The tombakowa młodzież (tombak youth) were members of a youth subculture in Warsaw during World War II.

Tombakowa młodzież
Years active1939-1945
CountryGeneral Government
InfluencesHipster
InfluencedBikini boys

History

edit

During the Second Polish Republic jazz became an increasingly popular genre of music among young urbanites. Following the Nazi occupation the jazz phenomenon intensified[1] with groups of youths in Warsaw becoming noticeable for their love of jazz, pleasure seeking attitude, and style of dress.[2] Members of the subculture were reputed to use sophisticated German in the presence of Nazis in an acerbic display of flattery.[3]

While the German propaganda newspaper Nowy Kurier Warszawski condemned the tombakowa młodzież for their style of dress,[4][5] participants of the subculture were also derided as traitors to Poland due to their seemingly carefree behaviour under the occupation.[6]

The tombakowa młodzież have been considered the progenitors of the later post-war bikini boys subculture.[7]

Style

edit

Comparable in fashion to their French contemporaries the zazous, the tombakowa młodzież were known for wearing knee length jackets and slim trousers.[8]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Wilk, Hubert (2006). "Recenzje: Maciej Chłopek, Bikiniarze. Pierwsza polska subkultura, Wydawnictwo Akademickie „Żak", Warszawa 2005, str. 168" (PDF). Polska 1944/45–1989: Studia i Materiały (in Polish) (7): 408. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  2. ^ Sołtysiak, Grzegorz; Williams, Dorota (January 2017). "Plereza pod naleśnikiem". Tygodnik Przegląd (in Polish). Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  3. ^ Rzewuski, Paweł (November 2014). "Okupacja niemiecka: 10 przypadków z życia codziennego". Hist Mag (in Polish). Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  4. ^ Rzewuski, Paweł (November 2014). "Okupacja niemiecka: 10 przypadków z życia codziennego". Hist Mag (in Polish). Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  5. ^ Bartlett, Djurdja (June 2013). "Socialist Dandies International: East Europe, 1946-1959" (PDF). Fashion Theory. 17 (3): 262. ISSN 1362-704X. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  6. ^ Sołtysiak, Grzegorz; Williams, Dorota (January 2017). "Plereza pod naleśnikiem". Tygodnik Przegląd (in Polish). Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  7. ^ Wilk, Hubert (2006). "Recenzje: Maciej Chłopek, Bikiniarze. Pierwsza polska subkultura, Wydawnictwo Akademickie „Żak", Warszawa 2005, str. 168" (PDF). Polska 1944/45–1989: Studia i Materiały (in Polish) (7): 408. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  8. ^ Rzewuski, Paweł (November 2014). "Okupacja niemiecka: 10 przypadków z życia codziennego". Hist Mag (in Polish). Retrieved 10 January 2024.