test Flashcards
What were the ‘3 Ks’ in Nazi ideology regarding women?
- Kinder
- Küche
- Kirche
How were women perceived in Nazi ideology?
Women were seen as inferior to men and expected to be obedient
What was the traditional role of women as defined by Nazi ideology?
A woman’s world is her husband, her family, her children, and her house
Who was the Minister of Propaganda that promoted Nazi ideology about women?
Joseph Goebbels
What was Goebbels’ quote regarding the mission of women?
“The mission of women is to be beautiful and to bring children into the world”
What policies did the Nazis implement to increase the birth rate?
- Closing birth control centres
- Criminalizing abortion
- Increasing maternity benefits
What was the Mother’s Cross of Honour?
A reward system that glorified motherhood based on the number of children
What were the criteria for the Mother’s Cross of Honour?
- Bronze = 4–5 children
- Silver = 6–7 children
- Gold = 8+ children
What was the Lebensborn programme?
A program aimed to encourage ‘racially pure’ Aryan women to procreate with SS men - arrainged procreation a lot of the time and the kids were to be brought up right, with many kids being kidnapped for this.
What economic incentives did the Nazis provide to encourage marriages and childbirth?
- Marriage loans and grants
- Improved maternity benefits
- Tax reductions for families
What was the trend in marriage rates during the Nazi regime?
Marriage rates rose from 516,800 in 1932 to 740,000 in 1934
What was the paradox regarding birth rates during the Nazi regime?
Birth rates did not increase despite rising marriage rates
According to historian Lynch, how did Hitler view female emancipation?
As a threat that required strong action against it
What did historian Koonz observe about women’s participation in the Nazi regime?
Many women supported and actively participated in the regime
What key theme regarding women was prevalent in Nazi propaganda?
Nazi ideology regarding women was a key theme
What was Hitler’s concept of ‘sexual polarity’ as outlined in Mein Kampf?
The idea of separate male and female spheres
What was the effect of Nazi propaganda on women’s perceptions of restrictions?
It manipulated women into viewing restrictions as empowering
What was the trend in births from 1934 to 1939?
Births rose modestly from 1.2 million to 1.4 million
What was the impact of the war on birth rates after 1938?
Birth rate stagnated due to the war
What economic restrictions were placed on women in the workforce?
- Law for the Reduction of Unemployment encouraged women to leave jobs
- Women banned from law and medicine
What limitation was placed on female university enrolment?
Limited to 10% female students
What was the political exclusion of women during the Nazi regime?
- No women deputies in the Reichstag
- Women banned from senior Nazi Party leadership
What was the National Socialist Women’s League?
A women’s only outlet subordinate to the male-dominated party
What was the effect of labor shortages after 1937 on women’s employment?
Relaxed restrictions allowed more women to enter the workforce
