1. St.Cenydd History Department
Life for women in
Nazi Germany

2. What do you think is meant by…
Kinder, Kirche, Kueche

3. Children, Church, Kitchen
What do you think is meant by…
Children, Church, Kitchen

4. This phrase was often used by the Nazis to describe their vision of what life for women should be like. As the lesson progresses, see how far they succeeded in creating this vision of a virtuous, domestic and family orientated lifestyle for women within Germany.
Virtuous - Having good qualities. Being morally good.
Domestic - Spending a lot of time living and working in the home

5. Aims of the lesson To compare:
Life for women in Weimar and Nazi Germany
To find out:
What Nazi policies regarding women were
Whether Nazi policies regarding women were successfully implemented (carried out)

6. women in Weimar Germany?
Read ‘Life for women in Weimar Germany’ (Worksheet 1) and complete this diagram
What was life like for
women in Weimar Germany?

7. What does Hitler mean when he states that ‘man’s world is the State?’
Women, as a distinct social group, had a clearly defined place in the Nazi world. In a rally at Nuremberg in 1934 Hitler said that ‘man’s world is the State’, while the ‘world of woman is a smaller world. For her world is her husband, her family, her children and her house.’
Stephen Lee, The European Dictatorships (Routledge, 1987)
According to the Nazis how were the roles of men and women different?

8. Who was Joseph Goebbels and what was his role within Nazi Germany?
In 1929, Goebbels stated: ‘The mission of women is to be beautiful and to bring children into the world. This is not at all as un-modern as it sounds. The female bird preens 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.’
Discuss the words and description given by Goebbels.

9. Why do you think that Goebbels refers to the animal world?
In 1929, Goebbels stated: ‘The mission of women is to be beautiful and to bring children into the world. This is not at all as un-modern as it sounds. The female bird preens 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.’
What is woman’s role within society (the ‘mission of women’) according to Goebbels?

10. How did the Nazis try to ‘ease’ women out of the workplace?
The initial policy was to ease women out of the top levels of the civil service, law, medicine and politics. Women were induced to stay at home by new ‘marriage credits’ and child bonuses. The gradual decline of unemployment, however, created a new demand for labour. The result was the steady recruitment of women into both agriculture and industry, the total reaching 5.2 million by 1938.
Stephen Lee, The European Dictatorships (Routledge, 1987)
Did the Nazis remove women completely from the workplace? Give reasons for your answer using the source and your own knowledge.

11. What was life like for women in Nazi Germany?
Read ‘Life for women in Nazi Germany’ (Worksheet 1) and complete this diagram
What was life like for
women in Nazi Germany?

12. encouraged to have children
How did life change for women in
Germany ?
Pre 1933
Post 1933
Married and unmarried women were
encouraged to have children
Next Statement
Discuss whether each statement has been put in the right place

13. Next Statement How did life change for women in Germany 1919 - 1945?
Pre 1933
Post 1933
Married and unmarried women were
encouraged to have children
Loans were offered to brides who agreed not to take a job
Next Statement
Discuss whether each statement has been put in the right place

14. Next Statement How did life change for women in Germany 1919 - 1945?
Pre 1933
Post 1933
Married and unmarried women were
encouraged to have children
Loans were offered to brides who agreed not to take a job
The ideal man was a matter of personal choice
Next Statement
Discuss whether each statement has been put in the right place

15. Next Statement How did life change for women in Germany 1919 - 1945?
Pre 1933
Post 1933
Married and unmarried women were
encouraged to have children
Loans were offered to brides who agreed not to take a job
The ideal man was a matter of personal choice
Women sat in the Reichstag
Next Statement
Discuss whether each statement has been put in the right place

16. Next Statement How did life change for women in Germany 1919 - 1945?
Pre 1933
Post 1933
Married and unmarried women were
encouraged to have children
Loans were offered to brides who agreed not to take a job
The ideal man was a matter of personal choice
Women sat in the Reichstag
Married women were encouraged to have children
Next Statement
Discuss whether each statement has been put in the right place

17. Next Statement How did life change for women in Germany 1919 - 1945?
Pre 1933
Post 1933
Married and unmarried women were
encouraged to have children
Loans were offered to brides who agreed not to take a job
The ideal man was a matter of personal choice
Women sat in the Reichstag
Married women were encouraged to have children
Women were told that the ideal husband would be an Aryan
Next Statement
Discuss whether each statement has been put in the right place

18. Next Statement How did life change for women in Germany 1919 - 1945?
Pre 1933
Post 1933
Married and unmarried women were
encouraged to have children
Loans were offered to brides who agreed not to take a job
The ideal man was a matter of personal choice
Women sat in the Reichstag
Married women were encouraged to have children
Women were told that the ideal husband would be an Aryan
The Honour Cross of the German Mother was awarded according to how many children you had
Next Statement
Discuss whether each statement has been put in the right place

19. Next Statement How did life change for women in Germany 1919 - 1945?
Pre 1933
Post 1933
Married and unmarried women were
encouraged to have children
Loans were offered to brides who agreed not to take a job
The ideal man was a matter of personal choice
Women sat in the Reichstag
Married women were encouraged to have children
Women were told that the ideal husband would be an Aryan
The Honour Cross of the German Mother was awarded according to how many children you had
Women were free to smoke and wear make-up
Next Statement
Discuss whether each statement has been put in the right place

