St.

Cenydd History Department

What do you think is meant by…
What do you think is meant by…
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
 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)
Read ‘Life for women in Weimar Germany’ (Worksheet 1) and complete this diagram

What was life like for

women in Weimar Germany?
 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 1918-1945 (Routledge, 1987)

According to the Nazis how were the roles of men and

women different?
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.

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?
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 1918-1945 (Routledge, 1987)

Did the Nazis remove women completely from the workplace?

Give reasons for your answer using the source and
your own knowledge.
Read ‘Life for women in Nazi Germany’ (Worksheet 1) and complete this diagram

What was life like for

women in Nazi Germany?
 How did life change for women in
Germany 1919 - 1945?
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
 How did life change for women in
Germany 1919 - 1945?
Pre 1933 Post 1933
Married and unmarried women were Loans were offered to brides who agreed
encouraged to have children not to take a job

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

The ideal man was a matter of personal Women sat in the Reichstag
choice

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

The ideal man was a matter of personal Women sat in the Reichstag
choice

Married women were encouraged to have

children

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

The ideal man was a matter of personal Women sat in the Reichstag
choice

Married women were encouraged to have Women were told that the ideal husband
children would be an Aryan

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

The ideal man was a matter of personal Women sat in the Reichstag
choice

Married women were encouraged to have Women were told that the ideal husband
children 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
 How did life change for women in
Germany 1919 - 1945?
Pre 1933 Post 1933
Married and unmarried women were Loans were offered to brides who agreed
encouraged to have children not to take a job

The ideal man was a matter of personal Women sat in the Reichstag
choice

Married women were encouraged to have Women were told that the ideal husband
children would be an Aryan

The Honour Cross of the German Mother Women were free to smoke and wear make-
was awarded according to how many up
children you had

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

The ideal man was a matter of personal Women sat in the Reichstag
choice

Married women were encouraged to have Women were told that the ideal husband
children would be an Aryan

The Honour Cross of the German Mother Women were free to smoke and wear make-
was awarded according to how many up
children you had

There were 3000 female doctors

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

The ideal man was a matter of personal Women sat in the Reichstag
choice

Married women were encouraged to have Women were told that the ideal husband
children would be an Aryan

The Honour Cross of the German Mother
was awarded according to how many
children you had
There were 3000 female doctors
Women were free to smoke and wear make-
up
Female doctors and civil servants were
sacked

Next Activity
Discuss whether each statement has been put in the right place
 Preparing for war
...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?
 Preparing for war
...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?
 Preparing for war
...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?
 Preparing for war
...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?
 Preparing for war
...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?
What does this propaganda poster tell you about Nazi
beliefs concerning the role of women within Germany?

Discuss: What can you see?

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?
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
 Task 1:
1
Think of three questions
you would like to ask about
this poster
Question 1:

Question 2:

Question 3:
 Task 2:
2
Click on the areas of the
poster that you would like
to explore

If you can’t decide

click here for help
 Task 2:
2
Click on the areas of the
poster that you would like
to explore

Try these areas

 The National Socialist
German Workers Party
safeguards the National
Community

The Party ensures

togetherness of the
people in the Community.
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.
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.
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.
 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.
Comrades, if you need
help and assistance ask
your local branch of
the NSDAP
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?

 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