Prince Luitpold of Bavaria

What people wore

Perlon Lingerie Symbolized Progress

In the early 1950s, women embraced Perlon garments, such as lingerie, because they could be hand-washed in the evening and dried overnight without needing ironing. This was marketed to housewives as a symbol of progress and time-saving convenience.

Getting around

Shifting from bicycles to mass motorization

In the early postwar years, people primarily relied on bicycles, buses, and trains, with motorcycles becoming a popular initial step toward mass motorization. By the mid-1950s, affordable small cars like the BMW Isetta and the Volkswagen Beetle made individual car travel increasingly common for ordinary people.

At the table

Shrimp Peeling Wages

In the 1950s, a skilled shrimp peeler could process six pounds of shrimp per hour and earned 2.15 Deutsche Mark for this labor.

Music

Rare records and fragile needles

Shellac records were so rare that customers had to trade in an old disc when buying a new one. The needles used to play them often wore out after only two or three uses.

Daily life

Difficult conditions for school children

Classrooms were frequently overcrowded, with up to 60 children per class, and students often used slates and dip pens instead of paper. Many children faced interruptions to their schooling during winter months when classrooms could not be heated due to severe fuel shortages.

What it cost

Worker wages in 1955

In 1955, the average hourly wage for a West German industrial worker rose to 1.76 Mark from 1.65 Mark in 1954.