The Status of German Women under Nazism - Essay Example

Emancipation, or a Retreat from Liberation: The Status of German Women under Nazism "[M]ost women [felt] that they themselves and all they valued were not suppressed by the regime and its ideology." -Lauterbach (1990, cited in Crew 1994: 164) The claim has been made that Nazism was emancipatory for German women, meaning that, under this political system, women were freed from previous restrictions or conventions (Encarta World English Dictionary 1999: 583). A review of selected literature revealed that Nazism was not only not emancipatory but that it actually also reversed a trend toward greater liberation for women in pre-Nazi Germany, thereby relegating women to traditional, more restrictive roles in society. Beginning with a brief introduction to the history and ideology of Nazism for the purpose of establishing a context and foundation, the status of German women in the ideology of Nazism will be explored and discussed vis--vis the concept of emancipation. Finally, concluding remarks will be presented. The end of World War I harkened the birth of several political groups in Germany possessing extreme views, such as those professing ultra-nationalistic and anti-democratic ideas. Adolph Hitler joined one of these groups known as the German Workers' Party. In the years following 1920, he became the leader of the party, later reorganizing and reorienting it to reflect his personality. He also renamed the party to the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP) or, as translated into English, the National Socialist German Workers' Party. Nazism was the term by which the party's ideology, its doctrines, and its policies came to be known. (Columbia Encyclopaedia 2004) The ideology of Nazism was based on an amalgam of doctrines of racism, nationalism, and what was known as the "hero-cult" espoused by various writers and interpreted by Hitler and others in works such as Hitler's Mein Kampf. Instead of a set of well-described principles, Nazism was a vague ideology glorifying myth, prejudice, and nihilist views. Control was paramount and democracy was viewed as a corrupt form of government that served to protect the mediocre and weak elements of society. Under Hitler, Nazism became national law in Germany. (Columbia Encyclopaedia 2004) Nazism was a reaction to the emancipation of society, which occurred as monarchies throughout Europe fell and as Marxist ideology grew in popularity. Nazism, contrasted to the Marxist emphasis on the desire for equality in property ownership, focused on issues of social equality, primarily the issues of racial superiority and inferiority. (Harvey 1999: 77+) The anti-feminist spirit of Nazism was related in a significant manner to the movement's racist ideology, according to Stibbe (1993: 35+), who writes that "[l]ike the Jew, the modern 'emancipated' woman was seen as an agent of degeneracy and national decline, bringing in her wake the 'destructive' forces of Bolshevism, democracy, and parliamentarianism." A hint of Hitler's perspectives on the role of women became apparent shortly after his assumption of power in January of 1933. In his government's handbook for Nazi leaders and their organisations and members, entitled and translated as The ABCs of National Socialism, the following translated entry, which was directed at Jewish women, appeared: "[T]he Jewish housewife, herself, is no picture of cleanliness, but idly sits around, painted up and powdered and adorned in silk and baubles" (Rosen 1933, cited in Guenther 2004: 92). But Hitler's views of women in German society were not restricted to Jews alone. Women, in general, were criticised for purchasing cosmetics, perfumes, and other luxury items rather than saving the money or spending it on household items. Hitler, both through the ideology he promoted and the policies he enacted, insisted that German women must "return to their pre-emancipation roles" (Guenther 2004: 93). The ABCs of National Socialism, as translated, stated (Rosen 1933, cited in Guenther 2004: 93): "German men want real German women again, and quite rightly. But not a frivolous play toy that superficially only thinks about pleasure, adorns herself with trinkets and spangles, and resembles a glittering vessel, the interior of which is hollow and desolate[t]o be a wife and mother is the German woman's highest essence and purpose of life". Women, under Nazism, were urged to reject the concept of the emancipated modern woman of the time and to accept their primary roles as mothers and housewives (Guenther 2004: 93). Before he became Hitler's propaganda minister, Goebbels wrote, as translated, that "[t]he mission of woman is to be beautiful and to bring children into the world," continuing later that the "[w]oman's proper sphere is the family" (Browning 1934: 8). Hitler, himself, claimed in an interview in 1934 that a "[woman's] world is her husband, her family, her children, and her house" (Baynes 1942: 528, 530). But, when women aged beyond their childbearing years, they were no longer of concern to the Nazi regime, often being put in the position of accepting unrewarding work-both in terms of personal satisfaction and monetary compensation (Stibbe 1993: 35+). In their roles as mothers and housewives, German women were encouraged to be patriotic shoppers-smart, careful, and always driven by national economic interests. Women were touted as "important and recognised members of the national economy" and instructed: "In the era of liberalismeveryone only cared for their own personal advantage and gain. But the National Socialist woman will always ask: How can I, in my