Barbara's shaved underarms

I'll admit I'm no expert on German womens' hairy armpits (and probably never will be!), but here is my logical take on the matter: Barbara's level of bathing and grooming could have been a matter of personal preference, and also were habits she brought with her from Berlin. Recall that early in the movie her landlady made a sort of snide comment about how Barbara likes a bath (meaning, she probably took more baths than most local women, and as such, they needed to order extra coal for heating). Also recall that Barbara had originally come from a prestigious hospital in (East) Berlin, having been sent to the boonies as a sort of punishment. Maybe when she was in Berlin, which is more modern and sophisticated, she acquired more refined personal care habits, such as shaving armpits - the sort of grooming habit that wouldn't have been customary for the local women in that provincial little town she was sent to.

So I'll leave you with that interpretation, until such time that a more knowlegeable hairy armpit expert comes along.

I can reliably confirm your impression :) - no matter whether you were intellectual or upper class, from Berlin or the countryside.
Maybe Ms Hoss didn't have the time to have it grown convincingly.

Well, just as in any other country, even Italy, you are going to see all levels of personal grooming and hygiene. I didn't notice that B's shaved pits were odd. I just saw it as being her personal preference to keep oneself hairless under one's arms, & not reflective of a cultural norm.

** There MUST be more than one way to skin this Cat! **

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