Women were not expected to work in Nazi Germany. By 1939, approximately 1% of all women worked full time. The problem that aroused by taking all the women out of the work force was a shortage of people with skills in Germany. So in the same year that the Law for the Encouragement of Marriage was abolished, Nazi Germany passed a new law called the Duty Year. This meant that women could work in factories, big business etc to help the economy.
The government controlled housewives and mothers. They could not wear trousers or make up, could not dye their hair, were not allowed to wear perms, only flat shoes could be worn, and also women were discouraged from slimming as this was considered bad for child birth.
On August 12th every year, Hitler’s mothers birthday, the Motherhood Cross was awarded to women who has had the most children. Gold went to women who had had eight children, silver was for six children and bronze was for producing four children.
Education in Nazi Germany played a huge role in shaping the future. Boys were educated to go into military service or important statues. Girls were educated to be housewives and good mothers. History and Biology underwent major changes.
History was based on the glory of Germany. The surrender in 1918 was to be the work of Jewish and Marxist spies. The Treaty of Versailles was the work of other countries that were jealous of Germany’s might and power, and hyperinflation was due to Jewish saboteurs. Biology was used to prove that Germans were racial superiority to other races. Geography taught boys about land that Germany had lost and that it needed for living space. Science was very military based. It taught boys about shooting, military aviation, bridge building and impacts of poisonous gasses. Girls were taught about home domestic and about the characteristics of a perfect “racially” pure husband and father.
Physical Education was very important for Hitler. Boys who were stronger and physically fitter than the rest went to Adolf Hitler School, where they were taught to be future leaders of Germany. After high school boys were expected to go into the military or to university. However, the very best went to Order Castles. These schools took students to their limits. War games with live ammunition were a part of the course and pupils were killed at these schools. But if you graduated from the Order Castles you went into a high position in the army or into the SS.
The sole purpose of school was the make the future Germany loyal to Hitler and the Nazis.
In 1936, all other youth organisations were abolished, and it became nearly compulsory to join the Hitler Youth. Boys at 10 joined the “Deutsches Jungvolk” (German Young People) until 13 when they went into the “Hitler Jugend” (Hitler Youth). In the “Hitler Jugend” there would be “Wehrsport” (military athletics) which included marching, bayonet drill, grenade throwing, trench digging, map reading, gas defence, use of dugouts, how to get under barbed wire and pistol shooting just to name a few. Of course boys were injured and even killed doing this, but according to Hitler this was ok because “the weak must be chiselled away. I want young men and women who can suffer pain. A young German must be as swift as a greyhound, as tough as leather, and as hard as Krupp’s steel.” (Hitler, 1934, at the first Wehrsport about what he expected from German children.)
Girls on the other hand had a different youth organisation system. At 10, the joined the “Jungmadelbund” (League of Young Girls), then at 13 you moved into the “ Bund Deutscher Madel” (League of German Girls). The girls didn’t take part in the Wehrsport, however, German girls were expected to be able to run 60 metres in 14 seconds, throw a ball 12 metres, complete a 2 hour march, swim 100 metres and know how to make a bed.
From January 1933, when Hitler became Chancellor, nearly half the German population was unemployed. By the “economic miracle” which nearly got completely rid if unemployed was due to Hitler and Nazi propaganda.
