Figure 1.--Here we see a family snapshot, the Baumen (writing indestinct) family during a snowy Decmber 1923. The two teenage boys apparently wore short pants year round. They look to be about 13-15 years old. During the cold winter weather they would wear long stockings to keep warm. They probably wore knee socks during the summer, except perhaps when dressing up for a formal occassion.

We note a wide range boys boys wearing short pants, but this varied substntially over time. Short pants were primarily a 20th century style. Boys in the second half of the 19th century wore shotened-length pants, including both bloomr knickers and knee pants. Knee pants in the early 20th century evolved into short pants. We see mostly pre-school boys wearing short pants in the 1900s, often with tunic-like outfits. This style was popular with the Imperial family. After World War I (1914-18) we see short pants becoming a major style as knee pants gradually went out of style. We see almost all primary-age boys wearing short pants during the 1920s and 30s. They were also very common for younger teens. Beginning about age 15 years we see boys shifting from shorts to knickers or long pants, but this varied from family to family. Here we see two teenagers still wearing shorts (figure 1). Short pants were till standard, but we see more knickers and long pants during World War II years, in part because many boys were wearing the Hitler Youth winter uniforms which consisted of ski pants-- a kind of long knickers. After the war we see many teenage boys wearing short pants, in part becaue many families were so pressed by the collapse of the German economy. Short pants were still very common during the 1950s, especially the early-50s, but by the end of the decade we see fewer teenagers wearing shorts as economic conditions improved and jeans began to become popular. Some parents refused to but jeans at first, but they were so popular with boys that this gradually changed. We see fewer teenagers wearing short in the 1960s, but primary-age boys commonly wore them for casual summer wear. We see fewer boys wearing shorts during the 1970s, except during the summer as casual wear. We rarely see them during the winter months any more, even on younger boys. Shorts increasingly became a garment for pre-teen boys.

6 Years Olds

We see almost all primary-age boys wearing short pants during the 1920s and 30s. Boys began primary school at age 6 years. Virtually all boys beginning school at 6-years of age wore short pants during the 1920-40s. Some boys may have worn ong pants during the winter in thelate-40s, but we do not se many6-year olds wearing blong oants until the 50s, motly the late-50s.

10 Year Olds

Short pants were srandard wear for 10 year olds during the 1020s and 30s and into the post-War era. Comnventions began to change in the 50s. We se fewer boys wearing short [ants suits, but boys still commonly wore them for casual summer wear. We see fewer boys wearing shorts during the 1970s, except during the summer as casual wear. We rarely see them during the winter months any more, even on younger boys. Shorts increasingly became a garment for pre-teen boys.

12 Year Olds

Most German 12-year olds wore short pant during the 1920s-40s. Shorts were wornfor both casualmwear, school, and when dressing up. Boys this age had short pants suits. And shorts were worn during the winter, usually along with long stockings. Short pants were standard to school. Here mothers decided when the shift was made to socks. Knee socks were very common. By the late-40s some boys were beinning to wear long pants during the winter. The major shift to long pants began to occur during the 1950s, espcially as the German economic miracle was just begining. We see many 12-year olds wearing long pants by the end of the decade. Short pants suits began to decline, but suits in general were becoming less common forvboys of all ages. German boys still wore shorts duing the summer as casual wear. This trend continued in the 1960s and by the end of the decade shorts were no longer standard for 12-year olds, although some boys wore them. Knee socks had to a large extent disappeared. By the 70s we no longr see shorts commonly at school for 12-year olds.

13 Year Olds

Short pants were also very common for younger teens. Beginning about age 15 years we see boys shifting from shorts to They look to be about 13-15 years old. Short pants were still very common during the 1950s, especially the early-50s, but by the end of the decade we see fewer teenagers wearing shorts as economic conditions improved and jeans began to become popular. Some parents refused to but jeans at first, but they were so popular with boys that this gradually changed. We see fewer teenagers wearing shorts in the 1960s, German schools were different than American schools.. This was not the age boys began secondary school. This hapned at a younger age amd many boys, especially working-class boys did nt attend sevondary schools, but instead might begin apreniceships. This changed fter world war II whn secindry efucation bcam almost univrsal.

15 Year Olds

German boys during the 1920s and 30s sill commonly wore short pants at 15 years of age. This as, however, the age than many families began buying long pants. In some cases boy in th mid-teens worn kbickers as a kind of mi-step toward long pants. All this varied from family to family. Here we see two teenagers wearing shorts inn1923 (figure 1). As it is winter they are wearing shorts with long stockings. Short pants were till standard, but we see more knickers and long pants during World War II years, in part because many boys were wearing the Hitler Youth winter uniforms which consisted of ski pants-- a kind of long knickers. After the war we see many teenage boys wearing short pants, in part becaue many families were so pressed by the collapse of the German economy.

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Created: 9:48 PM 12/12/2013
Last updated: 6:03 AM 1/21/2015