Furs in German Fashion

 There is no secret that furs were a popular 40s accessory for many women. They are seen in magazine spreads, pattern books to highlight the latest patterns, and even photographs. But, what about in German fashion? Were furs just as popular in Germany as they were in other countries? What kinds of furs were worn and in what method (were they in trims or actual garments by themselves like a stole)? These are just some of the questions that I have because as someone who does wear vintage (including vintage furs) I would like to know if I can wear then to events as a German WWII civilian. . .

I would argue that furs were worn in Nazi Germany by some women for some occasions. My evidence to support this statement was found in my German photo album collection where there is a lady sporting a fur collared jacket in the winter. You can see her just below here:

Isn't she stylish? The exact year is unknow here but she is either being very fashionable in the 30s or else holding onto her clothes and  into the 40s. It could go either way. Of all my photos, this one shows a fur collar the most clear. I have another one of a coat that looks like it might have a bit of fur trim but I am thinking its blurring from the photo itself so I did not include it here.  There is a lacking of fur items in my photo collection but there are also way more summer looks in those than winter because it was possibly too cold to get pictures outside (I can say with experience that pics in the snow are chilly . . .like really chilly). Another reason for the lacking of furs in photos was that maybe they were simply not that popular in Germany or else were not readily available for wear (possibly donated to the war effort or simply not available because of the war), or the people who are in these photos could not afford them or else did not like them a whole lot and this did not wear them . . .. There could be lots of reasons really they do not show in my photo collection. For photos in the public domain that are of German women posing with their sweethearts (you can do a Google search) you can spot the occasional fur stole and other fur accessory. I have added one of those here. I am not sure where she came from originally (aside from Google) but here is a great example of a fur stole.

Above I offered two examples of real women wearing furs. One lady appears to be more mature while the other a bit younger. Out of these two examples it does not accurately show how many women actually wore furs during this period (or how or in what forms - that we have to figure out on our own . . .). From what I have seen in my own collection and others it appears that when furs were worn, they appear the most in the early years of the regime or the late 30s or really early 40s at best. Comparing photos of women wearing them and not wearing them, NOT wearing furs wins by far. . . Its kind of a landslide. So, if you are like me and are wondering "hey, can I wear my fur to an event?" I think the answer may be "not really" if representing the average woman is the goal.


By the time is it well into the war years wearing furs seems to drop off yet still manages to appear in fashion magazines. .. This appearance could be a couple things. First to offer some dream fodder for those longing of the days of new clothes or to offer ideas on how to update old furs to appear new and stylish. If these magazines are offering update ideas then that may suggest there are some women who are still wearing furs from years past.


Furs were advertised  in various forms from fashion magazines, pattern books, and more.  With such advertising, it can be seen that women probably had some interest in furs (either for re fashioning purposes or dream material) while in Nazi Germany (why else would they be featured?).  In my pattern books Der Goldene Schnitt from 1940 to 1942 furs are included in some way throughout the books either as trimming in jackets, the primary material for coats, or as accessories to sell an overall look. 

Fur Collars and Muffs from Der Goldene Schnintt, 1941



Der Goldene Schnitt, 1941

Der Goldene Schnitt, 1941

German Fashion Magazine, 1943.
Note the fur usage as coat trimming and as a muff.

German Fashion Magazine, 1941.
Note the silver fox stole as an accessory.

According to the site We Heart Vintage, the article "How Hitler Influenced 1940s fashion",   describes Hitler as having a distaste for fur and discouraged women from wearing it. Although the leader of Nazi Germany did not want women to wear fur, some still did . . .some of those women were even Nazi wives, girlfriends, and family members. One woman in particular close to the Nazi Party that wore furs was Magda Goebbels (many pictures of her sporting furs can be found here). 

Magda Goebbels in fur, source



As you saw above in the picture evidence provided, furs came in the form of stoles, jackets, coats, collars, cuffs, muffs, and even trimming to accent an existing garment. There were all kinds of furs being utilized from mink, beaver, lamb, and so many more. Curly or straight, fur was a trendy item to add to a wardrobe because it added a touch of elegant texture and practical warmth. Normally, furs were a purchased item and I have no reason to believe that furs in Nazi Germany were any different especially in the early years of the Reich for those of means. As the years continued and the war took a toll I am sure that changed. If a woman was rather ambitious or wanted a custom work done, the pattern book Der Goldene Schnitt offered patterns. Personally, I think that the fur pieces in Der Goldene Schnitt were there more for inspiration than practical use but I am sure there may have been at least one ambition woman out there. . .Especially since women in Nazi Germany were encouraged to make their own clothes.



What is of interest to discuss is that if Hitler indeed did not approve of women wearing fur, then why did some women wear it? Like those two above? Were they protesting the Nazi regime? Did they simply not know of Hitler's distaste of them? I believe some women in Nazi Germany chose to wear furs not because they were protesting but because furs were fashionable. Women in Nazi Germany, like in every other corner of the globe, strove to be fashionable regardless of the prevailing political ideology. Even in the fashion pages of the NS Frauen - Warte, there is fur being used. To have fur being used in a leading women's magazine says a lot don't you think? So, some women, a minority I am sure,  in Nazi Germany did indeed wear furs. Those who wore furs did so because fur was a popular fashion item and some German women strove to be fashionable.

 

In comparison to the United States, how frequent did German women wear furs when compared to their American sisters? That I am not too sure about but I think more American women wore furs in comparison.

Another important point that I would like to make as well is that furs were not the status or luxury symbols then as they are today. In 1940s Fashion: The Definitive Sourcebook, this is a statement that they clearly make and support because in the many Sears catalogs women would find a fur to match almost any budget, check out pages 204 - 205 for it.  So that even the poorest woman could own a fur coat, she had the option of payment plans and even cheap furs that looked expensive but were probably rabbit dyed to look like an expensive animal pelt. . . The reason why I mention this is because some fashion trends were consistent regardless of country. . I believe furs are possibly one of those trends.


Edited 09/28/2019