Section 3: Social Impact of the Nazi State Chapter 7: Nazi policies towards women and the young Nazi policies towards The Nazis’ Impact on Young People Why were young people so • Activities were dominated by physical rather important to the Nazis? than intellectual activities. By 1936, the ‘military 14 women and the young athletics’ course they followed included: 15 In 1935 Hitler made speech in which he said to marching, bayonet drill, grenade throwing, those who opposed him: “In a few years you will trench digging, map reading, gas defence, use of be dead but your children will live after you. We dugouts, how to get under barbed wire and pistol already have the loyalty of these children. Because Birth Rate: number of babies shooting. of them our victory is assured. And your defeat Learning Objectives born compared with the size of is certain!” • Nazi beliefs about the need to conquer new • To learn about Nazi policies towards young people the population. territory (especially in Eastern Europe) and take The Nazis knew that if they were going to change • To weigh up the impact these policies had on : Nazi land from people thought to be inferior played a Germany then it was important to get people peoples’ lives organisation, aiming to spread key part in the education of boys. to believe in Nazi ideas (ideology). If they could Nazi ideas among young people. • To decide how successful the Nazis were in succeed in this, then Germans would willingly The task of the girls section was to prepare them spreading their ideas Ideology: a set of beliefs. cooperate with them in building a ‘new Germany’. for motherhood: The most important part of this was children. Indoctrinate: to bombard • Girls, at the age of 10, joined the League of Young If they could be won over to support the Nazis people with only one set of Girls and at the age of 14 transferred to the then the future of Germany would be a Nazi one. Getting an Overview ideas. League of German Girls. Soon those who opposed Nazi beliefs - and who Intimidation: threat of force. remembered the kind of Germany before the • Activities were again dominated by physical Nazis set up youth Propaganda: presenting Nazis came to power - would be dead. But the next ones. Girls had to be able to run 60 metres in groups – the Hitler Youth information in order to persuade generation of Germans would only have known 14 seconds, throw a ball 12 metres, complete a to spread their ideas among young Germans people. Nazi propaganda. They would loyally support the 2 hour march and swim 100 metres. The rest of outside of school. Nazis and their aims for Germany – and the world. the activities were focused on domestic activities and looking after children. Women were Nazis made sure only discouraged from going their ideas were taught What were the aims of the Nazis for out to work, smoking, in schools. Teachers Draft • Nazi beliefs about race and the removal of those using make-up, wearing who objected lost young people? thought to be inferior played a large part in girls’ latest fashions. their jobs. education. Nazi policies The Nazis hoped that by indoctrinating young towards women people with Nazi ideas they would eventually Schools and young people New school subjects create Germans who were totally in agreement Women were rewarded like Race Science taught At school new subjects such as Race Science taught for having large families children Nazi beliefs with Nazi beliefs and aims. (eg with medals like the about superior Germans school children that Germans were superior to ‘Mother Cross’). & inferior Jews and other races; and especially that Jews were to blame other races the Nazis The Hitler Youth disliked. The Hitler Youth provided after-school and for Germany’s problems. In the more traditional weekend activities for 10 to 18 year olds. There subjects, such as History, the Nazi version of the were separate organisations for boys and girls. past was taught. Even in Maths the problems Girls were taught to be Boys were taught to be solved were about how much fuel a bomber would healthy mothers. healthy soldiers. The task of the boys section was to prepare the need to attack enemy cities. Teachers who objected boys for military service: were sacked. Many though willingly went along with these Nazi plans for education. • At 10, joined the Activities German Young People, until the age of 13 Activities 1. Describe the kind of family this poster shows. when they transferred 3. Explain why the Nazis thought that controlling young people was so important. 2. Look at the spidergram ‘Nazi policies towards women and young to the Hitler Youth people’. List the Nazi ideas that you can find in this poster. Source A. The Ideal Nazi Family from a until the age of 18. 4. How similar and different was Nazi education for boys and girls? 1930s poster. Section 3: Social Impact of the Nazi State Chapter 7: Nazi policies towards women and the young How successful was the Hitler Youth The Nazis’ impact on women in winning young people over to the What was the importance of women to the Nazi State? 