boys wearing ankle socks with a range of colors and patterns. Unfortunately the vlack-and-white photography common into the 1970s make it difficult to assess color. We do notice boys wearing white socks. We also notice a variety of patterns, here the photographic record provides more information. Striped ankle socks appear to have been popular. There were patterns as well. Colors are more difficult to assess.

Youth Groups

Double Socks

We see boys commonly wearing double socks for youth groups activities. This mean wearking akle sickjs with either knee socks or long stovkings. Knee socks wre the most commom. We also see a few boys going to school with double socks. A good example is an unidentified school boy in 1934.

Gender

We also notice girls wearing ankle socks. We are less sure, hoeever, about trends for girls at this time.