1971-1972: The Brief Existence of the "German Hair Force"

(Bundeswehr Photograph; Author's Collection)

     On February 8, 1971, German Defense Minister Helmut Schmidt issued a regulation that Bundeswehr male soldiers could have long hair as long as it was well kept and did not interfere with their duties. If their hair did, then a hairnet (similar to those used by food workers) had to be worn. This new regulation was the result of the fallout due to one Albrecht Schmeissner. After being inducted into service by his recruiters in 1967, it was assumed Schmeissner would buzz cut his flowing mane of hair. Except he didn't. Instead, Schmeissner pointed to the existing grooming regulations and stated there was no mention of a maximum length and so he did not have to cut it. Schmeissner stuck to his guns for 45 days during which time he was the frequent target of harassment and scorn. But, he finally caved and got his hair cut after being threatened with insubordination. Still, this act of defiance reached the ears of Bundeswehr leadership who, in light of long hair for men being “in fashion” at the time, pushed for the change in regulation. And so began the period of the “German Hair Force”.

     Veterans within the Bundeswehr, of which there were many who had served in World War Two, were appalled and outraged by the new regulations. To add further insult to the injury, the military forces of the Bundeswehr's NATO allies also railed against the decision to allow long hair and it was those very same allied forces that coined the derogatory term of the “German Hair Force.” This, however, was only the beginning of the problems. Soldiers felt that the hairnets could damage their hair if worn for extended periods and so the Bundeswehr was more or less forced to create a medical task force to investigate the claim. Needless to say, there was nothing to the claim of hairnets damaging hair. However, the task force found that long hair had a host of problems. These included a nice home for lice, skin problems, and parasitic infestations (such as, say, ringworm). It was also pointed out that long hair would be extremely difficult or problematic to care for in the field and thus posed a hygiene risk. Another issue was the allowance of long beards which also posed their own hygienic problems. The military pfennig pinchers weighed in, saying long hair required more water and long hair posed a problem for drains and pipes while all those electric hair dryers would drive up facility energy costs. All of these concerns finally came to a head when, in July 1972, the regulations were changed and now a male soldier's hair could not touch the uniform collar and beards had to be well groomed and short. This regulation remains in place to this day. With this change, the regulation revision ended the brief era of the “German Hair Force.”

     The hair regulation, however, did not (and still doesn't) apply to women in the Bundeswehr. Women were allowed to keep their hair long if they wished and when in uniform, she had to use a hair tie or put her hair into a single braid. In part, this regulation was put in place as a means for the encouragement of women in the Bundeswehr.