On this day 51 years ago,
the so-called hairnet decree was put into effect by then Defense Minister Helmut Schmidt. This allowed the soldiers of the Bundeswehr to wear their hair longer than the shoulder. The only requirement was that they wear a hairnet. Previously, long hair had not been allowed in the Bundeswehr for hygienic and practical reasons. After long hair became popular in the course of the 1960s as a sign of a protest attitude against the state and the parents’ generation, conscripts in particular increasingly wore long hair, to the displeasure of many instructors. The decree is now seen in the context of a general liberalization under Willy Brandt’s social-liberal coalition.
However, the decree lasted only a little over a year. This was due to fierce criticism from conservative circles as well as ridicule from abroad about the state of the troops. The long hair would testify to indiscipline and reduce the deterrent potential of the soldiers. In the Western press, the derisive term “German Hair Force” became established. A specially appointed commission determined that long hair would lead to considerable hygienic problems under operational conditions. Under this pressure, the Ministry of Defense had to revoke the decree. Thus, to this day, hair on men is not allowed to touch the shirt collar or the uniform.
(sp)