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Women in Nazi Germany - Coggle Diagram
Women in Nazi Germany
The Nazis believed that the role of women had to play in society was different, but equally as important, to
the role of men.
Women in Nazi Germany:
The Nazis were worried about the declining number of births. they felt that a low birth rate and a smaller population didn't fit with their plans to expand Germany's territory and settle Germans in other areas of Europe.
The Nazis felt it was a woman's patriotic duty to stay at home, have lots of children and support their husbands.
Women should stick to the three k's - Kinder, Kirche and Kuche (children, church and cooking)
Women in Weimar Germany:
In the 1920's German women had many rights and freedoms that women in other countries didn't have. For example, they could vote and if they worked for the government, their pay was equal to men
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The birth rate fell as more women worked. In 1900 there had been over two million births per year. In 1933 there were under one million.
Work
Many female doctors, teachers, lawyers and judges were sacked. Working was discouraged as it might hinder producing children.
Sterilisation
The Nazis thought that some women were unfit to be mothers. The 'Law for the Prevention of Diseased Offspring', allowed forcible sterilisation of women with a history of mental illness, hereditary diseases or antisocial behaviour (like alcoholism)
Family
Contraception and aportion were banned. Generous loans were given to newly married couples to encourage them to have children. The Motherhood Medal was awarded to women with the most children. Mothers with eight children recieved the 'Gold Cross'
Impact of the policies
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The birth rate increased - around 970,000 babies were born in 1933, rising to 1,413,000 by 1939
When the Second World War started in 1939, there was a labour shortage as men were joining the army. Thousands of women were needed to work in factories for the war effort, taking on the joint role of main wage earner and mother. Unlike in Britain, though women were still not called up to work.
Organisations
The German Women's League coordinated all adult women's groups, and representatives travelled around giving advice on cooking, childcare and diet. The Nazi Women's Organisation was an elite female group dedicated to Nazi beliefs and ideas
Behaviour
In many cities, qomen were banned from smoking because it was 'unladylike', wearing trousers or high heels was also frowned upon for the same reason. Slimming was discouraged because it might make it harder to get pregnant.