Nazi Women

By 1939, the Nazis had been in power in Germany for 6 years. Was there much change in the lives of German women and children in the period 1933-1939?

When the Nazis came to power in 1933 there were many changes in society. Hitler's aim was to make a super race of pure German blood people and to expand the German empire, to make it the best. In Hitler doing so many people were effected by these changes that had to be made. And women and children were part of this change. Before Hitler, women were allowed to express them self's in many ways. The year before Hitler came to power there were 18 315 women student in German universities. Once Hitler came to power that dropped to 5 447. This dramatic decrease in numbers shows how Hitler's ideas on how a country was to be run, did not include academic women, in fact women were persuaded to be house wife's and many were pressured to give in there jobs and professions, to fit into society. Hitler used many ways in enforcing this and none better came along than the depression. In the 1930s a third of men became unemployed and lost their jobs, times were tough and men were desperate. The Nazis played on this and argued that, women, due to the cheap labour, were replacing men. So intern, women were pressured out of their jobs, to make way for the men. Hitler also promised during his election campaign in 1932, if he gained power, he would take 800 000 women out of unemployment within four years. Hitler set out reducing the number of women professionals, by dismissing all civil servants and doctors, and even took the women's rights in court he once said " women are unable to think logically or reason objectively, since they are ruled only by emotion." Women were being forced out the work place, and were slowly losing their rights in society. Hitler once again enforced the idea of being a housewife and a stay at home mother, by giving the added incentive of money to persuade women. Hitler passed a law in 1933 that allowed married couples to take a loan, which would help them to start up a new family. And also taxed single men and childless couples more as a way of pressuring people into it. Women would also find them pressured by society to. Some women were frowned upon for not following Hitler's way, and singled out and humiliated. Women were not being allowed to express them self's, and were treated like the lower class. Hitler's outspoken feminism drove large numbers of women to join left wing political groups. In 1933, Hitler opened up a concentration camp especially for women, and the threat of death made some people react, but numbers kept growing and in the end 2 more concentration camps were built. Hitler saw women as a tool which he could do as he wanted and use them in any way he saw fit. The idea of a stay home mum and housewife to some was ok, but others were not happy. When Hitler came to power women were tossed aside and had to do as they were told, they were there for one purpose, and women's rights were lost, and this dramatic change in life would have hit hard to the women's life. As well as women, children had many changes to their lives to. Hitler's policy was that if you get them at a young enough age they will learn better and become better Germans. Before 1933 children were allowed to be children and learn a normal curriculum. When Hitler came to power it all changed. Hitler's first change and one of his most drastic was the curriculum. Hitler wanted to teach the future of Germany what he wanted and anything anti nazi was banned, there was even a day when all books that were not approved by nazi officials were burnt. Children school days began to change as they began to learn about war and how to apply different skills into the art of war. Hitler was trying to breed a new super race. The children were also linked back to the mother. Women were often forced to send their children to certain schools and schemes, and as a mother this could be very hard, not having the power to choose your Childs education. Also extra curricular activities and groups were organised, and all of these were to teach how a good German should live their lives. Some children rebelled against the new laws of enrolment to the Hitler youth and started their own gangs. One famous one named "Edelweiss Pirates", this group of lads would often mock the Hitler youth and even start fights, they protested against Nazism, and were a notorious gang. But Hitler's law meant all other clubs were banned so, many of the older ringleaders were hanged. Being a child in the time of Hitler was ruff, you couldn't win. If you didn't become a nazi youth you were breaking the law so you could be killed, but if you did become a nazi you would be tormented by other and have to face a harsh regime of exercise and punishment. So life as a child changed dramatically and was tough. Hitler's ways in treating children and women had a big impact on their lives, and changed them, in many ways. Hitler took away their freedom to make them into what he wanted, and used them to build his empire