Figure 1.--This snapshot of an unidentified school group is undated. We suspect it was taken in the late-1940s. It was probably taken somewhere in Bavria ad so of the boys wear Bavarian jackets. The boys wear short pants and knickers. We suspect that this was in part a reflection of the difficult economic comditions. The boys look old nough to ear long trousers. They look to be about 15-16 years old, perhaps 17 years. We can see the school in the background. It was some kind of secondary school./i>

School in Germany at the time began in April. As a result, of the war especially the bombing, many schools were badly damaged. The children had been evacuated to the countryside and small towns. And Allied and Soviet armies were driving through the Reich. As a result school did not open in 1945. The NAZIs finally srendered (May 1945). After the War it was difficult to reopen many schools because the buildings in the cities were either destroyed or badly damaged. A reader who began secondary school (gymnasium) after the war tells us, "Our school in Stuttgart (population 400 000 to 500 000) was reopened in October 1945. Furing the Winter 1945-46 we had to bring wood for heating a "Kanonenofen" (round iron stove) in our class room. Parts of the building were destroyed and no central heating possible, nor was coal available. The winter 1946-47 was very severe, heating the room in this manner was not sufficient. Nearby, about a mile away, there was a school building which was not destroyed in the war; the central heating was operating and coal was available. Together with classes from other schools around we had a shortened curriculum, only 20 minutes three times a week, just to get our assignments. As there was only a 5 minutes break between one class (to leave a room) and the next to come, we had to assemble at the entrance and were guided to the room which was assigned for our short time, all in a hurry. Later, our building was reconstructed and available the whole year without such limitations." After the War school fashions changed little. The problem was that Germany was impoverished. Many boys wore clothes that they had outgrown or hand me downs. Families did as best theu could. This began to change after 1948 when the economy began to recover. German boys did not wear uniforms to school, except at the Hitler Youth boarding schools. The thought of wearing a uniform, especially putting children in uniform was repulsive to most Germans. The Germans any many ways tried to emulate America--many aware of the stark contrast between NAZI and American occupation. And of course there were no school uniforms in the America of the 1940s. The mere thought of uniforms on children would have brought on harsh, realistic memories of the Hitler Youth and the terrible Third Reich and its ghastly, un-Godly doings. German boys in the early post-War era wore mostly white or plained colored shirts. The colorful shirts worn by Americans proved popular first in the American Occupation Zone and gradually spread througout the rest of Germany. Most boys wore short pants to school, often suspender or H-bar shorts.

NAZI Education

The NAZIs upon seizing power were concerned about the coubtry's schools. There were some pro-NAZI teachers and administrators. There were even more anti-NAZIs an apolitical staff. Thus Reichsminister für Wissenschaft, Erziehung und Volksbildung (Minister of Science, Education and National Culture) was appointed (1934). He was an early and ardent NAZI He energetically set out to NAZIfy the country's education system as well as advocating some bizarre policies. Despite his often bizarre behavior Rust largely succedded in creating a throughly NAZI education system by the time Hitler launched Word War II had tragrically prepard the country's young people not only to fight the War as well as commit or at least tolerate terrible attrocities.

NAZI Surrender (May 1945)

School in Germany at the time began in April. As a result, of the war especially the bombing, many schools were badly damaged. The children had been evacuated to the countryside and small towns as part of the KLV program. And Allied and Soviet armies were driving through the Reich. As a result schools did not open as scheduled in 1945. The NAZIs finally surrendered (May 1945).

Reopening the Schools

The Allies were not too concerned about rushing a reopening of the the schools, in part because German teachers by 1945 had been througly NAZIfied. The text books were also relpete with NAZI ideology, even the math and science books. After the War it was difficult to reopen many schools because the buildings in the cities were either destroyed or badly damaged. A reader who began secondary school (gymnasium) after the war tells us, "Our school in Stuttgart (population 400,000 to 500,000) was reopened in October 1945. During the Winter 1945-46 we had to bring wood for heating a "Kanonenofen" (round iron stove) in our class room. Parts of the building were destroyed and no central heating possible, nor was coal available. The winter 1946-47 was very severe, heating the room in this manner was not sufficient. Nearby, about a mile away, there was a school building which was not destroyed in the war; the central heating was operating and coal was available. Together with classes from other schools around we had a shortened curriculum, only 20 minutes three times a week, just to get our assignments. As there was only a 5 minutes break between one class (to leave a room) and the next to come, we had to assemble at the entrance and were guided to the room which was assigned for our short time, all in a hurry. Later, our building was reconstructed and available the whole year without such limitations."

Educational Reforms

Education because it had been toroughly NAZIfied was given considerble attention by the Allies. All concerned agreed that major reforms were needed. Germany was preceived as a 'belligerent nation' prone to war and that it was necessary to democratize the country to prepare it to exist in a peaceful and productive Europe. Reforming German education was seen to be a central part of this process. There were many difficulties here. The military government lacked qualified teachers, textbooks, and school buildings. Germany had one of the finest educational systems in Europe. Eeducational traditions rooted in a class-based social structure and strong church influence. Ironically these were concerns that the NAZIs also had and had done a great deal to weaken. The NAZI education weaken the quality of German education, replacing many qualified teachers with party hacks. American officials saw educational as n integral aspect of denazification and the effort to develop a democratic political culture. Here reformers faced a still unanswered question about Germany. Were there aspects of German culture which led inevitanly toward miltarism and racism? Occupation authorities closed and then reopened schools, universities, and teacher training colleges after they were "denazified." Occupation authorities gradually responsibility for administering the educational system and cultural institutions to regional and city authorities.

Schoolwear

After the War school fashions changed little. The problem was that Germany was impoverished. Many boys wore clothes that they had outgrown or hand me downs. Families did as best theu could. This began to change after 1948 when the economy began to recover. German boys did not wear uniforms to school, except at the Hitler Youth boarding schools. The thought of wearing a uniform, especially putting children in uniform was repulsive to most Germans. The Germans any many ways tried to emulate America--many aware of the stark contrast between NAZI and American occupation. And of course there were no school uniforms in the America of the 1940s. The mere thought of uniforms on children would have brought on harsh, realistic memories of the Hitler Youth and the terrible Third Reich and its ghastly, un-Godly doings. German boys in the early post-War era wore mostly white or plained colored shirts. The colorful shirts worn by Americans proved popular first in the American Occupation Zone and gradually spread througout the rest of Germany. Most boys wore short pants to school, often suspender or H-bar shorts. We note even some older teenagers wearing shorts. This was not very common before the end of the War. Notice the boys here at an unidentified secondary school (figure 1). The boys wear short pants and knickers. We suspect that this was in part a reflection of the difficult economic comditions. The boys look old nough to ear long trousers. They look to be about 15-16 years old, perhaps 17 years. A reader suggests another reason. "Economic conditions may not be the reason for these children. In response to the occupation, many parents had their children wearing more juvenile clothing as it was believed it kept them safe from occupying troops and eligible for American food aid. I was told this by an Austrian who was living in the Russian Zone of Vienna at the end of the War." HBC has not heard of this before. Perhaps German readers ma have more details.

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Created: 4:17 AM 9/28/2012
Last updated: 2:08 AM 1/14/2016