Policies towards Women

• How did the Nazis view a woman's role in society?

  As vital for growing the Aryan race
• What were the three broad categories of changes for women under the Nazis?

  • Marriage and children
  • Work
  • Women's appearance
• What type of clothing did Nazi propaganda promote for women?

  Modest clothing with long skirts
• What was the birth rate in Germany by 1933?

  1 million
• Why were the Nazis concerned about the falling birth rate?

  Not enough soldiers and workers for Germany
• What was the purpose of the German Women's Enterprise (DFW)?

  To focus women on Nazi goals
• How many members did the DFW have by 1939?

  6 million
• What types of courses did the DFW organize?

  Domestic activities like childcare and cooking
• What law did the Nazis introduce in 1933 to encourage marriage?

  Law for the Encouragement of Marriage
• What financial incentive was provided to newly married couples?

  Loans of up to 1,000 marks
• How much of the marriage loan was written off for each child born?

  25% for each child
• What was the Mother's Cross introduced in 1938?

  A reward for women with multiple children
• What medals were awarded for the Mother's Cross?

  Bronze, silver, and gold for children
• What was the Lebensborn policy started in 1935?

  A breeding policy for SS men and single women
• How many children were born in Lebensborn homes?

  8,000 children
• What propaganda message was promoted to encourage women to leave work?

  Focus on Kinder, Küche, Kirche
• What professional jobs were women banned from in 1933?

  Teachers and doctors
• What was the effect of banning women from professional jobs?

  360,000 women left their jobs
• What happened to girls' grammar schools in 1937?

  They were banned
• How many girls attended university by 1939?

  6,000
• What was the reaction of some women to Nazi policies?

  They found them demeaning and damaging
• What practical issue challenged Nazi ideals by the end of the 1930s?

  Three million more women were in work
• Why were women filling jobs by the end of the 1930s?

  German industry was expanding rapidly
• What were the main policies of the Nazis towards women?

  • Encouragement of marriage and childbirth
  • Restriction of women's professional roles
  • Promotion of traditional family values