household, do my part towards strengthening the health of the national economy" (Vorwerck 1934, cited in Guenther 2004: 94) Some writers even suggested that the very preservation of the German market was dependant upon the female consumer (Rabe 1932, cited Guenther 2004: 94). Nazis believed that the political liberation enjoyed by women as well as the introduction of women into traditional male occupations were serious errors that must be reversed (Guenther 2004: 95). The emancipation of women was considered to be a symptom of cultural decay, according to Alfred Rosenberg, a Nazi theorist. He wrote (translated): "Emancipation of woman from the women's emancipation movement is the first demand of a generation of women who would like to save the Volk and the racefrom decline and fall." (Rosenberg 1930, cited in Guenther 2004: 95) Huber, another Nazi theorist, claimed (translated): "The intellectual attitude of the movementis opposed to the political woman. It refers the woman back to her nature-given sphere of the family and to her tasks as wife and motherThe German resurrection is a male event." (Huber 1933, cited in Guenther 2004: 95) Hitler made several pronouncements that reflected Nazi views on the emancipation of women. In one, he stated (translated): "We do not find it right when women penetrate into the world of men." (Hitler 1934, cited in Guenther 2004: 95) In another, he claimed (translated): "The phrase 'Emancipation of Women' is only an invention of the Jewish intellect and is stamped with the same spirit." (Baynes 1942: 731) And, in yet another, Hitler stated (translated): "The so-called granting of equal rights to womenin reality does not grant equal rights but constitutes a deprivation of rights, since it draws the woman into an area in which she will necessarily be inferior." (Hitler 1935, cited in Guenther 2004: 95) Women, under the Third Reich, were totally excluded from positions of power and responsibility in the Nazi party and in the government (Stibbe 1993: 35+). Even before the midpoint of the 1930s, Beard and colleagues (1934: 132-134), in calling Hitler's regime "the most terrifying experience since the Great War [World War I] itself" and in writing that Nazis were effectively denying civilisation and betraying "all that glorifies and vindicates mankind", compiled a list of more than twenty negative Nazi accomplishments including destroying "self-government, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of petition, and all the civil rights of a free people"; pursuing and persecuting all those "antagonistic to the iron regime of a totalitarian state"; abrogating hard-won "social legislation"; declaring "war on science, art, literature, and culture" and, importantly, ending "the emancipation of women, returning one-half of the human race in Germany to the subjection of an older and darker day". Maschmann (1979, cited in Martin, n.d.), in writing about women in their adolescence under the Nazi regime, claims that "just as they reached the age when they could have learned to thinkthe era began in which thinking was considered an activity of degenerate brains". Adding to this, many thousands of what were termed 'undesirable' women were forced to undergo forced sterilisation under Nazi reign (Stibbe 1993: 35+). Hitler and other Nazi ideologues certainly did not keep their negative views on emancipation of women a secret. To the contrary, they were quite open about their desired roles for women under Nazism. Then why might women and men alike have believed that Nazism was emancipatory for German women Why might women, as Brockhaus (n.d., cited in Crew 1994: 164) suggested, have seen fascism as a "special type of 'emancipation'" Why would Lauterbach (1990, cited in Crew 1994: 164), as highlighted in the lead-in quotation, write that "most women [felt] that they themselves and all they valued were not suppressed by the regime and its ideology" Perhaps a further exploration into the literature may produce some insight. The views of Hitler and others were embraced, in many cases, by women of the period. Many women, particularly those in the lower classes, did not feel emancipated by new rights constitutionally guaranteed to them in pre-Nazi Germany during the 1920s. With the economic depression of the early 1930s and associated high unemployment rates, women felt heavily burdened with responsibility, due to the shortage of available men after World War I during which many had been killed. These women actually welcomed the idea of married life and motherhood, especially considering that the Nazis would furnish partial financial support through the availability of tax deductions and loans for married people (Guenther 2004: 96). To further promote the ideal role of the woman, the Nazis sponsored magazines, pamphlets, catalogues, journal articles, speeches, and radio programs containing romanticised views of motherhood, marriage, and economic responsibility (Guenther 2004: 96-97). In addition, educational programs were instituted to train women in proper duties and techniques of motherhood and housewifery (Guenther 2004: 97-98). Hitler, as translated according to Stibbe (1993: 35+), claimed that "[e]qual rights for women means that they receive the esteem they deserve in the sphere nature has assigned to them." In this vein, in 1939, the Nazis established the "Honour Cross of the German Mother" to recognise women who produced large families (Snyder 1976: 170). Many women, who had never voted in an election in the past, voted for Nazi candidates, suggesting that these women truly embraced Nazi ideology (Stibbe 1993: 35+). There were women, sometimes referred to as "Nazi