Women in Nazi Germany Flashcards
To have an understanding of the key ideals and polices the Nazi had and adopted towards women - you need to be able to make a judgement on whether women were 'better off' under Nazi Rule. Much of course will depend on what your 'criteria' is!
What was the ‘general’ Nazi ‘view’ of the role and place of women in society?
In a speech in 1934 Hitler stated that for woman,
“the world is her husband, her family, her children, and her home”
- To look after the family and home.
- To have large families.
- They were ‘equal’ but ‘had a different role in society
- Subscribe to the 3Ks principle - Kinder, Küche and Kirche (Children, kitchen and church)
- Politics was ‘too grubby’ for women.
NOTE: the 3Ks was not a Nazi ‘invention’, it had come into being under Kaiser Wilhelm II!
What was the attitude of the Nazis towards women and employment?
- Under the Weimar Republic more woman had taken up employment - this had led to the birth rate falling.
- The Nazis wanted to reverse this - a ‘growing’ population was the sign of a vigorous nation.
What did the Nazis do to reduce female employment?
- June 1933: women offered the ‘incentive’ of an interest free loan of 1000 Reichmarks to marry and give up work. (Law for the encouragement of Marriage)
- Labour exchanges discriminated in favour of men.
- Nazi Women’s Organisations promoted anti-feminist ideology (reinforcing Nazi values) e.g the National Socialist Women’s League OR **Nationalsozialistische Frauenschaft, abbreviated to “NS-Frauenschaft”
- Opportunities in Education restricted - e. banned from learning Latin (A requirement to enter University)
- Women in professions (Doctors, Teaching & Civil Service) were ‘removed’ from their Positions. (There had been 3,000 female doctors)
How successful were Nazi employment policies towards women?
- From 1937 policies had to change: A labour shortage meant women were recruited into factory work AND readmitted into the ‘professions’ (e.g Doctors & Teachers)
- Working women rose from 5.7 million in 1937 to over 7 million by 1939.
- By 1942 (3 years into the war) 52% of the workforce was female.
NOTE: The law of 1937 meant women had to do a “Duty Year”. This meant that they could work ‘patriotically’ in a factory etc. to help the Nazi’s “Economic Miracle”. (A way of disguising their failed policy to take women out of the workplace!)
What measures did the Nazis adopt to increase the size of families and of the population?
- There were strict anti-abortion laws and limited advice on contraception.
- Family benefits and allowances were increased Marriage loans (worth half a year’s salary)
- Reduced taxes in proportion to the number children in a family.
- Lebensborn Project.
What propaganda methods did the Nazis employ to promote their policies / values towards women?
Much propaganda to raise the status of ‘motherhood’. (Mutterkreuz) ‘Mothers Cross’ - Using the slogan - “I have donated a child to the Fuhrer!”
How successful were Nazi policies towards ‘women and families’?
Birth rate increased - BUT difficult to attribute why? (Could have been as a result of the end of the depression as much as Nazi policies) Marriage figures did NOT increase - divorce rates did! Could be argued the ‘status of women’ improved - but at the expense of their liberty and equality of opportunity.
What would be considered to be the ‘ideal’ image of a Nazi woman?
“Take hold of kettle, broom and pan,
Then you’ll surely get a man!
Shop and office leave alone, Your true life work lies at home.”
‘Blonde, athletic and healthy’
A desire and ability to bear children To keep healthy (although not smoking was more about being ‘un-German’ than having any relevance to smoking during pregnancy!)
To be ‘modest’ in her appearance (no make-up, sensible rather than fashionable clothing etc)
Patriarchy
Patriarchy is a social system in which males are the primary authority figures central to social organization, occupying roles of political leadership, moral authority, and control of property, and where fathers hold authority over women and children.
It implies the institutions of male rule and privilege, and entails female subordination.
The female equivalent is matriarchy.
Arguably, Nazi Germany can be viewed as a PATRIACHY.
The ‘Mission of women’, according to Joseph Goebbels….
“The mission of women is to be beautiful and to bring children into the world.
This is not at all as………unmodern as it sounds.
The female bird pretties herself for her mate and hatches eggs for him.
In exchange, the male takes care of gathering food, and stands guard and wards off the enemy.”
Joseph Goebbels, writing in 1929.