16 Nazis? If Nazis wanted a future world of ‘German’ people 17 who believed in their ideas, then the women who Huge numbers of young people joined the Hitler would be bearing and bringing up these children Youth. And many became firm believers in Nazi would play a huge part in this. Hitler saw men and ideas. During WW2 some of the fiercest fighting women as very different who had very different that US and British soldiers faced in the battle roles and responsibilities in the ‘new’ Germany. for Normandy, in France, in 1944 was against SS soldiers from the Hitler Youth Division. What were the aims of the Nazis for But the situation was complicated. Youth groups women? were popular before 1933 and when Hitler came What the Nazis wanted from women in their to power all of these youth groups, apart from the Source D: These women and their babies were participants in Catholic Youth Movement (which was banned in society was really quite simple – they wanted, and the Program. This was set up by Himmler in 1936 1939) were dissolved. Many children were later needed them to produce their ‘’ of as a place which looked after unmarried mothers or pregnant forced to join the Hitler Youth but it is hard to perfect German children. Mothers were portrayed women whose partners were or had been SS men or other say how prepared they were to believe Nazi ideas. as heroines of the German Nation in Nazi racially valuable Germans. There is evidence that by 1939 about 40% of Source C. A group of young people from Cologne in the propaganda, stories and radio programmes and • Contraception was not allowed and abortion was German young people failed to regularly attend 1940s. These formed groups called ‘’. They there were rewards and incentives for women who illegal for Aryan women. Hitler Youth meetings. Were they just bored with played American Music and some even beat up Hitler Youth had children: them? Or were they rebelling because they did not members and helped escaping US airmen during the war! As well as laws and incentives to influence their • The Law for the Encouragement of Marriage in believe in what they were being taught? It is hard behaviour, there were also ideas about how women 1933 stated that all couples who married would to tell. gangs such as the ‘Edelweiss pirates’ who boycotted should look. Wearing make-up, high-heels or get a loan from the government of 1000 marks. Hitler Youth activities and during the war attacked trousers were discouraged and dyeing or perming Other young people enjoyed American ‘Swing For every child the couple had, 25% of the loan Hitler Youth patrols. At Munich University the hair was not allowed. Smoking was frowned Music’, which the Nazis hated. Some young people could be kept by them. This meant that if the movement produced anti-war leaflets upon. The perfect woman was portrayed as being Draftcouple had four children, they did not have to from working class areas of German cities formed and its leaders were executed in 1943. It is difficult physically strong and well-built as this was seen as pay back the loan at all! though to be sure how many joined such groups. better for pregnancy. And how much support they had from other • Mother’s crosses were awarded – a bronze cross young people. This is because the Nazis controlled for four children, a silver cross for six and a gold German newspapers and radio and crushed any cross for eight. groups of young people who openly resisted them. Build Better Answers • There were Mother’s Schools which ran courses Question: Describe the Nazis’ policies towards women. in looking after the home and bringing up (4 marks) children. Activities Basic, 1 mark answers However, there were other, more negative policies Explain, for example, that Nazis believed women’s purpose 5. Explain how the Nazis made it clear in Source B that they which were aimed at encouraging women to play was to raise children. hated Swing music? their roles as wives and mothers:

6. ‘Despite all their efforts, the Nazis failed in their plan to • From the beginning there were pressures to Good, 2-3 mark answers totally control German young people.’ From the evidence, exclude women from jobs in teaching, the civil Also describe how women received loans and medals to how far do you agreement/disagreement with this opinion? service, politics, medicine and the law. encourage them to have more children, while discouraging • Explain the evidence which agrees with it. them from gaining further education and better jobs. Source B. This poster attacks young people • Young women were discouraged from going to who liked Swing Music. It claims such music • Explain the evidence which disagrees with is. university. In 1934 it was ruled that the number Excellent, 4 mark answers is both Black and Jewish, two groups the • Decide how much you agree - and explain why. of girls entering higher education should be just Nazis hated. Also tell how women were encouraged to keep their 10% of the male students. appearance plain. Section 3: Social Impact of the Nazi State Chapter 7: Nazi policies towards women and the young

