Weimar and Nazi Germany (1918-1939): The Nazis and Views on Women

According to the Nazis, the Women were central to the family and should fulfil the traditional role of housewife. It was up to the men of the family to provide for the family.

The Nazi belief was that men and women should do different roles within the family, but not that one was more important than the other. Both men and women were important to the family and were important to the Reich.

The Nazis had three core beliefs when it came to women. Firstly was appearance. The Nazis disagreed with the use of excessive makeup and instructed women of the Reich to dress plainly, and have a natural look. This natural look consisted of plain clothes, long skirts, which did not show too much. A woman’s hair should be natural  either tied back or plaited.

The second core belief was around employment. A woman’s primary role was to be a wife and a mother first and foremost. As previously mentioned, a man should be out providing for the family. Central to this belief was that women should be discouraged from joining the labour force. A women in work was taking the place of a man.

The final core belief was around marriage and family. The Nazis wanted to increase the population of Germany, and women producing children were the way to do this. Through women staying at home and having children this would ensure strong generations of children who would become soldiers for the Reich.