Section A: Nazi policies towards women

• What was the traditional role of women according to the Nazis?

  Mother and housewife
• Why did the Nazis believe women should stay at home?

  To raise a family instead of working
• What appearance did the Nazis encourage women to adopt?

  Natural appearance with simple hair and no make-up
• Who was appointed as the Reich Women’s leader in 1934?

  Gertrud Scholtz-Klink
• What was the German Women’s Enterprise (DFW)?

  An organization merging women's groups
• How many members did the DFW have by 1939?

  6 million members
• How many women attended DFW courses by 1939?

  1.7 million women
• What was the Nazi goal regarding the German birth rate?

  To reverse the decline in births
• What did the Law for the Encouragement of Marriage provide?

  Loans of 1,000 marks to newlyweds
• What happened to the loan for each child born under the marriage law?

  A quarter of the loan was written off
• What change occurred in divorce laws in 1938?

  Inability to have children became grounds for divorce
• What was the Mother’s Cross awarded for?

  Having multiple children
• What were the different levels of the Mother’s Cross?

  Bronze for four, silver for six, gold for eight
• Who were expected to salute wearers of the gold Mother’s Cross?

  Hitler Youth
• What was encouraged if a family had a tenth child?

  To name the child Adolf
• What was the Lebensborn programme established for?

  To encourage breeding 'genetically pure' children
• How many babies were born under the Lebensborn programme between 1938-41?

  540 babies
• What concept did Nazi propaganda revive regarding women's roles?

  The 'three Ks': Kinder, Kuche, Kirche
• From which professions were women banned by the Nazis?

  Teaching, medicine, and civil service
• How many women left their professions by the end of 1934?

  360,000 women
• What change occurred for women in 1936 regarding professions?

  Women could become judges or lawyers
• What happened to girls attending grammar school from 1937?

  They were closed to girls
• How did university attendance for girls change from 1932 to 1939?

  Fell from 17,000 to 6,000
• What were the results of Nazi policies towards women?

  Fewer women in university, increased birth rate
• How was Gertrud Scholtz-Klink viewed by some women?

  Disliked for her rigid ideas
• What happened to some Nazi policies as rearmament began?

  Some policies were reversed, women returned to work
• What change occurred in 1937 regarding marriage loans?

  Women with loans were allowed to work again
• How many women were in work by 1939?

  7 million women
• How many women were in work in 1933?

  5 million women