20. Next Statement How did life change for women in Germany 1919 - 1945?
Pre 1933
Post 1933
Married and unmarried women were
encouraged to have children
Loans were offered to brides who agreed not to take a job
The ideal man was a matter of personal choice
Women sat in the Reichstag
Married women were encouraged to have children
Women were told that the ideal husband would be an Aryan
The Honour Cross of the German Mother was awarded according to how many children you had
Women were free to smoke and wear make-up
There were 3000 female doctors
Next Statement
Discuss whether each statement has been put in the right place

21. Next Activity How did life change for women in Germany 1919 - 1945?
Pre 1933
Post 1933
Married and unmarried women were
encouraged to have children
Loans were offered to brides who agreed not to take a job
The ideal man was a matter of personal choice
Women sat in the Reichstag
Married women were encouraged to have children
Women were told that the ideal husband would be an Aryan
The Honour Cross of the German Mother was awarded according to how many children you had
Women were free to smoke and wear make-up
Female doctors and civil servants were sacked
There were 3000 female doctors
Next Activity
Discuss whether each statement has been put in the right place

22. Preparing for war Next Fact ...but don't stop having babies!
The Lebensborn Programme: Unmarried mothers 'donated a baby to the Fuhrer'.
SS officers would father the children.
Next Fact
Discuss each fact as a class with your teacher.
Do there seem to be some contradictions within Nazi Policy?

23. Preparing for war Next Fact ...but don't stop having babies!
The Lebensborn Programme: Unmarried mothers 'donated a baby to the Fuhrer'.
SS officers would father the children.
Women's employment increased.
Employers preferred to employ women - it was cheaper.
Next Fact
Discuss each fact as a class with your teacher.
Do there seem to be some contradictions within Nazi Policy?

24. Preparing for war Next Fact ...but don't stop having babies!
The Lebensborn Programme: Unmarried mothers 'donated a baby to the Fuhrer'.
SS officers would father the children.
Women's employment increased.
Employers preferred to employ women - it was cheaper.
Hitler believed that a woman's place was in the home.
He wanted women to be at home with the children.
Next Fact
Discuss each fact as a class with your teacher.
Do there seem to be some contradictions within Nazi Policy?

25. Preparing for war Next Fact ...but don't stop having babies!
The Lebensborn Programme: Unmarried mothers 'donated a baby to the Fuhrer'.
SS officers would father the children.
Women's employment increased.
Employers preferred to employ women - it was cheaper.
Hitler believed that a woman's place was in the home.
He wanted women to be at home with the children.
The Nazis encouraged women to have more and more children
Next Fact
Discuss each fact as a class with your teacher.
Do there seem to be some contradictions within Nazi Policy?

26. Preparing for war Next Activity ...but don't stop having babies!
The Lebensborn Programme: Unmarried mothers 'donated a baby to the Fuhrer'.
SS officers would father the children.
Women's employment increased.
Employers preferred to employ women - it was cheaper.
Hitler believed that a woman's place was in the home.
He wanted women to be at home with the children.
The Nazis encouraged women to have more and more children
As more men joined the armed forces the Nazis needed more women to go to work
Next Activity
Discuss each fact as a class with your teacher.
Do there seem to be some contradictions within Nazi Policy?

27. Discuss: What can you see?
What does this propaganda poster tell you about Nazi beliefs concerning the role of women within Germany?
Discuss: What can you see?

28. Comment on the atmosphere and mood created by the artist?
E.G. Think about the background scene
Why do you think that the sun has been placed where it is – taking up much of the background?

29. What kind of society did the Nazis wish to create?
How does this idyllic scene fit in with The Nazi vision of perfect society?
What kind of society did the Nazis wish to create?
Think about:
Family Life
Community

30. Think of three questions you would like to ask about this poster
Task 1:
Think of three questions you would like to ask about this poster
Question 1:
Question 2:
Question 3:

31. Click on the areas of the poster that you would like to explore
Task 2:
Click on the areas of the poster that you would like to explore
If you can’t decide click here for help

32. Click on the areas of the poster that you would like to explore
Task 2:
Click on the areas of the poster that you would like to explore
Try these areas

33. The Party ensures togetherness of the people in the Community.
The National Socialist German Workers Party safeguards the National Community
The Party ensures togetherness of the people in the Community.

34. The eagle represents the Nazi Party.
Notice that its wings are wrapped around the family suggesting the family are being protected.
The eagle looks very powerful.

35. The father is shown as the head of the family.
He rises above his family with his shirt sleeves rolled up. He is the worker protecting the family.
His arms are wrapped around the family, further suggesting he is looking after them.

36. The mother is shown with a scarf holding her hair back – as if she has been carrying out domestic chores.
She is gently cradling her baby and looks both healthy and happy to be surrounded by her family.

37. The baby provides the central focus of the poster.
All of the children conform to the Aryan ideal (blonde hair and fresh complexion, etc). The little girl is close to the mother, and the boy next to his father. They are portrayed as a happy family, with the baby illustrating that this is a growing family.

38. Comrades, if you need help and assistance ask your local branch of the NSDAP

39. What can you see in this source?
What does this source tell you about Hitler’s and the Nazi’s attitude towards women and the family?
What can you see in this source?

40. Remember that some women resisted Nazi ideas concerning the role of women within society….
Even though there was very little organised opposition to Hitler some women remained loyal to their church groups and others actively sought employment (usually low paid and mundane jobs)
Some women joined opposition political parties such as the Social Democrats, or the Communists in protest
Some women spoke out and argued that they had special talents for certain jobs and should not be tied to the home
Some women argued that they had an equal right to the same education, jobs and experiences enjoyed by men
END