Weimar and Nazi Germany (1918-1939): Women in the Weimar Republic (1924-29)

Compared to other countries the rights of women in the Weimar Republic were advanced.

When the Constitution was created, women were given the right to vote and allowed to stand for election. Women responded to the changes well with high turnout in elections. By 1932, 112 women had been elected to the Reichstag.

Women received further rights that were protected under the Constitution including equal rights with men, the right to enter any employment and marriage becoming an equal partnership.

Like Britain, many women in Germany worked in factories and did other war work during the First World War. When the war ended most women were working, but this fell as men simply picked up the jobs from women when they returned from war.

Women did not receive equal treatment in work despite the protections in the Constitution. They were often paid less, expected to give up work when they got married and few women occupied positions in top positions. Women did not lose out completely; retail jobs increased as did jobs in sectors such as education.