Hitler Youth Uniforms: Hosiery--Long Stockings

Figure 1.--This DJ group from East Prussia was photographed in 1935. Notice that all the boys are wearing long stockings with their uniforms. Long stockings were not an official part of DJ uniform and in fact, it was not very common even for the younger DJ boys to wear long stockings. Some boys in the colder regions wore them anyway, and in this group it seems to have been the standard thing to wear. Very rarely do we see an entire unit wearing long stockings. The region may have something to do with the anomaly. Most of the boys are wearing dark brown or black long stockings, but we think one or two may be wearing tan stockings, which had become fashionable in the 1930s.

A few German boys wore long stockings with there Hitler Youth uniform, mostly the younger DJ boys. We are not sure what the actul regulations were. The relative rarity in the photographic record tells us that it was certainly not encouraged. This was, however, not very common. Long stockings were very common for German boys during the 1930s and 40s and even into the 50s, especially during the Winter. They became less common after about age 12. At about age 11, some German boys began to object to wear long stockings. Some saw it as rather girlish. This varied widely, however, and the prevalence of long stockings vried quite a bit from family to family. Some mothers were especially insistant that children dress warmly. The age factor and the fact that the Winter HJ uniform had long knickers, few Hitler Youth boys wore long stockings. We do see some individual exceptions, presumably mothers that were concerned that their boys dress warmly. Much rarer are whole units wearing long stokings. We do see a few examples in the photographic record, but not very many. Almost always they were dark colored stockings, but the precise color is difficult to discern. While boys sometimes wore white knee socks with their uniforms, especially for formal occassions, we never see boys wearing white long stockings with their uniforms. There may have been some regionalal variation. We tend to see it most commonly in rural aaeas. Long stockings seem especially prevalent in East Prussia.

Prevalence

A few German boys wore long stockings with there Hitler Youth uniform, mostly the younger DJ boys. We do see the younger DJ boys wearing long stockings. They were, however, not very common. We do see some individual exceptions, presumably mothers that were concerned that their boys dress warmly. Much rarer are whole units wearing long stokings. We do see a few examples in the photographic record, but not very many. Some mothers were especially insistant that children dress warmly in cold weather. Notably, the images we note of boys wearing long stockings with their Hitler Youth uniforms are family snapshots and not group photographs where the boys might have had an inspection. We note very few photographs of Hitler Youth groups with boys wearing long stockings. This suggests to us that the HJ leaders discouraged boys from wearing them with their uniform, especially after the first few cyears of NAZI rule. Such phenomenon do not occur bu\y accident. Long stockings were very common for both boys and girls during the 1930s. The prevalence of boys wearing them with their uniform is much less common in the photographic record.

Regulations

We are not sure what the actul regulations were. We have not yet managed to find actual HJ regulations. The relative rarity in the photographic record tells us that it was certainly not encouraged.

Regular Clothes

Long stockings were very common for German boys during the 1930s and 40s and even into the 50s, especially during the Winter. They became less common after about age 12. At about age 11, some German boys began to object to wear long stockings. Some saw it as rather girlish. This varied widely, however, and the prevalence of long stockings vried quite a bit from family to family.

Uniform Factors

The age factor and the fact that the Winter HJ uniform had long knickers, few Hitler Youth boys wore long stockings.

Color

Almost always they were dark colored stockings, but the precise color is difficult to discern. We think that dark brown was probably the most common color, but we can not yet confirm this as almost all of our examples are black-and-white pgotograohs. While HJ boys sometimes wore white knee socks with their uniforms, especially for formal occassions, we never see boys wearing white long stockings with their uniforms.

Regional Variations

There may have been some regionalal variation. We tend to see it most commonly in rural areas. Long stockings seem especially prevalent in East Prussia. At least we have found several photographs showing boys in East Prussia wearing their Hitler Youth uniforms with long stockings. East Prussia the northeastern corner of Germany, wedged between Poland, the Baltic Sea, and Lithuania. East Prussia since World War I, was separated from the rest of the ciuntry by the Polish Corridor. The northerly more continental climate meant that there were harsh winters. It was also a largely agricultural area without industry or large cities. It was the most conservative part of Germany and the powerbase of the Junkers who owned large agricultural estates. This presumably is a factor in the conservative clothing trends.