Lecture Notes: The Role of Women in Nazi Germany

Introduction

Focus on the changing lives of German people during the Nazi era, specifically women from 1933 to 1939.
Main question: Did the Nazis create a "Volksgemeinschaft" (people's community) for German women?

Traditional, conservative, and right-wing views.
Propaganda depicted women as traditional German mothers.
- Example: Painting by Wolfgang Ullrich showing an Aryan family with the woman centered.

Women were expected to be beautiful, bring children into the world, and stay at home.
- Quote by Goebbels about women's role similar to a female bird.
Specific expectations:
- Not smoking (believed to lead to miscarriages).
- Avoiding makeup (considered Americanism).
- Wearing traditional German clothes.
- Working in the kitchen and being strong to bear children.
Participation in the National Socialist Women’s League (2 million members by 1938).

Encouragement to Marry
- Offered generous loans to Aryan couples.
- Loans reduced by 25% per child.
- Medals for mothers with numerous children (Honor Cross of the German Mother).
- Different levels: Bronze (4-5 children), Silver (6 children), Gold (8 children).
Encouragement to Have More Children
- Births increased in the early 30s but declined towards the end of the decade.
- Economic factors possibly influenced birth rates more than policies.
Encouragement to Stay at Home
- Limited women’s role in higher education (10% university students could be female).
- Intended to increase the Aryan population.

Marriage: Increased from 500,000 to nearly 800,000 by late 30s.
Birth Rates: Rose initially but declined by the end of the decade.
Women in Workforce: Despite policies, women’s employment in factories increased due to economic demands.

The Nazi policies achieved limited success in creating a Volksgemeinschaft for women.
Women remained independent and pursued personal goals, contrary to Nazi ideals.
Indicates the failure of the Nazi regime to control women’s roles completely.