feminists", who actively supported and promoted the Nazi movement as it rose to power. These "feminists" rejected the concept of emancipation of women, calling it a hoax. In fact, some women praised Nazism for providing greater opportunities for women in child care, education, and social welfare professions and allowing women to break free from "the alienation of the modern rationalised world and from the rigid class divisions which had hitherto divided the women's movement." (Koonz 1987, cited in Stibbe 1993: 35+) Martin (n.d.) eloquently captures the feelings of women who supported Nazi ideology: "Most of them identify the sources of their youthful enthusiasm: idealism, the sense of belonging to a new era of historic proportions, feelings of importance and usefulness, freedom and independence-especially from the home and family-and the experience of peer acceptance." The review of selected literature revealed contrasting perspectives on whether Nazism was emancipatory for women or whether it represented a retreat from earlier liberation successes. Stibbe (1993: 35+) refers to this as the "essential ambiguity" of the status of women under Nazism. The ideology and actions of the Nazis, which emphasised and supported the role of the woman as a housewife and mother over her role as a co-equal with men in the workplace and in society in general, arguably represented a step backward when judged by today's Western standards. But, the glorification of housewifery and motherhood by Nazi leaders and ideologues-glorification by which they painted a picture of women as "separate, but equal" to men and of special importance to the Third Reich-appeared to be highly successful in convincing many women that their "new" roles as wives and mothers represented emancipation from their roles in the workplace, in politics, and in other societal venues, roles which they had achieved in the decade or so before the ascendancy of Nazism. In conclusion, Nazism was not emancipatory for women any more than treatment of the Jews could have been termed emancipation for the Jewish people. Stibbe's writings showed that the anti-feminist sexism of Nazism was closely related to its racist philosophy. The research indicated that Nazism was a reaction to emancipation of society as monarchies throughout Europe fell and Marxist ideology grew in popularity. For women, this reaction had special meaning. Nazi ideology on the role of women and actions supporting the ideology effectively removed the emancipatory social and political gains that German women had made before the Nazi regime gained power. Quite contrary to emancipation, Nazism represented a retreat from liberation for women. Fortunately, just as other Nazi ideologies failed, so did their concepts on the role of women in German society. References Baynes, Norman H. (1942) The Speeches of Adolf Hitler, April 1922-August 1939, vol. 1, London: Oxford University Press. Beard, Miriam et al. (1934) Nazism: An Assault on Civilization, New York: Harrison Smith and Robert Haas. Brockhaus, Gudrun (n.d.) 'Opfer, Tterin, Mitbeteiligte. Zur Diskussion um die Rolle der Frauen im Nationalsozialismus' in Tchter-Fragen. Cited in Crew (1994). Browning, Hilda (1934) Women Under Fascism, London: Martin Lawrence Ltd. (The) Columbia Encyclopaedia (2004) 'National socialsim', New York: Columbia University Press. Crew, David F. (1994) Nazism and German Society, 1933-1945, London: Routledge. Encarta World English Dictionary (1999) 'Emancipate', New York: St. Martin's Press. Guenther, Irene (2004) Nazi Chic Fashioning Women in the Third Reich, Oxford: Berg. Harvey, A. D. (1999) 'The lesson to be learnt from Nazism', Contemporary Review 274:1597. Hitler, Adolf (1934) 'Die vlkische Sendung der Frau'. Speech before the Nazi Women's Congress, 1934. Reprinted in Ellen Semmelroth and Renate von Stieda, eds., N. S. Frauenbuch. Cited in Guenther (2004). Hitler, Adolf (1935) Speech before the National Socialist Women's Congress, 1935. Printed in Vlkischer Beobachter, September 15, 1935. Cited in Guenther (2004). Huber, Engelbert (1933) Das ist Nationalsozialismus, Stuttgart: Union Deutsche Verlagsgesellschaft. Cited in Guenther (2004). Koonz, Claudia (1987) Mothers in the Fatherland: Women, the Family, and Nazi Politics, New York: St. Martin's Press. Cited in Stibbe (1993). Lauterbach, Hanna (1990) 'Aber dann htten wir ja nur noch Verbrecherinnen . . . ' Kommentar zur Diskussion ber den Anteil am Handlungskollektiv Deutschland, in Lerke Gravenshorst and Carmen Tatschmurat (eds), Tchter-Fragen. NS-Frauen-Geschichte. Cited in Crew (1994). Martin, Elaine (n.d.) Victims or Perpetrators Literary Responses to Women's Roles in National Socialism, Available from: http://bama.ua.edu/emartin/publications/mdart.htm [Accessed: 25 February 2006]. Maschmann, Melita (1979) Fazit; Mein Weg in der Hitler-Jugend, Mnchen: DTV. Cited in Martin (n.d.) Rabe, Sofia (1932) 'Die Frau als Kuferin', in Elsbeth Unverricht, ed., Unsere Zeit und wir: Das Buch der deutschen Frau, Gauting bei Mnchen: Verlag Heinrich A. Berg. Cited in Guenther (2004). Rosen, Curt (1933) Das ABC des Nationalsozialismus, Berlin: Schmidt & Co. Cited in Guenther (2004). Rosenberg, Alfred (1930) Der Mythos des XX. Jahrhunderts, Munich: Hoheneichen Verlag. Cited in Guenther (2004). Snyder, Louis (1976) Encyclopaedia of the Third Reich, New York: McGraw-Hill. Stibbe, Matthew (1993) 'Women and the Nazi state', History Today 43. Vorwerck, Else (1934) 'Wirtschaftliche Alltagspflichten der deutschen Frau beim Einkauf und Verbrauch', in Ellen Semmelroth and Renate von Stieda, eds., N. S. Frauenbuch, Munich: J. F. Lehmanns Verlag. Cited in Guenther (2004). Read More