Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2016
Last exams 2025
Changes to Women in Nazi Germany (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Joel Davis
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
How Did Life For Women Change Under the Nazis? - Summary
Before the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, Nazi policy towards women was focused on ensuring they stayed at home and cared for the family.
Women were expected to dress conservatively, keep themselves fit and healthy, and marry a strong Aryan man. Part of this policy was directed towards increasing the birth rate, which had fallen significantly by the start of the 1930s.
As with most of the changes introduced in Nazi Germany, unifying organisations were created with a strong figurehead to lead on policy and ensure that laws were abided with. The leading female Nazi politician, Gertrud Scholtz-Klink, was placed in charge of ensuring all policies related to women were followed.
A number of laws relating to marriage and employment were created, to varying success. Financial incentives were used in combination with boosting the social status of women who had more children. The Nazis also simply banned many women from pursuing jobs, such as doctors and lawyers.
Although it is difficult to determine how effective policy was towards women in Nazi Germany, it is clear that, by 1939, many of the laws intending to keep women at home had been altered to ensure that German industrial production could keep pace with that of the Allied powers.
Women in Nazi Germany
The Nazis saw women as a fundamental part of the Third Reich:
Goebbels said
the mission of the woman is to be beautiful and bring children into the home
Nazi Germany had these expectations about women:
Women were told to concentrate on the ‘three Ks’:
Kinder (children)
Kirche (church)
Küche (cooking)
Worked Example
Give two things you can infer from Source A about the Nazi view of women.
4 marks
Source A: A Nazi poster published in 1937. The poster was published with the caption
‘The Nazi Party protects the national community’
IMAGE
Answers:
(i) What I can infer:
Women were encouraged to have large families (1)
Details in the source that tell me this:
There are four children in the poster (1)
(ii) What I can infer:
Women were seen as the main part of the family (1)
Details in the source that tell me this:
The woman is shown in the middle of the poster, surrounded by her family (1)
This answer would receive full marks because it contains two relevant inferences, supported by details from the source.
Nazi Policies Towards Women
The Nazis wanted to reverse the changes to women’s roles brought in by the Weimar Republic
Gertrud Scholtz-Klink was appointed leader of the National Socialist Women's League and oversaw all policies related to women
The German Women’s Enterprise (DFW)
All women-related organisations had to join the German Women's Enterprise(DFW):
Organisations that failed to join were banned
Members were enrolled on courses about childcare, cooking and sewing
A number of Nazi policies were introduced to increase the birth rate, which had fallen to one million births per year by 1933:
1933 - The Law for the Encouragement of Marriage
Loans of 1,000 marks (equivalent to eight months’ wages) were available to women if two requirements were met:
Women had to get married
Women had to quit their jobs or stay unemployed
Mothers who gave birth to four children did not have to pay the loan back
Each child removed a quarter of the loan
1935 - The Lebensborn Programme
Started by SS leader, Heinrich Himmler
Paired SS men with single women to create ‘genetically pure’ children
Only women and men with a clear ‘Aryan’ ancestry were allowed to join
Special Lebensborn homes were created for women to rest after giving birth
1938 - Divorce Laws
Husbands could legally divorce their wives for failing or refusing to have children
Women caught having abortions could also be divorced
1939 - The Mother’s Cross
Awards presented on Mother’s Day in Germany were available to women who had four or more children
Mothers with gold medals were saluted in public by the Hitler Youth
Hitler was named the godfather of the tenth child in any family
Women and Employment
With the focus on women staying at home and caring for the family, the Nazis introduced laws to reduce the number of women at work:
How effective were Nazi Policies Towards Women?
Nazi policies towards women initially intended them to be at home and support the family
However, at the outbreak of the Second World War, many women had to work in factories and other industries to replace men who had gone away to fight
Nazi policies towards women had mixed success:
Worked Example
Study Interpretations 1 and 2. They give different views about Nazi policies towards women
What is the main difference between these views?
Explain your answer, using details from both interpretations
4 marks
Interpretation 1: From Weimar and Nazi Germany by J Hite and C Hinton, published in 2000 The Nazis' attempts to drive women back into the house were not particularly successful. In fact, the number of women in all types of jobs increased, mainly due to the work opportunities created by the economic recovery. By 1936, more workers were needed in agriculture and industry in Germany and by 1939 this shortage of workers was a serious problem. This led to more women returning to work. Overall, the Nazis took a cautious approach to the employment of women and only a few women were actually forced out of jobs. |
Interpretation 2: From The History Learning Site, a history website Hitler was very clear that women should bring up children at home while their husbands worked. Schools taught girls from a young age that all good German women should get married and have children. 800,000 couples accepted loads offered as part of the Law for the Enforcement of Marriage. Women were not expected to work in Nazi Germany. Within months of Hitler coming to power, many female doctors and civil servants were sacked, followed by female teachers and lawyers. By 1939, very few women were in full-time work. |
Answers:
A main difference is that Interpretation 1 suggests that Nazi policy towards women was not successful because more women were employed (1). This is shown by the quote, “the number of women in all types of jobs increased” (1).
On the other hand, Interpretation 2 suggests that Nazi policy towards women was successful because they were forced out of employment to focus on having families (1). This is shown by the quote, “very few women were in full-time work” (1).
This answer would receive full marks because it clearly states the main difference by comparing the two interpretations. It also used evidence from each interpretation.
Worked Example
Suggest one reason why Interpretations 1 and 2 give different views about Nazi policies towards women.
You may use Sources B and C to help explain your answer.
4 marks
Source B: From a speech made by Joseph Goebbels in March 1933 German women! German men! The birth rate in Germany is rapidly declining so a major change is needed. We believe that German women must see their strength and abilities in different areas from men. Let me say this clearly: the first, best, and most suitable place for the woman is in the family. It is her most glorious duty to give children to her people and nation. The woman is the teacher of the youth, and therefore the builder of the foundation of the future. If the family is the nation's source of strength, the woman is at its centre. The best place for the woman to serve her people is in her marriage, in the family, in motherhood. |
Answers:
The interpretations may differ because they have given weight to different sources.
Source C suggests that women stayed in employment because it shows women working in a textile factory (1). This aligns with the argument presented in Interpretation 1 that more workers were needed in industry (1).
Source B suggests that women were at the centre of the family and the “builder of the foundation of the future" (1). This agrees with the idea in Interpretation 2 that women should bring up children at home (1).
This answer would receive full marks because it clearly identifies why the interpretations give different views. Each source is discussed and compared to the relevant interpretation with precise detail.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Question 3(d) is asking you why Interpretations 1 and 2 have different views.
It will always state, “You may use Sources B and C to help explain your answer.” This is the examiner's way of suggesting you look at Sources B and C to help you answer this question.
Remember, historians make interpretations and arguments based on the sources available to them. If historians use different sources, they could come to different conclusions.
Study both Interpretations and both Sources. Then, compare which Source agrees with which Interpretation. In the question above, it is clear that Interpretation 1 agrees with Source C. Similarly, Interpretation 2 clearly agrees with Source B.
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