Edexcel GCSE History · 1HI0/31 June 2019, Question 3(b)

German women! German men! The birth rate in Germany is rapidly declining so a major change is needed. We believe that German women must use 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.

The Nazis’ attempts to drive women back into the home 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.

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 loans offered as part of the Law for the Encouragement 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.

I introduced all my army friends to the German Workers’ Party. This was how we built up the movement in the early days. In February 1920, the Party presented its policies to the public for the first time in the Twenty-Five Point Programme. From that day on, the Party membership began to increase so much that we had to move the meetings to much larger venues. After overcoming his opponents within the Party in 1921, Adolf Hitler was elected the first leader of the renamed National Socialist German Workers’ Party*. *National Socialist German Workers’ Party – the formal name of the Nazi Party