Women Essay Flashcards
Introduction
Factors
The factors I will be discussing are increasing the birth rate, with the Lebensborn Program, increasing Aryan marriages, with the Marriage Loans, and Women as part of the Volksgemeinschaft, with the League for German Girls.
Introduction
Background Sentences
Before 1933, during the Weimar era, women were given great freedom within society. This resulted in many attitudes being changed in regards to women, as women were finally being seen as responsible and intelligent. However in 1933, when Hitler was appointed Chancellor in the newly formed government and rose to power, he had the idea of creating a Volksgemeinschaft which was his ideal community where everyone was Aryan and supported the Nazi ideology. Within this community, women’s rights were quickly diminished and several restrictions were set in place which caused women to be seen as inferior in comparison to men.
Introduction
Historiography
Some historians such as Pine believe that the image of women surrounds the idea that a women’s role surrounds birth and marriage. Whereas other politicians such as Woodsmall found that it was the open education and information around the Nazis which allowed for them to enact their policies.
Introduction
Line of Argument
Overall, despite some successes, policies towards women by the Nazis were unsuccessful in achieving their aims for women.
Increasing the birth rate
Who did the Lebensborn Project attract?
The Lebensborn Program focused on attracting unmarried, pregnant ‘Aryan’ women, in hopes of preventing them from having an illegal abortion. This program offered the mothers financial support and adoption services.
Increasing the birth rate
What did the Lebensborn Project do for pregnant women?
The program created specific spaces where they could avoid judgement and live comfortably. They were provided with prenatal care, delivery aid and recovery from their labour. To avoid any scandals from public opinion, the homes prioritised anonymity and staff discretion, which helped hide the identity of the unwed mother.
Increasing the birth rate
Analysis
Through this project, women were made safe and protected in the community that the Lebensborn Project created as unmarried women were given shelter and care during the time of their pregnancy. This meant that the Nazis were more considerate towards single mothers as by supporting women who are more likely to get an abortion, they are more likely to have an effect on the birth rate by supporting them.
Increasing the birth rate
Analysis +
However, the program often had trouble attracting eligible women into the project due to the rumours about the quality of health care they would receive. Himmler, who was incharge of the project had estimated that 100,000 “biologically valuable” German women obtained abortions illegally each year, despite increased penalties and consequences, showing that the Lensbernborn project wasn’t appealing for mothers to apply for.
Increasing the birth rate
Historiography
Pine emphasises her view that the status of women was seriously diminished by Nazi policies, surrounding the idea that a woman’s job was to breed a new all Aryan race.
Increasing the birth rate
Evaluation
The program created a safe environment for pregnant women which can be viewed as a successful act as it allowed for women to receive the support and care which previously they wouldn’t receive. However, only around 7,000 children were born into the Lebensborn homes during the program’s nine-year-long existence, showing that in the space of 9 years, the Lebensborn Project didn’t have a significant impact on the number of children being born.
Increasing Aryan Marriages
What was the marriage loans designed to eliminate?
A marriage loan program, which was designed to eliminate women from the labour force and to encourage marriage and procreation, offered loans to racially fit couples about to marry if the women promised not to work again until the loan was repaid.
Increasing Aryan Marriages
What did marriage loans encouraged women to do?
The marriage loan program encouraged employed women to leave their jobs and marry, and the government launched a campaign against “double earners”, employing women whose husbands or fathers worked.
Increasing Aryan Marriages
Analysis
On the one hand, the revoking of the employment prohibition in 1937 resulted in a sharp rise in the number of applications for loans. In 1939, 42% of all marriages contracted were assisted by loans, showing that the Nazis’ aims for marriage were successful with the addition of marriage loans.
Increasing Aryan Marriages
Analysis +
In the following year, 550,000 children had been born to loan aided marriages, which was proportionately twice as many as to the other marriages contracted during the same period. This was a considerable rise in births compared with the previous year, but hardly an impressive figure considering that the scheme had been in operation for almost five years, showing that it didn’t have a significant impact on many German couples’ decisions to get married.
Increasing Aryan Marriages
Evaluation
The marriage loan was essential in increasing the number of Aryan marriages in Germany as there was a reward system in place which was helpful for those in these marriages for when they start creating a family. However, the increasing marriage rates may not have resulted from Nazi policy but from demographic trends as many Germans may have seen marriage and a family as a defence against an intrusive modern state.
