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Originally produced in: Österreich
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4. Where they had to go to (Part 2)

The following image shows the working area of the Swabian children. Click image to enlarge
Collection point in Landeck for the trip into Swabia
The labour catchment area of the Swabian children
These places were home to the largest child labour markets Click image to enlarge
Source: Photo from the year 1892. Taken in Friedrichshafen, Ravensburg or Kempten. These places were home to the largest child labour markets. Uhlig, Otto, Die Schwabenkinder aus Tirol und Vorarlberg, Innsbruck, 1978.

Presentation

As soon as a farm child became seven years old, it was felt that he was able to earn his living himself abroad. Every spring whole groups of children accompanied by adult helpers walked north over wild mountain trails to the area around Lake Constance. They were examined almost like animals by the farmers on the herding children markets and hoped to find work for the summer. In autumn when the farming year came to an end, the children would set off again on their long march home.

Questions

  1. What type of image is the source?
  2. How many children are pictured?
  3. Describe their clothing and belongings.
  4. Where could they be?
  5. What time of year could the photo have been taken?
  6. What roles could the adults have?
  7. Guess what the boy and the adult could be saying to each other in that moment.

Display teacher's view to find the answers.

Description and Analysis

The time away from home:

A contemporary witness, Adolf Thurnes, in 1973 remembered his time as a Swabian child as follows:

“At the child labour market in Friedrichshafen, the children stood positioned between ropes; the farmer picked up whichever child he liked the look of, lifted him up over the ropes and took him home with him.”

The children worked as herders, they worked in the fields or in the homes.

On St Martin’s Day (11th November) they started their journey back to the Tyrol. Provided that they had found work with good employers, they had a few Guilders in salary with them and were clad in new clothes.

From 1915 attempts were made by the state to put a stop to this form of labour migration. To compensate for this “loss of earnings” the authorities promoted home industries. Only the young Republic of Austria succeeded in abolishing the forced migration of the Swabian children. The last documented migration of Swabian children was in 1926.

Answers to the Questions

  1. It is a photo from the year 1892.
  2. Six children are pictured: three girls and three boys.
  3. They are wrapped up warm, and are wearing either jackets or overcoats. All have a hat on. Their shoes look very worn.
  4. They are carrying rucksacks, simple suitcases or bags, but also plastic bags on their backs.
  5. They are in a town square.
  6. The picture was certainly taken at a cooler time of the year – in spring or late autumn – ready for the trek back to the Tyrol.
  7. “Do we have to wait much longer? Can’t we set off soon?.. ”