‘The Nazi plan was to control every part of Discussion panel How successful were Nazi policies Germany society. If anyone resisted them they could be discovered by the secret ‘Nazis ideas about the place and role of women towards women? police and imprisoned in the concentration were no different from those in other parts of the camps. But the Nazis did not just want to rely western world at this time’. Discuss. 18 Generally, the ideology of a woman’s place being in the home, looking 19 after her husband and children was popular, not just in Germany on force. They wanted the German people but all over Europe. Therefore many of the Nazi policies in this area to believe in them and to support the Nazis found support. willingly...In youth groups and in school a lot Activities of effort was put into controlling the minds There were of course some women who suffered under these of young people. The hope was that this new 9. Study sources G and H and all the other sources measures. Many professional women lost their jobs and those girls generation of Germans would provide the loyal in this chapter. What evidence can you find that who had ambitions in the work place were generally disappointed soldiers who would conquer new land and the the Nazis were trying to create a ‘new Germany’? as discrimination was actively encouraged. There were women who loyal mothers who would happily raise large 10. From all that you have seen, how successful opposed the Nazis, although it is difficult to know how many. Those families of healthy, happy Germans. Brave do you think the Nazis were in their policies for who protested publically were usually put into concentration camps, young soldiers were given ‘Iron Crosses’ and young people and women? some of which were created specifically for women. young women were given ‘Mother Crosses’ for • Explain the Nazi aims for different groups. the part they were playing in building the new However, there was quite a big difference between the Nazi ideal of Germany!’ • Identify where they were successful and why. Back women staying at home and the reality of improving the German up your ideas with evidence. economy and rearming for war. Indeed, there were serious shortages Source H The historian Ian Kershaw explains the Nazi plan for • Identify the areas in which they were less successful in the number of workers and therefore women were employed in building a new Germany. and why. Back up your ideas with evidence. increasingly large numbers as time went on. Indeed, by 1939 women Source E: was a founder • Decide overall how successful the Nazis were in made up 37% of the German workforce. During the war itself, women member of the White Rose Resistance Creating a perfect Aryan nation their policies for young people and women. were increasingly called to fill positions left vacant by men who had movement based at the University The rules, laws and policies for young people and gone to fight. of Munich. She was arrested and women described in this section, only applied executed in 1943, she was 22 years old. to those who were seen as racially perfect. Think further! Jewish women and children, gypsies, mentally or physically disabled women and children and Watch out! 1. Remember that you are a German. Draftothers who did not conform to Nazi ideas of 2. If you are genetically healthy you should not remain racial superiority were treated very differently. When considering sources, many students unmarried. However, racial laws and Nazis ideas about race ignore the question and only describe what is 3. Keep your body pure. indirectly affected all women and young people. happening in the sources. 4. You should keep your mind and spirit pure. Theories about race and genetics were a large part of the curriculum in schools and the classes Some students also discuss the reliability of the 5. As a German choose only a spouse of the same or and activities run by Hitler Youth and women’s sources, which, if not part of the question, may not be Nordic blood. groups. There was heavy censorship of books and worth any marks. 6. In choosing a spouse, ask about his ancestors. newspapers which meant that only ideas of which 7. Health is also a precondition for physical beauty. the Nazis approved could be read and there were 8. Marry only for love. large amounts of propaganda, the aims of which Summary 9. Don’t look for a playmate but for a companion for Source F: Gertrud Scholtz-Klink was were to indoctrinate Nazi ideas across society. head of the Nazi Women’s League marriage. However, it is difficult for historians to assess how • whose main task was to promote the The Nazis aim for young people was to create good 10. You should want to have as many children as possible. importance of child-bearing. She had far these ideas were actually believed by people at soldiers and good mothers. To do this they tightly 11 children. the time. controlled the school curriculum and set up Hitler Youth organisations which taught their ideas. Source G: 10 commandments for choice of As with men in , the experiences • Nazis policies for women were geared towards them spouse, compiled by the Nazis in 1934. Activity of women and young people varied dramatically producing as many Aryan children as possible. Women depending on their race. We will learn more about 8. Why do you think it is difficult to estimate the were discouraged from working. number of women who opposed the Nazis? what happened to those people who did not fulfil Nazi ideas of racial perfection in Chapter 9.