Pictures of 1930s & 40s German Women

[Vikki]

You know why Larry they are wearing bobby socks?

There was a lack of nylons around and if there were any
they were very expensive and the ladies kept them for good.
They wouldn't have wanted them to run.

I think the women in socks and shoes looked pretty good.

Thanks Annelie. Am I correct in saying that the use of bobby socks during the 1940's in Germany was for practical purposes whereas the wearing of bobby socks during the post war era was more of a fashion statement.

Larry

I'd agree that both Annelie and you are correct in that, Larry. I'm not completely sure of the date of the term "bobby socks" but I personally associate it with the 1950s. However, I know that women wearing rolled-down short socks predates that by quite a bit. Military Helferinnen were issued ankle socks as part of their warm weather uniforms. And female auxiliaries wearing trousers on cold weather or outdoor duty were issued them--quite heavier versions than the thin white socks worn by female Helfs on office duty, worn rolled over the bottoms of their trousers, presumably both to keep out dirt and to keep the trouser hems from snagging on equipment. See examples in the Female Auxiliaries Photographs thread: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=77&t=66200.

As you say, short socks were worn for practical purposes, to cushion the foot. And as Annelie says, stockings were too expensive for everyday wear. Particularly since "nylons" is a misnomer for wartime Europe--nylon stockings had been introduced in the United States in 1939-40, but were not really widely available in Europe. So we're speaking of silk--or less fashionable cotton--stockings. And the former were so valuable that they were a heavily traded black market commodity in occupied Europe. Some German women would have had them, sent back to them by husbands and boyfriends after the fall of France, but they would have been too precious for most women for everyday wear.

~Vikki

[Lainie]

Bobby socks and the phrase "bobby soxers" is from the 1940's it was used to describe American teenage girls who were Sinatra fans originally. Got that from my grandma who never "got that whole Sinatra appeal". And of course American women also did the bobby socks and shoes thing, I have a picture of my grandmother in her early 20's from about 1943 (my mother was a baby) wearing bobby socks and low heeled pumps as stockings were hard to come by.

I always feel like the German women of that era get fetishized a bit just like the men do. It's odd to me, like they were these Teutonic flowers who all looked like Inge Ley, when it's clear from the photos posted that's not true. Not discussing war criminals, just the average German women who like the women in all the other countries tried to step in and keep things going the best they could and serve their country. I heard bits and pieces of first hand accounts as a child from a German great-aunt as to what the post war experience was like; but knowing what I do now about what they had to endure just boggles my mind.

[Davey Boy]

Woman With Gaskmask, 1943. Photographed by Wolf Strache

That's a classic.

[ChristopherPerrien]

Truly. The horrors of war.

The fact it is a double exposure works to that effect, as it looks like there is a second figure and another "skull" on one arm.
Death- so to speak.

[Larrister]

Thanks for all the informative replies.
The photo of the lady wearing the gas mask is fantastic. I wonder what protection her baby is wearing.

Here's a few more "German Women " photos from my collection.

Larry

[Larrister]

2.

[Larrister]

3.

[Larrister]

4.

[Larrister]

5.

[Annelie]

Love looking at all the photos, they are all great thanks for sharing.

I end up feeling sad for some reason.

[Geoff Walden]

Thanks for all the informative replies.
The photo of the lady wearing the gas mask is fantastic. I wonder what protection her baby is wearing.
Larry

Hi Larry,

There was a special "gas cot" for babies and infants. It's not shown on this page, but the page shows a hood-type protector ("little gas jacket") for small children - http://www.return2style.de/1939-49/gass ... hutz2b.htm

Maybe the baby in the carriage had one of these.

[Ahnenerbe1]

Here's one I used to own. Notice her hair style, she was a hairstylist in Juterbog.

[Annelie]

Pictures are worth a thousand words.

I can't help but keep looking at the shoes, pretty much 98% of the styles
are still being used today.

[Larrister]

Thanks for all the informative replies.
The photo of the lady wearing the gas mask is fantastic. I wonder what protection her baby is wearing.
Larry

Hi Larry,

There was a special "gas cot" for babies and infants. It's not shown on this page, but the page shows a hood-type protector ("little gas jacket") for small children - http://www.return2style.de/1939-49/gass ... hutz2b.htm

Maybe the baby in the carriage had one of these.

Hi Geoff,

Thanks for the link, very interesting information. I knew there were gas masks for children but not special gas cots for babies.

Cheers,
Larry

[Ahnenerbe1]

Pictures are worth a thousand words.

I can't help but keep looking at the shoes, pretty much 98% of the styles
are still being used today.

That's a good point. Germany seemed to be on the cutting edge of fashion during this time. I recently saw a color movie taken in 1939 of German women in bikini's filmed on Sylt. They looked nice fit and tan as if they could fit in with today's crowd (except the bikini's were not "micro" like they are today. Hairstyles look like some could fit in with today's. Speaking of shoes I have a couple's photo where she is wearing the trendy shoes very popular today that tie up on the ankle.