Women in Nazi Germany

The mission of women is to be beautiful and to bring children into the world. The female bird pretties herself for her mate and hatches eggs for him. In exchange, the male takes care of gathering the food and stands guard and wards off the enemy. - Josef Goebbels describes a woman’s role in 1929. An SPD poster questions what women’s lives will be like in the Third Reich, December 1930.

What was the Law for the Encouragement of Marriage? Women before the Third Reich In the 1920s women had made much progress. Women over 20 years had the right to vote. The Civil Service paid the same wages to men and women. By 1933 there were 100, 000 women teachers, 13, 000 women musicians and 3, 000 women doctors. One tenth of the members of the Reichstag were women. Women in the Third Reich The position of women in society changed under the Nazi government. The Nazis had very traditional views about women: they were inferior to men their job was to raise children and run the household working women were taking the jobs of men. What was the Law for the Encouragement of Marriage?

Hitler passed the Law for Encouragement of Marriage Hitler passed the Law for Encouragement of Marriage. This loan was not to be simply paid back. The birth of one child meant that 25% of the loan did not have to be paid back. Two children meant that 50% of the loan need not be paid back. Four children meant that the entire loan was cleared.

52 year old Aryan doctor. Fought in WWI. Wishes to settle down 52 year old Aryan doctor. Fought in WWI. Wishes to settle down. Wants male children through marriage to a young, healthy, Aryan virgin. She should be undemanding, thrifty, used to heavy work, broad hipped, with flat heels and no earrings. Advertisement for a wife. A poster advertising a Nazi approved film, ‘Motherly love’ which idealised the mother’s role.

A Nazi poster from 1937 showing their support for family life A Nazi poster from 1937 showing their support for family life. ‘The Nazi Party protects the national community (Volksgemeinschaft)’.

By 1939 375, 000 Germans had been forcibly sterilized. After 1935 Jewish women could not marry Aryan men. Saw the introduction of the SS-run Lebensborn (Spring of Life) organisation which operated maternity homes to look after the orphaned or illegitimate children of racially sound Germans.

Women were also encouraged to give up paid work and stay at home. Nazi Germany wanted to increase the number of ‘pure’ Germans – all Aryan women were encouraged to give birth to as many children as possible. Women were also encouraged to give up paid work and stay at home. - Between 1933-1936 married women were banned from the top professional jobs as doctors, lawyers and senior civil servants. A German cartoon from the 1930s with the caption ‘Introducing Frau Mueller who up to now has brought 12 children into the world’.

"Take hold of kettle, broom and pan, Then you’ll surely get a man "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." "In the Germanic nations there has never been anything else than equality of rights for women. Both sexes have their rights, their tasks, and these tasks were in the case of each equal in dignity and value, and therefore man and woman were on an equality."  Hitler in 1935

Changes in society – Weimar Republic - Women Changes in society – Nazi Germany - Women