Life for Women and the Family in Nazi Germany Flashcards
What does Kinder Küche and Kirche mean? (Nazi social ideas for women)
Kinder - children
Küche - kitchen
Kirche - church
How did the Nazis use marriage to change the lives of women and the family?
A couple who were unable to have children could find it easier to get a divorce. Unmarried women were encouraged to live in special homes called Lebensborn where racially pure SS officers would make themselves available to get them pregnant. There were rewards for how many children you had
(Bronze = 4, silver = 6, gold =8)
What was the law for the encouragement of marriage (1933)?
It gave newly married couples a loan of 1000 marks. The amount they had to pay back was reduced depending on the number of children they. 25% = one child. The aim of the law was to encourage newlyweds to have as many children was they could.
What was the 1935 marriage law?
It said that a couple who wanted to get married had to show evidence of ‘racial purity’ I.e no evidence of ‘jewish’ blood in their ancestry
How did the Nazis use employment to change the lives of women and the family?
Women were encouraged or forced from their jobs, especially those who were married . Most women’s organisations were closed down voluntarily and some women’s leaders were arrested or even assassinated. A law was passed in 1937 which meant women had to do a ‘duty year’
How did the Nazis use appearance to change the lives of women and the family?
Women were not expected to wear make up or trousers, but to dress traditionally. Only flat shoes were expected. Women were discouraged from dieting/slimming as this was considered bad for childbirth
How were women better off under the Nazis?
Marriage loans
Women who wanted to stay home benefited
‘Motherly’ women were given a high status
Medals for lots of children
How were women worse off under the Nazis?
Educated or career women much worse off
Sterilisation for women with inherited weakness
Encouraged abortion
Seen as ‘baby factories’
What was the effect of the Nazis actions by 1939?
Birth did not increase and it was not as high as it was before the Nazi were in power. Numbers of couples getting married went up. Women were discouraged from working but some kept their jobs as there was not enough men to take over
